Ming’s latest special project is the 56.00 Starfield and while on first look you might be taken in by the dial and caseback, the focus here is actually on the integrated bracelet. It has been engineered to overcome the common issues that face integrated bracelets – comfort, wearability and customisation. In fact, there are two new patent applications for the bracelet, that’s how far Ming has gone to overcome these issues.
Without beating around the bush, let’s jump straight to the bracelet. Starting with comfort, careful attention has been paid to prevent the pinching sensation that can be experienced with other styles of bracelet. This has been achieved by using curved links instead of straight ones and a higher pivot point, so that the bracelet follows the contour of your wrist in a smooth, continuous line.
The first of the patent applications comes from a new tool-less link removal system. There are a series of removable links included in the bracelet allowing you to set the size of the bracelet and removing them is as simple as activating a slider on their underside, no fiddling with screwdrivers here. The second patent application regards the clasp, which has a new micro-adjustment system allowing you to alter the size of the bracelet on the fly without removing or adding links. Together, these mechanisms make this one of the easiest integrated bracelets to adjust around.
For the case body, the Ming 56.00 Starfield measures 40mm in diameter x 9.7mm thickness, produced in mirror polished steel. It has a futuristic vibe with flared lugs and a strip of HyCeram luminous material across the width of lugs hugging the outer edge of the bezel. It feels like a spaceship, which given the name of the watch is very appropriate. Although the specific name of Starfield actually comes from the caseback, which features apertures through which you can see the lumed rotor, giving the impression of traveling at warp speed with stars flashing past you.
The display reminds me of the 37.02 Minimalist, making use of lumed strips where it’s the intervals between the strips that mark the hours. The dial is constructed from sapphire crystal featuring Ming’s signature Sapphire Mosaic pattern, which gives it a nebulous quality beneath the sapphire box crystal.
Powering the watch is the calibre MING 3002.M1 by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. It’s a three-hand automatic with a 50-hour power reserve. Its party piece, as mentioned above, is the lumed rotor visible through the caseback. Though in combination with the double patent pending bracelet, sapphire dial construction and proprietary lumed elements across the case and display, the watch isn’t exactly accessible.
The Ming 56.00 Starfield is priced at CHF 19,500 excl. tax (approx. £18,600) in a limited edition of 20 pieces. It’s available from today, 10th February at 1pm. Ming’s price range is one of the widest of any independent, running from around £3,000 – £30,000, so the Starfield actually falls at the lower end of their haute models. It’s kind of exciting to see independents take the initiative to challenge top end, luxury design spaces.
Price and Specs:
More details at MING.
Ever since Ming watches came onto the radar (pun fully intended with reference to the Starline / Sci-Fi inspiration of this latest issue), I have liked the overall look of their pieces.
As you point out, integrated bracelets are difficult to get right, and are more difficult to hit the spot than straps (straps can more readily be changed than bracelets), so for me with my designers head, this is almost there, but not quite. Can’t quite see the logic of the lumed feature at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock either, it sort of misdirects the eye from the lumed dial. I would personally go for other Ming watches (given the choice), but if I had the odd £18k to spare in my watch fund, there are other watches other than Ming that I would be buying. Beautiful dial by the way.