Introducing MING | Modern Watchmaking Reinvented
Oster Jewelers is proud to announce a new partnership with MING, one of the most compelling names in independent watchmaking of today. Their innovative and fresh approach to horology stands out from the rest, making MING one of the most exciting brands to have emerged out of the last decade of the watch industry. MING exemplifies the art of modern watchmaking while embracing the traditions of the finest haute horlogerie.
Founded in 2017 by Ming Thein, MING began as a deeply personal exploration of horological curiosity. Thein, an accomplished designer, photographer, and engineer, set out to create the watches he wanted to wear. As a result, MING developed a design language rooted in thoughtful engineering, strong visual identity, and a subtle sense of play. Over the past nine years, the brand has refined this approach while maintaining its independent spirit. Every release reflects a deliberate balance between technical rigor and creative expression.
Light serves as one of Horologer MING’s greatest inspirations. Drawing from Thein’s background in photography, the brand experiments with sapphire, Gorilla Glass, and borosilicate to manipulate transparency and depth. Its signature “inversion” and layered dial construction create striking optical effects rarely seen in modern watch design. Meanwhile, materials such as pure titanium, tantalum, and magnesium alloys introduce tactile contrast and wearing comfort.
Advanced lume applications, including proprietary Polar White formulas, ensure legibility in any condition. This commitment to innovation has earned global recognition, including top honors at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Yet beyond the awards, MING remains focused on crafting mechanical watches for the modern age with pieces that deliver lasting value, versatility, and unmistakable character.
An Introduction to the collection
Across the MING collection, innovation shows up not only in aesthetics but in engineering philosophy. The result is a portfolio of independent mechanical watches that feels cohesive in identity yet wide-ranging in technical execution.
MING 57.04 Phoenix
The MING 57.04 Phoenix expands the brand’s fifth generation with a bold yet controlled statement in haute horology. Monopusher chronographs have become central to MING’s identity, and this addition cements that reputation. While its Iris predecessor leaned vibrant, the Phoenix takes a more restrained path while still evoking a similar conceptual personality. A deeply dished grey dial features radial cutouts that reveal a multiphasic, color-shifting baseplate beneath. The effect feels architectural and layered, with flashes of tone surfacing through shadow and texture. This luxury Swiss chronograph delivers depth without excess, balancing graphic structure with subtle bursts of color.
The Phoenix stands apart as a destro monopusher chronograph, with crown and pusher positioned on the left side. This unconventional layout enhances ergonomics and reinforces its independent spirit. Inside beats the customized Sellita for MING Cal. SW562.M1, now fitted with a sculpted anthracite three-quarter plate that mirrors the dial’s character. It offers a robust 60-hour power reserve and a satisfying manual winding feel through its oversized crown.
The 40mm stainless steel case channels modern Art Deco influences with intricate finishing and sculptural lines. Luminous details in MING Polar White and Super-LumiNova X1 ultimate visibility in the lowest light. Fitted with the MING FKM rubber strap completes this high-end mechanical chronograph on the wrist, blending technical authority with daring design.
MING 37.09 Bluefin
The MING 37.09 Bluefin rethinks the modern dive watch from the inside out. It earned the Sports Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and the recognition feels justified. Rather than chase bulk and brute force, MING refined the architecture. The team stepped back from thicker case concepts and returned to the elegant proportions of the 37-series. The result is a 38mm luxury dive watch measuring just 12.8mm thick, yet rated to a formidable 600 meters of water resistance.
Instead of a traditional rotating bezel, MING engineered an internal timing system. A sealed crown at 4 o’clock rotates the entire sapphire dial through a 60-click, unidirectional mechanism. You can operate it underwater, and it never pulls out or screws down. The Super-LumiNova X1-filled scale sits beneath a richly metallized blue sapphire dial, while Hyceram lume hour markers rest on the underside of the top crystal.
Flip the watch over and the customized Sellita for MING SW300.M1 comes into view. The skeletonized rotor and matte anthracite bridges add a technical edge. Finally, the molded FKM rubber strap deserves its own spotlight. Keeperless, tapered, and precisely balanced for flexibility and support, it elevates the entire wearing experience. With its 50 hours of power reserve, staggering water resistance, and bidirectional automatic winding, the MING 37-09 Bluefin is a serious Swiss automatic dive watch for professionals and collectors alike.
MING 37.08 Starlight
The MING 37.08 Starlight captures the drama of a clear night sky in a refined luxury dress watch. Its aventurine dial shimmers with fine metallic flecks set against a deep blue-black base. Each dial varies slightly, which makes every piece feel individual. MING carefully selected the exact tone and sparkle to achieve a balanced, celestial effect. As a result, this Swiss mechanical watch feels formal yet versatile, equally suited to black tie events or quiet evenings out.
Because the aventurine surface already reflects light beautifully, MING eliminated the need for an additional sapphire dial layer. This streamlined construction preserves the brand’s signature inversion while protecting the delicate stone with a solid metal backing. Anthracite-coated hands feature a new multi-layer Super-LumiNova X1 application for brighter, longer-lasting glow.
The 38mm stainless steel case measures just 10.9mm thick, yet the narrow bezel and brushed-polished finishing give it greater visual presence. Inside, a hand-wound Sellita SW210.M1 in MING’s skeletonized rhodium execution adds mechanical depth. Paired with the sculpted 20mm universal bracelet, complete with quick release and hidden butterfly clasp, the 37.08 Starlight stands out as a distinctive independent luxury watch with real character.
MING 37.11 Odyssey
A follow up to the award winning Bluefin, the MING 37.11 Odyssey is a titanium GMT dive watch built for modern exploration. The Odyssey keeps the Bluefin’s pressure-balanced case architecture yet shifts the focus to travel. Crafted in grade 2 titanium, the watch head weighs just over 42 grams. It feels agile, tough, and ready for long-haul wear.
The original rotating dial remains, with an updated bidirectional function with 24 precise clicks for tracking global time zones. The smoked sapphire dial reveals subtle hints of the movement below, adding depth without clutter. Luminous 24-hour markings shift from blue for daytime to orange after dark. It’s a functional GMT complication with real personality.
MING also refined the tactile experience. The crown at 4 o’clock adjusts the dial and remains operable underwater. The primary crown at 2 o’clock screws down securely and features an unlocked warning indicator. Both crowns glow and carry color accents for quick reference. Above it all, the sapphire crystal displays Polar White hour markers, while the hands debut a gradient lume treatment never before seen from the brand.
With 300 meters of water resistance, this Swiss titanium dive watch stands ready for ocean crossings or international flights. Available on the MING FKM rubber strap, it can also be paired with a matching titanium bracelet or the innovative MING Polymesh strap for a lightweight luxury sports watch experience. In short, the 37.11 Odyssey isn’t just another luxury GMT diver. It’s a rethink of what a modern independent sports watch can be.
MING 29.01 Midnight
After the success of the 29.01 Worldtimer, MING returned with a greatly anticipated follow up with a darker, more subtle approach. Enter the 29.01 Midnight, a limited-edition luxury worldtimer with serious presence and a stealth personality. Think less boardroom spotlight, more after-hours strategy. This is a Swiss automatic world time watch built for travelers, dealmakers, and night owls who prefer subtle night moves over the flash of the day.
The rotating metal dial carries a 24-hour scale that aligns against city names displayed across two sapphire layers. From Tokyo to London, each location anchors this high-end GMT worldtimer in real global energy. The effect feels architectural. Layers of sapphire create depth and shadow, while contrasting indices and sapphire hands sharpen legibility. Every marking features ceramic Super-LumiNova X1 for long-lasting glow.
A deep sapphire box crystal functions as both bezel and front crystal, bonded seamlessly to the 40mm DLC-coated grade 5 titanium case. Despite its bold stance, this titanium luxury sports watch suits a wide range of wrist sizes. Inside, a heavily reworked Schwarz-Etienne microrotor movement elevates the mechanical story. The tungsten microrotor, shaped with organic curves and mounted on ceramic ball bearings, boosts winding efficiency, while the fully skeletonized barrel allows for easy reading of the power reserve state. With only 25 pieces available worldwide, exclusivity comes standard.
Oster Jewelers is always seeking out the most exciting and emerging talent in the industry, and we’re proud to add MING to our list of ever evolving independent watchmakers. Keep an eye out on this blog for an upcoming Keeping Time episode with Horologer MING. In the meantime, visit us at OsterJewelers.com to explore more from the MING collection now.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login