Have you heard of Horologer MING, which distinguishes itself from many brands with its lug designs?
Who is Ming Thein?
The brand's founder, Ming Thein, graduated from high school at 12 and started university at 13. After graduating from Oxford University with a physics degree at 16, Ming's passion for watches was further ignited after his family gifted him an A. Lange & Söhne 1815. A photographer, designer, and strategist, Ming came up with the idea of founding a brand with a few watch enthusiast friends while returning from a watch fair in 2014. Ming Thein and his five friends founded "MING," based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Who is Praneeth Rajsingh?
Praneeth Raj Singh, one of his friends with whom he co-founded the brand, met Ming Thein through photography. He says he became interested in watches after his grandfather gifted him an Omega Pie-Pan Constellation. As CEO of the company, Praneeth oversees all company activities related to bringing Ming Thein's fantastic designs to life. He graduated from Drake University with a degree in Actuarial Science and Finance, summa cum laude, with the highest honors in Latin.
Philosophy of the Brand
The philosophy underlying the brand's designs is based on the idea that watches should not only be considered a luxury indulgence but also offer value for money. This is clearly evident in every model produced. Not only watch enthusiasts but also leading watchmaking organizations must recognize this, as the brand's models frequently garner significant attention at trade shows and awards.
MING was born in the world of watchmaking, thinking, "I'd like to see a watch like this," and is a brand that balances aesthetics, innovation, and function. Founder Ming Thein, a designer, photographer, and engineer, aims to create watches that "I'd be happy with whatever I do." His vision isn't just for a watch to tell the time; it's about considering how light, form, and color interact within this object.
The brand blends the finesse of traditional Swiss watchmaking with new materials and a strong visual language. This approach includes experimenting with materials such as sapphire glass, magnesium alloys, and borosilicate glass.
But MING's goal isn't just technical superiority; it's about empowering people to rediscover watches over time. As the light changes and angles change, the watches reveal different facets, offering visual and tactile pleasure to any collector of the brand or newcomer.
In conclusion, MING's philosophy is nourished by originality, simple elegance, and the emotion created through materials and light; it accepts that the "watch" is both a tool for use and an aesthetic object.
models
Let's take a look at some of the remarkable models the brand has produced so far.
THOUSAND 17.01
Although the brand was founded in 2014, production wasn't immediately a reality. After considering the design until 2016, the "MING 17.01" was unveiled in August 2017. The brand, which generally adopts a minimalist and simple design language, remained very true to this ethos with its first model. Its lightweight 38mm case, crafted from Grade 5 titanium, offers 100m water resistance. Powered by the Swiss Sellita SW210-1 movement, the watch is hand-wound. The brand cited the idea that the watch invites its owner to interact with it daily. Available in blue and anthracite, the model is limited to 150 pieces in each color.
The "17.03 GMT" model was later added to this model family. As its name suggests, this watch, which features a GMT complication, is powered by the Sellita SW330-1 automatic movement.
The brand's copper-colored variation, produced in 20129 as the MING 17.06 Cooper, won the "Horological Revelation" award at the GPHG awards in 2019. Unlike the main model, this watch is powered by the ETA 2824-2 movement.
THOUSAND 19.01
Designed without a specific price tag, the MING 19.01 is one of the brand's most ambitious watches. Seeking a watch for simple, everyday wear, MING has created this stunning timepiece, remaining true to the brand's philosophy and design. The thin Grade 5 titanium casing, which holds the sapphire crystals on the front and back, significantly enhances lightness. The true work of art is revealed when you look at the back of the watch. Powered by the Schwarz-Etienne Caliber MSE100 movement, the watch offers a 100-hour power reserve and, thanks to its capless mainsprings, allows you to gauge the remaining reserve. This magnificent model was also a finalist in the GPHG in 2018, making it a favorite among watch enthusiasts.
MING 20.01 Series 1
After significantly establishing its place in the watch world with the 17.01 and 19.01 models, the brand began work on a new model. Work began on the model in 2018 and was ready for release in early 2020, but due to global challenges, it wasn't released to watch enthusiasts until a year later. The watch, which emerged as a result of the brand's search for a chronograph model, uses Agenhor's AgenGraph movement. This movement allows the brand to incorporate a 60-minute counter, hand-winding, and centering all components, resulting in a remarkably symmetrical and clean dial. This model, visible through the transparent caseback, features DLC coating on the bridges and plates, further enhancing the sense of depth. Naturally, the combination of all these magnificent features ensured success, and the watch was shortlisted for the GPHG Chronograph category in 2021.
The MING 20.01 Series 2 model, meanwhile, features a brand new dial from the same family. The dial base is made of Grade 2 titanium with a Cloude de Paris pattern, which also serves as a bridge for certain parts of the movement.
The MING 20.01 Series 3 model, however, revolutionized the dial. This magnificent dial, called fusion borosilicate, consists of 600 cavities, which change size in both horizontal and vertical planes, creating radial symmetry. All 600 cavities are individually filled by hand using syringes with the Super Lumionva-X1 liquid mixture, creating a stunning glow.
The latest addition to the brand's groundbreaking series in dials, the 20.01 series, is the MING 20.01 series 5, currently on sale. This new model family, which offers exquisite viewing pleasure in every series, also boasts a stunning dial, just like the other models. This micro-machined dial, as beautiful as it is difficult to describe, is composed of intricate radial slats laser-cut into a single metal block, interlocking vertically and horizontally. This exquisitely dialed work of art has been nominated for the 2025 GPHG "Chronograph" category.
MING 27.01 Ultra Thin
This model, which the brand considers a continuation of its 17.01 model family, is actually the first of a second design era. While the brand's founder, Ming Thein, created designs in 2D for previous models, he is learning 3D CAD, and this model's design begins entirely in 3D. Radial symmetry, legibility, and the 0 symbol are further simplified with this model. True to its name, with a thickness of 6,9mm, the watch is powered by the ETA Peseux 7001 movement. The brand claims to use only the escapement and gear train of this movement. The bridges and plates are designed to reflect the aesthetics of the 19 series, courtesy of Manufacture Schwarz Etienne.
MING 57.04 Iris
The brand, which celebrated its 8th birthday last August, is presenting a special model. According to the brand, having transitioned to its 5th-generation design language, this model adds a modern touch to its Art Deco style. This bold model is a showcase of the brand's casemaking expertise. A closer look at the nine-piece lug design reveals the polished top and brushed sides. The brand's favorite complication, the single-pusher chronograph, is also featured in this special watch. Ming Thein's desire for an affordable single-pusher chronograph watch has been fulfilled with this model. In collaboration with Sellita, a unique configuration and movement finish were developed for the Sellita for MING Cal. SW562.M1. The exquisite hand-wound movement, featuring a central seconds dial and a 30-minute counter at 6 o'clock, offers a power reserve of nearly 60 hours. The dial, which gives the watch its name, is also a work of art. The color of the dial is very difficult to describe and name as it contains all the color transitions between turquoise and purple, but the brand has found a wonderful name with the name “Iris”.
Horologer MING, demonstrates the validity of its philosophy with every watch it presents. It's hard to call these magnificent models, which offer incredible value for money, simply watches. The R&D efforts, handcrafted designs, and captivating mechanisms behind each one make us love this brand even more. Don't forget to visit our upcoming interview with the brand to catch our attention.
