The Bluefin is equipped with two crowns, one controlling the movement (at 2 o’clock) and the other activating the internal rotating dial. — Photos: MING
Flared lugs, layered dials and luminous rings etched into an underside of sapphire crystal; these are all features that have become hallmarks of timepieces by MING. Let’s take a look at a pair of standout watches from the remarkable independent horological brand.
Following the brand’s first-ever win at the 2019 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2019, the brand won again last year in Geneva when it picked up the Best Sports Watch Prize award for its Bluefin dive watch.
Water-resistant up to 60 ATM (600m), the Bluefin is a comfortably proportioned watch at 38mm in diameter with a 12.8mm thickness, 2.8mm of which is externally domed sapphire crystal.
Paired with the alternating polished and brushed finishes, this watch wears much thinner on the wrist, but has a generous visual presence due to the almost complete absence of a bezel.
Although the watch is aesthetically similar to the other MING watch models in the 37-series, it has its own unique internal construction for two reasons: pressure resistance and to support the timer scale required of a diver.
Also, instead of using the traditional rotating bezel, it houses a Super-LumiNova X1-filled sapphire dial.
This brand new dive watch from the brand takes inspiration from the sea urchin, which is called uni in Japanese.
Just like the earlier Bluefin, the Uni has a rotating sapphire timing dial that can be easily operated underwater.
The MING 37.09 Uni has a 38mm DLC-coated case engineered to ensure pressure balancing and water-resistance to 600m.
It introduces a new design for the hour indices, carries an abundance of Super-LumiNova on the dial, top crystal and hands, and is the first MING timepiece to have orange emission Super-LumiNova.
Each timepiece also comes with a black rubber strap.
At the heart of each timepiece is the automatic Sellita for MING SW300.M1 movement in a unique finish.
The Uni has a rubber strap with an ingeniously designed buckle that allows it to “tuck” under the short and guarantees a luxuriously snug fit.
This Swiss-made movement is visible through the exhibition caseback and offers an approximate power reserve of about 50 hours.
Avid collectors should take note that only 150 pieces of these exquisite watches will be available this year.
