The Ming 51.01 Halo Dresses Up Crystallized Titanium

Independent watch brand Ming  introduces the 51.01 Halo, a new interpretation of the dress watch that combines restrained proportions with an unusual approach to case construction. Measuring 37mm in diameter and just 8mm thick, the watch pairs a black lacquered dial with rose-gold-colored details. Its most distinctive feature, however, is the case: although it has the appearance of precious metal, it is made from crystallized grade-5 titanium transformed through a specialized heat-treatment process. Ming will produce the 51.01 Halo in a limited edition of 150 pieces.

Crystallized Titanium with a Precious Finish

The case material is the result of a carefully controlled chemical heat-treatment process. In a vacuum chamber, the grade-5 titanium is heated to temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Celsius and then cooled under controlled conditions. This process enlarges the metal’s naturally occurring crystalline grains. Subsequent acid etching brings the resulting grain structure to the surface, creating the case’s distinctive texture. A 5N coating provides the warm rose-gold color.

The black lacquered dial offers a contrasting composition, with a polished center and circular-brushed outer section that together create an opaline effect. The newly designed, ultra-slim hands echo the case color and combine brushed and sandblasted surfaces with polished angles. As on other Ming watches, the hour markers and logo are engraved into the box-shaped sapphire crystal rather than applied to the dial. For the Halo, they are filled with 5N-colored lacquer instead of luminous material, reinforcing the more formal character of the design. Both sapphire crystals feature multilayer, double-sided antireflective coatings.

A Slim Hand-Wound Movement with 90 Hours of Power Reserve

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the Ming 7380.M1 reveals a caliber developed in collaboration with Manufacture La Joux-Perret. It is the second movement collaboration between the two companies, following the Ming 37.04 Monopusher. The hand-wound caliber measures just 2.7mm thick and 29.4mm in diameter. Operating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hz, it offers an impressive power reserve of approximately 90 hours when fully wound. Its customized design includes skeletonized bridges with a matte anthracite coating and hand-finished anglage, set over a matte black-coated mainplate. The ratchet and barrel wheels feature Ming’s recognizable spoke pattern.

The 51.01 Halo is completed by a black goat-leather strap from Jean Rousseau Paris, fitted with curved quick-release spring bars. Its crystallized titanium flying-blade tuck buckle carries the same 5N coating as the case and incorporates a micro-adjustment system.

The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters and comes with a two-year limited mechanical warranty. It is priced at CHF 10,900 excluding taxes, or approximately $13,300. Orders open on November 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. GMT, or 8 a.m. ET, through the brand’s website and its international network of authorized retailers.