MING presents the world’s lightest mechanical wristwatches: the MING LW.01 Manual and LW.01 Automatic.
The entire case construction has been redesigned to minimize the amount of metal used, whilst retaining (and maximizing) rigidity. In a normal watch, the dial is fixed to the movement, which is in turn fixed to the caseband, with upper and lower bezels forming the front crystal and caseback respectively.
The MING LW.01 has a combined “dial” ring and movement holder shaped like a hat, just 0.5mm thick in places but ribbed for strength. To prevent injury to the dial or disruption of the movement, this assembly is supported from the rear by a cage with 3D struts. It also caps and seals the entire assembly to the bezel, which despite being very narrow, is internally hollowed to save further weight.
There is no actual dial per se: the outer ring/background is the movement holder, and the central movement portion is occluded by a gradient print on the outer crystal – which also contains the index markings.
MING explored a wide range of ultralight materials including carbon fiber derivatives and hollow-core 3D printing, but ultimately found that AZ31 Magnesium-Aluminium-Zinc- Manganese alloy from Smiths High Performance was both lighter than carbon (1.77g/cc, vs~2g/cc density), more consistent to produce than hollow 3D printing, and more importantly retained the feel of metal.
It is further surface treated by plasma electrolytic oxidation by Keronite for corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, with a further composite protective layer.
Instead of sapphire crystal, these watches feature Corning Gorilla Glass 6 via Knight Optical with an additional hardening treatment. At 2.40g/cc, it is significantly lighter than the 3.98g/cc of traditional sapphire whilst retaining 670 Vickers hardness and high impact resistance.
Every single component on the watch – down to the screws (in PEEK composite), hollowing of the bezel, and anglage of case buttressing – was optimised to hit the absolute balance of durability and weight. The crown is in anodised aluminium for durability of threading reasons.
Finite element simulation was used to check overall torsional rigidity of the watch case. Fixed integral bars machined from the same billet as the case both contribute to rigidity and are lighter than steel spring bars.
The final result is a complete head weight of just 8.8 grams with manual winding, 10.8 grams with automatic winding, and an additional 0.6 grams for the matching AZ31 buckle, and 1.2 grams for the ‘record’ spec Alcantara strap. This puts a ready-to-wear watch at 10.6g or 12.6g.
The LW.01 has a several distinctive features that pay tribute to earlier creations: the pulse seconds disc with an interference pattern as an evolution of MT’s own Ochs und Junior Simpleton of 2016; a shuriken hour hand from the 17.03, and the gradient and skeleton peripheral ring on the crystal from the 19 series.
Indices are a visually ‘lighter’ skeletonised version of the 37 series. It also of course carries the same flared lugs and ergonomic crown of other MING watches.
To machine AZ31 magnesium, MING has been utilizing the expertise of Reto Helfenstein of Helfenstein Mechanik. The raw AZ31 billet comes from Smiths High Performance in the UK, and Keronite handles the plasma electrolytic oxidation.
Manufacture Jean-Rousseau created the single layer Alcantara straps that weigh just 1.2 grams, yet are soft and comfortable to wear without being floppy.
Included with the watch is also a selection of other straps for a different feel. The brand is also offering a second buckle (in aluminium and in the signature tuck buckle design) by DBMF.
Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne figured out which components within the ETA2000 could be removed or lightened to further save weight, and which had to remain untouched for reliability. Final assembly and testing are conducted at Schwarz-Etienne.
The LW.01 is a Special Projects Cave release, limited to 200 watches, and priced at CHF 19,500. These timepieces are now available to order exclusively from http://www.ming.watch.
The choice between manual and automatic can be decided by the customer at the time of order. Deliveries are expected to begin Q4-2024.
Technical details
Model: MING LW.01 A
Functions
Hours, minutes and running indicator; automatic winding
Case, dial & hands
38mm diameter, 6.5mm thickness
PEO treated AZ31 magnesium alloy case and dial; crown in anodised aluminium; screws in PEEK composite
Corning Gorilla Glass 6 crystal with hardening and antireflective treatment
Unique buttressed case construction with integral “dial”/movement holder
Pulse seconds running indicator
25m water resistance
20mm lug width with fixed bars
Movement
ETA 2000.M1 modified by Schwarz-Etienne for MING
~36h power reserve at full wind
Automatic winding
Strap/ bracelet
‘Record’ single layer Alcantara strap by Jean Rousseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Two-tone double layer Alcantara strap by Jean Rousseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Single layer natural rubber strap by Jean Rousseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Weight
Head: 10.8g
Buckle: 0.6g
Strap: 1.2g
Total: 12.6g
Pouch
Leather travel pouch handmade in Kuala Lumpur by Studio Koji Sato
Warranty
Extended 3-year mechanical warranty
Origin
Made in Switzerland
Price
CHF 19,500 including insured shipping via DHL Express
Model: MING LW.01 M
Functions
Hours, minutes and running indicator
Hand winding with decoupling mainspring decoupling for over-wind protection
Case, dial & hands
38mm diameter, 6.5mm thickness
PEO treated AZ31 magnesium alloy case and dial; crown in anodised aluminium; screws in PEEK composite
Corning Gorilla Glass 6 crystal with hardening and antireflective treatment
Unique buttressed case construction with integral “dial”/movement holder
Pulse seconds running indicator
25m water resistance
20mm lug width with fixed bars
Movement
ETA 2000.M2 modified by Schwarz-Etienne for MING
~36h power reserve at full wind
Manual winding
Strap/ bracelet
‘Record’ single layer Alcantara strap by Jean Rousseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Two-tone double layer Alcantara strap by Jean Rousseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Single layer natural rubber strap by Jean Rosseau Paris, with signed AZ31 Magnesium buckle
Weight
Head: 8.8g
Buckle: 0.6g
Strap: 1.2g
Total: 10.6g
Pouch
Leather travel pouch handmade in Kuala Lumpur by Studio Koji Sato
Warranty
Extended 3-year mechanical warranty
Origin
Made in Switzerland
Price
CHF 19,500 including insured shipping via DHL Express
