Introducing: The Ming 37.05 Moonphase Series 2, With A Wider View Of The Night Sky
What We Know
Horologer Ming is back with the brand’s second moonphase watch, this time exploring more of the night’s sky.
It was less than two years ago that Ming launched its first-ever moonphase and date complications inside the 37.05 Moonphase – refining the design language of a still-young brand with a larger dial opening but a still-balanced 38mm case size. Today’s new 37.05 Series 2 has the same proportions – 38mm x 11.9mm thick – with domed sapphire crystals (and double-sided antireflective coating) on the front and back. But it’s what’s happening on the dial that’s the real difference here.
The new 37.05 Series 2 has a sunray-brushed anthracite metal dial and moonphase disk at 6:00 (right above the date window). But there’s also small star-shaped apertures on the surface as well, which light up in the dark with yellow luminous stars shining through, matching the yellow moon disk. Then there are the luminous stars on the crystal – some yellow and some green – and a blue track printed on the crystal that matches the lume on the hands.
Adding to the creative approach, not all the star cutouts will always shine bright. Some will disappear and reappear with different phases of the moon, with the moon disk doubling as the lume for the stars, powered by a manually-wound Sellita SW288-1. That movement has been reworked and refinished in Ming’s familiar style. The bridges are skeletonized, matte-blasted, and anthracite-coated, and a portion of the main train bridge is in a contrasting circular-brushed rhodium. The movement has 40 hours of power reserve.
Ming will only be making 500 of the new 37.05 Series 2 and if history is any guide, demand will be high. So if you’re interested, you’ll have to be ready and loaded on its website on Tuesday, July 11 at one o’clock PM GMT. The watch will run CHF 4,950 (not including duties and taxes), but be ready to put down a 50% deposit, with the rest payable on delivery which is expected in Q4 of 2023.
What We Think
Ming Thein’s eponymous brand has been on a roll in the six short years since its founding, releasing a wide range of everything from simple time-only watches to complicated and experimental pieces, all of which are quickly bought up by a growing fanbase worldwide. All the while, the brand has solidified a unique design language that is quintessentially “Ming”. But none of their releases have been quite as whimsical as the new 37.05 Series 2 Moonphase.
I’ve been mentally taking notes every time a Ming release comes out and wondering if this is the moment I finally put down a deposit on one of its watches. I’m a fan of the design language; the strong case shape, the indices on the crystal, and the way the dial, crystal, hands, and indices all play with light and shadow. I’ve also appreciated the futuristic austerity of the design. It’s largely been simple, with small details like dial finishing having an outsized impact on the stripped-down watch.
Take for instance the sunburst finishing on the new 37.05 Series 2. The finishing is radial to the moonphase, not the center post for the hands, and it subtly draws your eye to the key feature of the watch.
The way the dial plays with light, like in this “inversion” photo, is key to Ming’s design language.
I’m personally not convinced about the stars. I borrowed the term “whimsical” from Ming himself, who used the word to describe the first 37.05 for simply the addition of a moonphase. By comparison, this watch is wildly eccentric. In fact, my first reaction to seeing the lume shot was that the stars reminded me of De Rijke & Co.’s Miffy Moonphase. But, I will admit it’s a great way to differentiate the watch from the original 37.05 Moonphase and I appreciate the creative approach to keeping the star display from being static.
None of this is really a bad thing – it’s all personal taste and I doubt many people would describe me as “whimsically-oriented.” The Miffy watch sold out fast. Ming’s fans flock to every release and I’m sure this will sell out quickly as well. Who knows, maybe I need a bit of whimsy in my life and I’ll change my tune when I see the watch in person. By then, it’ll be long sold out, and like with every Ming release, I’ll undoubtedly have a bit of FOMO. That is absolutely one thing Ming excels at creating alongside its watches, so if this appeals to you – be ready on July 11.
The Basics
Brand: Ming
Model: 37.05 Series 2
Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 11.9mm (8.9mm excluding crystals)
Case Material: 316L stainless steel
Dial Color: Sunray brushed anthracite metal
Indexes: Laser-etched sapphire dial with inlaid HyCeram fill
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: 20mm lug width goat leather strap by Jean Rosseau Paris, curved bars with quick release, fitted with keeperless ‘flying blade’ buckle
The Movement
Caliber: Modified Sellita 288-1
Functions: Hours, minutes, moonphase, date, quickset moonphase and date
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 5.65mm
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Manual
Additional Details: Anthracite skeletonized bridges with contrast rhodium circular brushing, domed sapphire crystals front and rear, with double-sided antireflective coating
Pricing & Availability
Price: CHF 4,950 (50% deposit, balance on delivery)
Availability: One o’clock PM GMT on Tuesday, July 11
Limited Edition: Yes, 500 pieces.
Shop this story
For more information on Ming and their new 37.05 Series 2, visit the brand’s website.
Hodinkee
