Since its first collection in 2017, Horologer MING has been captivating watch enthusiasts with how it always seems to strike the perfect balance between unique design and minimalist aesthetic. With the latest launch of the MING 22.01—available in two dial variants, Kyoto and Gilt—the microbrand comes out with its first GMT complication since 2018.
For MING diehards, the 38mm case on the 22.01 will harken back to the 20- and 37-series watches, with alternating layers of brushed and polished finish, and the case is also water resistant up to 100m with triple crown gaskets. The case also features an interesting bit of engineering, as it has been manufactured to fit the movement perfectly, with no need for a spacer ring. That movement, by the way, is a Sellita SW330-2 decorated with a black circular-grained finish and visible through a sapphire case back.
But like most MINGs, the true magic is found on the dial. Here, a sapphire overlay on top of a base metal plate allows for an inversion under certain lighting conditions, with colors disappearing and the dynamic internal layering being revealed. The post-modern multilayer dials on both Gilt and Kyoto variants feature metallic GMT markings on top of the sapphire layer, accompanied by color-matched GMT hands. The Gilt version pays homage to its namesake watches popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s, with a dark cyan outer ring, a gold center, and a grained texture. The Kyoto reference, meanwhile, echoes the serenity of traditional Japanese gardens, with its nuanced color scheme recalling a glistening pond when turned at a certain angle. The dark green outer ring perfectly complements the gray center, which also features a grained texture.
Known for its great value-to-price ratio, MING is selling the 22.01 watches for CHF 3,250 (~$3,495). And, like all MING watches, these will be tough to get your hands on. Each variant is limited to 1000 pieces, with the first 300 of both the Kyoto and Gilt references being made available exclusively to existing customers on March 10th and March 17th, respectively. The remaining 700 of each will be available to the rest of the public at 1 pm GMT on the 11th and 18th, with sell-outs expected within seconds. Deliveries on the watches are expected this December.
