Introducing gradient guilloché

We took the case of the 2020 GPHG-finalist 27.01 and found some more internal space. This was sufficient to add a sapphire dial (necessarily thicker than the brass dial of the 27.01) and a blue Clous-de-Paris guilloché ring around the periphery of the movement, without any increase in overall thickness.

In addition to our core elements of radial symmetry, legibility, the 0 marker and flared lugs, we extended the smooth visual transitions beyond the case lines to the dial itself. We added a gradient to the lower surface of the sapphire dial and laser etched markers on the upper surface, causing the guilloché to appear to fade in not just depth and spatial frequency but also saturation. It transitions from an inky black center to prominent guilloché at the edges and exhibits our trademark inversion under certain angles – with the markers appearing to float over a uniform mirror.

Ultra thin and minimalist

27.02 retains the 6.9mm total height (including cyrstals) of the 27.01 and shares the overall reductionist aesthetic. We retained the ‘flying blade’ lugs machined from a monobloc caseband in stainless steel and the 38x6.9mm proportions which give the watch solid wrist presence but versatile wearability.

Fortunately, during 2020, some additional ETA Peseux 7001s in the specification we required became available. This allowed us to produce another batch of watches in our heavily reworked variant – the MING 7001.M1. We begin with the base movement but essentially retain only the gear train and escapement. The bridges and plates are reworked by Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne in a configuration of our design: solid baseplate with maximal opening of upper bridges to put moving components on display. It is a continuation of our belief that a display back must have something worth seeing behind it.

Visual layering

Like its sibling, the 27.02 is one of our most formal pieces and does not carry any luminous material. However, a contrasting mix of surfaces allows for exceptional legibility and a sensation of much greater physical depth than should be possible given the case thickness. In its interaction with light, the 27.02 is still very much a MING.

The variation in texture continues through the case: at the front, the lighter polished steel bezel transitions to blue guilloché and then an inky black pool on the dial. On the sides, polished flying blades are offset against matte-blasted recesses and the rear echoes the front, with brushed steel and etched text surrounding a black movement.

On partnerships

We continue our partnership with Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne for the production of the 27.02, Jean Rousseau Paris for the straps and Studio Koji Sato for our travel pouches. We are proud to apply consistent quality control standards across the range, be it for flagship or entry-level watches.

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