Ming 29.01 Midnight Worldtimer

In 2023, we presented our 29-series with our popular 29.01 Worldtimer. Following on from this and by popular demand, it is our pleasure to present a stealthier, subtler companion – the Batman to Bruce Wayne, if you will – in today’s release, the 29.01 Midnight.

It’s for covert night missions. Secret assignations. Dead drops. International persons of mystery. Solo pilots on polar routes. Nocturnal hot air balloon pilots. Fighting crime (by night). Persons with discrete and discreet paramours. Lovers of subtle warm accents. Negotiations of the utmost importance. Competitor reconnaissance. Or plain ol’ insomnia.

Actually, we just like the colour combination that first debuted on the 37.09 Uni, and thought that a more sophisticated sibling might not be amiss. Building off the bold and seamless original worldtimer, the Midnight has an adjustable and rotating metal dial that carries the 24-hour indication to be read against static cities carried on two levels of a sapphire dial. We’ve chosen a representative selection of our favourite hotspots of intrigue from New York to Rio and old London town (with Pago Pago thrown in for good measure). The effect is one of subtle layering and texture, offset against contrasting indices on the upper sapphire dial and sapphire hands.

There is of course plenty of luminous material in play – in fact every marking on the sapphire components and hands are ceramic Super-LumiNova X1, for an extended glow. The orange numbers also glow, but in orange. There is simply no reason for missing your nocturnal rendezvous.

A deep sapphire box on the front serves as both crystal and bezel; it is bonded seamlessly to the DLC coated grade 5 titanium case body. This case body carries the upper portion of the openworked flying blade lugs which also feature an interlocking groove that keys into the caseback, which also appears seamless from the underside. A polished top and bottom finish to the lugs contrasts with the matte texture of the case sides, with dynamic sculpting continuously blending lug surfaces with case body. Though it is one of our larger cases at 40mm, with the visual presence to match, the shorter lugs allow for wearability across a wide variety of wrist sizes.

Schwarz-Etienne’s microrotor automatic has been given a thorough overhaul and is visually distinctive thanks to the all-bespoke bridge design by Ming Thein. It is even more open, airy and transparent, with unique features to bring it in line with our latest design language. The barrel is fully skeletonized and more open than before for easier determination of state of wind; plates and bridges are 5N rose gold coated for a little romance under that otherwise serious exterior; the rotor guard is a whimsical four-level ‘staircase’ with anglage, and the tungsten microrotor itself is a little larger with a new organic shape inspired by donuts for higher winding efficiency. The microrotor also has a new mounting and ceramic ball bearings for increased winding efficiency.

The 29.01 Midnight is finished off with our exceedingly comfortable FKM rubber strap on a matching DLC coated buckle. And because we’re only making 25 of them, chances of spotting another one in the field are vanishingly small.

Reference: 29.01 Midnight Worldtimer

Limited: 25 Pieces

Bracelet: Orange FKM Rubber Strap by Jean Rosseau Paris

Case: 40mm x 11.8mm thickness - Grade 5 Titainium with DLC black coating

Lug Width: 22mm

Dial: Layered sapphire dial featuring rotating 24-hour scale and fixed city disc, both infused with HyCeram Super-LumiNova X1 for exceptional night legibility.

Movement: Schwarz-Etienne for Ming ASE 222 - bidirectional automatic via micro-rotor with 5N rose gold-coated bridges

Functions: Hours, Minutes, Worldtimer

Box and Papers: Inner/outer boxes, and warranty papers

Crystal: Sapphire

Bracelet size: 7.5”

Case has no wear. Strap has no wear. Dial, hands, and crystal have no wear. Maybe worn a handful of times.

Horologer MING, founded in 2017 by photographer and watch enthusiast Ming Thein, has quickly become a notable player in the watch industry. Born from Thein's passion for horology and frustration with the industry's increasing prices and pretentiousness, MING was created alongside a group of like-minded enthusiasts. The brand's philosophy centers on delivering mechanical watches with distinctive designs, exceptional value, and integrity across all price points. MING's approach is characterized by its reductive design language, featuring strong symmetry, flared lugs, and visual layering that creates dynamic appearances under different lighting conditions.

Despite its young age, MING has garnered significant acclaim, including a GPHG shortlisting for its 19.01 model in 2018. The brand operates through collaborations with various partners, allowing it to produce a range of watches from entry-level to high-end pieces. MING's unique position in the market stems from its commitment to transparency, limited production runs, and a customer-centric approach. As the brand continues to evolve, it faces challenges due to its Malaysian base and lack of a local watchmaking ecosystem. However, MING remains focused on innovation, exploring new complications and designs while staying true to its founding principles of value, integrity, and coherent design.