When I first started expanding my horological horizons a few years back, one brand that immediately caught my attention was MING. The relatively new Malaysian microbrand spoke to me with its evocative design language, minimal branding, and dial designs that seemed to illuminate regardless of lume coating. Regardless of how difficult it is to acquire an actual MING watch, I simply couldn’t get these timepieces off of my mind.

Today, MING has unveiled what might be its most memorable model yet, the 20.01 Series 3. Let’s take a look at what makes it so special…

A Brief History of MING

Launching in 2017 by Ming Thein and his team of watch enthusiasts, MING started with its instantly recognizable visual ethos and has evolved within those confines. 2021 marked the beginning of the brand’s Special Projects Cave where it’s had fun with dial lasering, lume, and material, and to impressive results. Less than a year ago, they acquired a world record with the LW.01 Manual, the world’s lightest mechanical watch tipping the scales at 8.8g. And now, the Special Project Cave is responsible for the watch we’re talking about today.

MING 20.01 Series 3 Basics

MING’s latest creation is based on their 20-series models, which refers to the overall design language and dial layering. Like previous models, it measures 41.5mm across, but this time is housed in an 18k rose gold case — its second ever — with a titanium DLC case core offering a surprising 50m of water resistance. It’s adorned with an anthracite goat leather strap.

As for the dial, it’s a fused borosilicate material, lasered to form 600 cavities which create a “radially symmetric circular pattern that changes size not just in the horizontal plane, but also vertically.” Each of the 600 cavities are then filled by hand (via syringes) with Super-LumiNova X1 lume, giving off a floating effect in the process. This is a new method developed by MING and a microcosm of what makes them so highly-coveted (that, and the limited-to-20 edition size).

A Sophisticated Chronograph

If you can’t tell, the 20.01 Series 3 is actually a chronograph, powered by Agenhor’s AgenGraphe manually-wound movement (visible through the caseback), which MING calls, “arguably one of the most significant and sophisticated chronograph movements available today.” We can’t argue there. Both the chronograph second and jumping minute hands are centrally mounted in lieu of subdials. In the photographs, these are the blue-colored hands. Meanwhile, the larger hands tell the actual time of day and they’ve each been given a different lume design for clarity.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Like other MING watches, the 20.01 Series 3 is highly limited. With only 20 examples made, the timepiece is priced at CHF 43,500 (~$51,000) from the brand’s website.

MING 20.01 Series 3

MING’s jaw-dropping 20.01 Series 3 uses an innovative lume application process, paired with one of the most sophisticated chronograph movements in existence.