Horologer MING - MING 22.01 GMT KYOTO

With global travel finally resuming and given our last GMT was in 2018, we wanted to revisit the complication with the MING 22.01. The new 22-series also bridges the gap between the new 37-series and outgoing 17-series.

The serene Kyoto dial reflects the textures and colours of traditional Japanese gardens with placed stone and perfect moss, overlaid with the impression of water conveyed by an intermediate sapphire dial. The dial has a dark green outer chapter ring and grey center, both with grained texture, and GMT markings in silver.

New case, new construction

As the base metal dial is overlaid with sapphire, it exhibits our signature inversion under certain lighting conditions. During inversion, the underlying colour disappears completely, and multiple internal reflections deliver dynamic layering.

The metallic GMT markings are on the top of the sapphire dial to retain legibility, and hour indices are on the underside of the top crystal in HyCeram X1 formulation. Both dials are accompanied by colour-matched GMT hands and the highly legible handset from the 20 Series and 17.09.

The 38mm case draws inspiration from both the 20-series and 37-series and features alternating brushed and polished layers; it is a monobloc construction in grade 5 titanium and without spacers, and water resistant to 100m. The lugs retain our signature flare and feature a continuous twist highlighted by brushing that runs continuously from the case flanks through the underside of the lugs.

Movement on show

All of our watches now feature sapphire display backs and decorated movements; for the 22.01 we have chosen to use the automatic-winding Sellita SW330-2 in a black circular grained finish with a skeletonized rotor. The intermediate crown position adjusts the 24-hour GMT hand unidirectionally in one-hour increments, and the third crown position hacks the movement and adjusts all hands simultaneously.

The 22.01 is assembled by our partners Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne in Switzerland, finished with Barenia leather straps by Manufacture Jean Rousseau and accompanied by a leather travel pouch by Studio Koji Sato. We are also including our keeperless tuck buckle with half-hole micro-adjustment for a sleek, comfortable wearing experience.

- Functions:

Hours, minutes
Independently adjustable 24-hour GMT hand

- Case, dial & hands:

38mm diameter, 10.7mm thickness, 43.9mm lug to lug
Case in grade 5 titanium with sapphire caseback
Concave bezel; mixed brushed and polished finish
Top sapphire crystal with double sided antireflective coating,
Top sapphire with laser etched indices and HyCeram X1
Rigid case without spacer rings
100m water resistance with triple crown gaskets
Composite, three-part dial with grained finish in green-grey and matching GMT hands
Hands coated with Super-LumiNova X1

- Movement:

Cal. 330.M2 – based on the Sellita SW330-2
50-hour power reserve
28,800 bph (4Hz)
25 jewels
Hacking function

- Strap:

1x barenia strap, handmade by Jean Rousseau Paris
Signed tuck buckle in stainless steel
20x18mm, quick release with curved fitting

- Leather travel pouch handmade by Studio Koji Sato

- 2-year limited mechanical warranty

- Made in Switzerland

MING continually aims to improve aesthetics and functionality of products where possible; to this end we reserve the right to make changes prior to final delivery.

This guide applies to the following watches/ variants:

22.01 Kyoto
22.01 Gilt

Winding & power reserve:

The 22.01 is equipped with a self/automatic winding Sellita SW330.M2 movement.
This movement has a ~40 hour power reserve when fully wound.
If worn daily and the wearer is sufficiently active, the watch will stay wound and run indefinitely.
If the power reserve is depleted, please hand wind the watch with 20-30 turns of the crown and give it a light shake to restart.
Simply giving the watch a light shake and wearing it is not sufficient to bring the watch up to a full or nearly full state of wind.

Setting local and travel time:

The crown has three positions:

The first position (pushed all the way in) is where the crown should be for wearing and to ensure water resistance. The watch can also be hand wound in this position.
The second position (one click out) allows for the GMT hand to be set, unidirectionally. The movement continues running in this crown position, but the watch is not water resistant. When setting the GMT hand, please turn the crown crisply and precisely to ensure the hand jump a full hour increment. After setting to the desired time, back wind the crown to fully disengage the setting mechanism and push the crown back in.
The third position (two clicks out) allows for the setting of the hour and minute hands. The movement is 'hacked' in this position and stops running, and the watch is not water resistant.

Other useful information:

We recommend setting the main hour and minute hands before the GMT/ second timezone.
It is normal for the GMT hands to ‘catch up’ with the hour and minute hands after being set, as there is some slack in the gearing that needs to be caught up.
The 22.01 has a special AR coating (in order to allow us to have lume filled markers in the top crystal). If cleaned with a dry cloth, this AR coating can create static electricity and attract more dust. The best way to clean the top crystal is with a soft, clean and damp cloth.
We use different formulations and techniques to apply lume on the dial, hands, crystal and other components, etc. This results in a slight difference in the peak brightness and length of luminsence between the two. This is normal.
Modern luminous material requires charging to work effectively. Lume can be charged with direct exposure to bright sunlight or a strong light source such as a LED torch. The stronger the light source, the faster lume charges.

WINTER CLOSURE: Please note that shipments will be paused from Dec 13 to Jan 5. Happy holidays!

MING 22.01 GMT KYOTO