The new MING 29.01 Worldtimer is the spiritual successor to the 19.02 Worldtimer watch launched in 2019.
29.01 features a new organic form and smoothly flowing lines. There is no bezel, but instead the top crystal merges into the case body with no steps and plays the role of a bezel. The dial is also seamless: cities, indices and hands appear to float at different levels over a 24-hour disc with blue to black gradient representing day and night.
The metallic 24 hour disc is fully rotatable thanks to a peripheral ball bearing track. The sapphire upper dial as well as sapphire hands are laser-etched and filled with HyCeram X1 for great luminosity and night time visibility.
The 19-series case was intended to show off the movement sandwiched between two glass boxes. The all-new 29-series case has taken this concept even further. It is both physically larger at 40mm, as well as much visually larger due to the lack of bezel and 34mm dial. Short lugs keep the watch comfortably wearable on a wide range of wrist sizes.
A deep sapphire box on the front serves as both crystal and bezel; it is bonded seamlessly to the grade 5 titanium case body. This case body carries the upper portion of the flying blade lugs that are a key feature of the brand’s second generation design language and shared with the 27-series and 20-series. Here they are polished and with an interlocking groove that keys into the caseback.
This is secured with four Torx screws and also appears seamless from the underside. A polished top and bottom finish to the lugs contrasts with the matte texture of the case sides, with dynamic sculpting continuously blending lug surfaces with case body.
The Schwarz-Etienne Cal. ASE 222 microrotor automatic movement has been given a thorough overhaul and is also visually very different to previous versions thanks to an all-new bridge design. It is even more open, airy and transparent.
The barrel is fully skeletonized and more open than previous versions for easier determination of state of wind; plates and bridges are DLC coated with contrasting diamond cut anglage; the rotor guard is a whimsical four-level ‘staircase’ with anglage, and the rotor itself is a little larger with a new organic shape for higher winding efficiency.
It remains tungsten as this is higher density than 18K gold, but is coloured to match the going train and balance. The microrotor also has a new mounting and ceramic ball bearings for increased winding efficiency.
The MING 29.01 Worldtimer watch has a retail price of CHF 19,500. This variant will be produced in an edition of 100 pieces, with deliveries beginning March 2024.
Technical details
Model: MING 29.01 Worldtimer
Functions
Hours and minutes
World time function
Case
Grade 5 titanium case
40mm diameter
11.9mm thickness
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
Dial
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, 31 jewels
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
Other features
Leather travel pouch handmade in Kuala Lumpur by Studio Koji Sato
2-year limited mechanical warranty
Made in Switzerland
Pricing
CHF 19,500 with 50% deposit for confirmation
Deliveries expected to commence March 2024
Edition
Edition of 100 watches
