About a week ago, international watch brand Ming unveiled the latest addition to its dynamic catalog, previewing and partially releasing the new 27.02. The watch— a follow-up to the well-received 27.01 from 2020 — is a unique take on a time-only wearer, featuring a sporty case, multi-textured dial, and high-grade finishing throughout. Like previous models produced by the brand, the 27.02 is produced in partnership between Kuala Lumpur-based Ming, Switzerland’s Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne for production, France’s Jean Rousseau Paris for the straps, and French Studio Koji Sato for the accompanying travel pouches.
The last time we covered Ming on WatchTime.com was upon the release of the 17.03 GMT in 2018, at the time was another much-discussed limited edition. This new watch is the latest example of the brand carrying on its tradition of limited releases, international collaboration in development, and experimental watchmaking.
The case of the 27.02 is very curvy and made of polished and brushed steel. The monobloc machined case measures 38 mm in diameter x 6.9 mm thick, and features Ming’s signature “flying blade” (flared) lugs; a signed, deeply grooved tapered crown; and a rounded bezel securing the anti-reflective-coated sapphire crystal over the dial.
Underneath the crystal of the 50-meter water resistant case is a gradient sapphire dial. The obvious highlight of the piece, this dial is made up of three sectors: an outer blue clous-de-Paris ring with stamped guilloché, an inner deep blue section comprising most of the face, and laser-etched, white-filled indices and an hour ring dividing the two. Also emblematic of the young brand are the unusual hour markers for each position, broken up only by the circular 12 o’clock marker and subtle Ming logo at 3 o’clock. At the center are two minimalist, skeletonized hands determining the hour and minute, with no additional seconds hand.
Powering the 27.02 is the Ming caliber 7001.M1, which according to the brand is based upon an ETA 7001 and heavily modified, complete with new bridges and baseplate. Hand wound and holding a 42-hour power reserve, the mechanism is visible behind the exhibition window of a screwed-down, stylized caseback with various watch descriptors engraved around the periphery.
The total production run of the 27.02 will be limited to 200 pieces, each priced at CHF 4,950 or about $5,569. The model was first released on January 15th alongside other 27.01 models, but quickly sold out of its first batch. It is currently set for its second drop on January 22 at 10 PM EST, with this group also widely expected to sell out quickly.
To learn more and inquire for purchase, you can visit Ming’s website, here.
Very nice clean looking watch with its minimalist styling and curves, but on the small side for most, being only 38mm.