One of the things I find myself talking about constantly in watch design is the idea of dynamism. It’s easy enough to put together a timepiece that looks good in photos, but crafting one that can shift and excite in varying light conditions is another beast entirely. Those that can do it, especially on a budget, are few and far between, so when a new player pops up with dynamism and interaction at the fore of their philosophy, I take notice.
That?s where designer Ming Thein comes in. A true Renaissance man, Ming has dipped his fingers in everything from finance to photography to theoretical physics, but through it all he remained a devoted and passionate watch enthusiast. His first foray into watch manufacturing himself, the Ming 17.01, draws on help from over 80 years of combined industry experience to build a limited run piece that is sure to turn some heads.
While the 38 millimeter titanium case design may seem rather conventional at a glance, once you start uncovering the details it?s anything but. From above, the wide, gently rounded bezel dominates the view, its polished surface catching the light brilliantly. But the really interesting forms from this angle are the lugs; short and sharply down-curved, they fall away quickly from the body of the case and take an unanticipated direction on the way. Near the ends, the lugs dramatically flare outward, creating almost hook-like projections that mirror the contours of the main case.
In profile, things are a ...