Patrick_y, a seasoned contributor, introduces the MING 29.01 Worldtimer, a limited edition timepiece that pays homage to Louis Cottier's original World Time design. His post delves into the watch's unique aesthetic, material choices, and the brand's distinctive approach to horological design, offering a visual and technical preview for collectors. This article explores the community's reception and detailed insights into MING's value proposition.
The original World Time design was created by Louis Cottier over a hundred years ago. And that design lives on today with the MING 29.01 Worldtimer!
I know all of us know how a World Time movement works, so I won't bore you with my usual long-winded detailed post. Here are the photos and the specs.
Like always, MING watches are made in small batches, and this one is a limited edition of 100 pieces. I presume the sneaker and hoodie-wearing tech company executives will like this watch as well for its design that's a wonderful combination of modern and classic design that uniquely makes the MING brand what it is. Plus, that TRON movie influence helps too.
Please look at these beautiful photos. MING makes not only very beautiful watches, but the best photos in the watch industry!
The watch is easy to read, and notice, MING is a time zone between Tokyo and Bangkok!
The design is faithful to the Louis Cottier design. The case features pierced lugs and a case made of Grade 5 Titanium - the only grade that's able to be polished to a mirror shine. There's also a new buckle.
The dial is probably partially laser laser engraved and features sapphire elements as well as metal elements. The hands are sapphire hands! Louis Cottier specifically prescribed special hands for his World Time watches and this MING is again faithful to that concept.
Here you can see the sapphire hands. The lume is somehow integrated into the dial and hands in some special new and awesome way.
This movement is just amazing. Beautifully made and decorated to a fairly high degree, this movement has
an MB&F quality to it with some classic finishings combined with many modern touches and blacked out components. A very cool movement. (Moderator Edit by Patrick_y)
Here's that famous TRON look that's part of the MING DNA. I call it the TRON look - as it reminds me of the TRON movies. Again, the magic here is how MING added the LUME material to the dials and hands. I speculate that they use a laser to create the sandblasted look on the dial in the precise letters and numbers on the dial, and then applied layers of a special kind of transparent LUME material behind the lasered figures. I'm guessing. The magicians might never fully reveal their secrets... With only a 100 pieces made, this watch will always remain a rare site and a pleasure to see!
- Functions:
- Hours and minutes
- Worldtime function
- Automatic winding via microrotor
- Case, dial & hands:
- 40mm diameter, 11.9mm thickness
- Grade 5 titanium
- Polished and blasted ‘flying blade’ interlocking lugs
- Deep box sapphire crystal front with bezel-less construction; domed rear crystal; both with double-sided antireflective coating
- Sapphire dial with HyCeram ceramic Super-LumiNova X1 fill
- Metallic 24h disc with day-night gradient and Super-LumiNova X1 fill
- Sapphire hands with HyCeram ceramic Super-LumiNova X1 fill
- 50m water resistance
- 22mm lug width
- Movement:
- Schwarz-Etienne for MING Cal. ASE 222, 31jewels
- 30mm diameter, 5.6mm thickness
- Bidirectional automatic winding via microrotor
- Skeletonized barrel
- DLC coated bridges with contrast rhodium diamond cut anglage
- ~70h power reserve at full wind
- Movement adjusted to five positions
- Straps:
- 1x Dark Blue Alcantara strap by Jean Rosseau Paris
- 1x additional Jean Rousseau strap of customer’s choice
- 22mm width, curved bars with quick release
- Fitted with stainless steel ‘tuck’ buckle with micro adjustment
- Leather travel pouch handmade in Kuala Lumpur by Studio Koji Sato
- 2 year limited mechanical warranty
- Made in Switzerland
- Edition of 100 watches
