MING 27.01 and 27.02

[thesingularity7]

MING is/are dropping their last batch of 27.01s and their first and last batch of 27.02s this month.

MING 27.01



https://ming.watch/products/ming-27-01

MING 27.02

Full details of the 27.02 will be available on 14 January but we can leave you with a few headline stats: sapphire dial, gradient guilloche, 38mm diameter, 6.9mm thick, priced at CHF 4,950. This will be the final batch of 27.01 and 27.02 and once sold, we will be retiring the 27-series permanently.

Given that they sold their 27.02 prototype via auction last month, it should be safe to assume that it looks a lot like this one - 2020 MING 27.02 Concept

Their email indicates 150 units of the 27.01 and 200 units of the 27.02 to be released over three 'release dates' - 14th January for existing customers (50 x 27.01, 50 x 27.02), 15th January (50 x 27.01, 75 x 27.02) and 22nd January (50 x 27.01, 75 x 27.02).

It seems like their releases are increasing in frequency and slightly in size as well.

Thoughts?

[Codik]

They’re cool. Too expensive for me.

[yoast]

Originally Posted by codik

they’re cool. Too expensive for me.

+1

[scarlet knight]

Nice. How much do they cost, roughly?

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Nice. How much do they cost, roughly?

3950 CHF = ~$4460 for the 17.01

4950 CHF = ~$5590 for the 17.02

[enjoythemusic]

i'm guessing $5k.

[Etschell]

think i may buy one. got the email as well.

[athens7]

I enjoy my 27.01. It wears easily and keeps good time. I have always appreciated the Ming aesthetic, as well. That said, as to my perception of the quality of the watch, there are both pre-owned and new variants of major brands at similar price points that feel more substantial to me. YMMV.

[fullofboats]

Anyone know how Ming's pricing has changed the past few years? $5,000 for a steel, ETA, machined two hander seems very steep....

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Anyone know how Ming's pricing has changed the past few years? $5,000 for a steel, ETA, machined two hander seems very steep....

They are definitely getting more expensive.

2017 - Ming 17.01 - $900
2019 - Ming 17.06 - $1400
2020 - Ming 27.01 - $4500
2021 - Ming 27.02 - $5500

The Ming 27.01 and Ming 27.02 are using heavily customized/modified ETA7001 movements, as opposed to the top grade Sellita SW210-1s in the previous two.



From a pricing and value standpoint, I think the same can be said about a lot of watches in the price range using off-the-shelf ETA movements (Tudor, IWC, etc), stainless steel cases and pretty easy to manufacture dials and cases. And MING appears to be (successfully) positioning themselves as a high end brand, rather than just a unique looking micro-brand.

[Acquisition40]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Anyone know how Ming's pricing has changed the past few years? $5,000 for a steel, ETA, machined two hander seems very steep....

It is quite a jump from their earlier models; however, the price seems to be arguably "justified" when you consider all the factors. It's a Schwarz-Etienne partnership and collaboration, which would produce high quality movements all around compared to their earlier Sellita SW210-1 movements. As Ming states on their website, they've completely redone the movements only keeping the gear train and escapement. Additional work goes into making it look "open-worked" as well.

But even beyond the movement, the 27.02 is an extra-thin watch (which is not easy to execute well). It has a new, more complex case design and finish, gradient sapphire and guilloché dial, new buckles, etc.

Definitely would look like an unreasonable big jump if you just consider the movement, but there have been considerable "upgrades." While much of the design language and voice seem the same, the 27.02 seems to be an entirely different watch altogether.

I don't think they intend to price all the watches very high, unless they have something to back up the value proposition. Yet, it's likely that their price-points will go up as they begin to produce higher quality watches, which seems to be the direction they're headed.

S

[mike_lebow]

Anyone know if the hands are lumed on the 27.01 and .02?

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by mike_lebow

Anyone know if the hands are lumed on the 27.01 and .02?

I believe this watch has no lume.

[athens7]

No lume on the 27.01.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by athens7

No lume on the 27.01.

Oh fuuuuuuuuu................. (deeeeeeep sigh of sadness).

Yeah, I was hoping to get one yet no lume is a deal breaker as, c'mon, imagine it with lume.

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Oh fuuuuuuuuu................. (deeeeeeep sigh of sadness).

Yeah, I was hoping to get one yet no lume is a deal breaker as, c'mon, imagine it with lume.

The lume on my 17.01 was terrible, but the lume on my 18.01 is insane.

[chiscott_29]

No lume on the 27.02?? If that’s confirmed, I guess I can unset my early Friday morning alarm...


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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by chiscott_29

I guess I can unset my early Friday morning alarm...

Ooh, thanks for the reminder to delete my alarm.

Originally Posted by thesingularity7

The lume on my 17.01 was terrible, but the lume on my 18.01 is insane.

Thanks, great info! Yeah, am on a lume kick right now for the collection... and waiting for the PAM1118 to arrive.

[Etschell]

no lume sucks. forget it for me as well.

[Acquisition40]

The last batch of the 27.02 (and 27.01) sold out in 57 seconds!!! (I timed it)

S

[Dr.Stu]

Originally Posted by Acquisition40

The last batch of the 27.02 (and 27.01) sold out in 57 seconds!!! (I timed it)

S

True story.

[ksw]

Did anyone manage to snag one?

[enjoythemusic]

Congrats to those who got one. I passed due to no lume.

[chiscott_29]

I went from loving the 27.02 on initial release of the details, to being disappointed to learn there was no lume. And then I thought how I would wear this watch, and realized there will be maybe 1 in 1,000 times I look at the time and will wish it was lumed. So, I tried to get one on the first round of the sale and got lucky as one of the transactions that went through. I got an email the other day confirming an estimated late November 2021 delivery date, so I’m excited for my first Ming.

This will go into the category of “dressy” watch in my collection...I’ll get a couple of the different straps to make it more casual (definitely something in an orange tone) but overall it isn’t going to take time away from my sports models.


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[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by chiscott_29

I went from loving the 27.02 on initial release of the details, to being disappointed to learn there was no lume. And then I thought how I would wear this watch, and realized there will be maybe 1 in 1,000 times I look at the time and will wish it was lumed. So, I tried to get one on the first round of the sale and got lucky as one of the transactions that went through. I got an email the other day confirming an estimated late November 2021 delivery date, so I’m excited for my first Ming.

This will go into the category of “dressy” watch in my collection...I’ll get a couple of the different straps to make it more casual (definitely something in an orange tone) but overall it isn’t going to take time away from my sports models.


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Congratulations, I don't think you will be disappointing. Having owned two Mings so far, I think their build quality, design and finishing is really impressive.

[Acquisition40]

Originally Posted by chiscott_29

I went from loving the 27.02 on initial release of the details, to being disappointed to learn there was no lume. And then I thought how I would wear this watch, and realized there will be maybe 1 in 1,000 times I look at the time and will wish it was lumed. So, I tried to get one on the first round of the sale and got lucky as one of the transactions that went through. I got an email the other day confirming an estimated late November 2021 delivery date, so I’m excited for my first Ming.

This will go into the category of “dressy” watch in my collection...I’ll get a couple of the different straps to make it more casual (definitely something in an orange tone) but overall it isn’t going to take time away from my sports models.

Congrats! I agree with you in that the 27.02, of all Ming watches, is the one to NOT have lume, particularly because it was meant to be an extra-thin "dress" piece. It's an interesting way of framing the watch because I feel that Ming watches, by design, don't have the "traditional" dressy feel—like 1960s, 1970s, gold, 2 or 3 hand classic dress watches by PP, VC, JLC, etc—even the 27.01/02, his dressiest pieces yet.

I think it's the result of him staying true to what Ming is: a modern watch company with its unique design language. They're not trying to be something they're not (by trying to make it like a calatrava-type watch), all the while, thinking of transferring some of the elegance of what an extra-thin watch used to mean.

There are plenty of other Ming models with lume (most, if not all), and all the better for it since they're really cool. But also very cool that you were able to see through to how this watch—created today but thinking to the past—can really shine without lume!

S

[Montremoi]

Not my style but Ming is a cool guy. Read up his blog, his photographic skills are insane.

[athens7]

I saw an 18.01 today. Like my 27.01, it looks good, feels solid, sits nicely on the wrist, and has a unique and consistently applied set of brand identity themes. Ming seems to have their brand and Unique Vale Proposition pretty well in hand, IMO. It may not be for everyone, but clearly they can sell everything that they make. Kudos to the Ming team.

[enjoythemusic]

^^^ this

[Cru Jones]

The same design has gone from $900 to $5,500 in 3 years. Good for Ming, but hard for me to see the value or interest anymore.