Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/06/25/ming-18-01-h41-and-27-01-revolution-and-evolution-reprise/
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Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
This ideology is in full effect on the 27.01, a spiritual successor and evolution of the 17 series and an aesthetic version 2.0 for Ming as a whole. While the 18.01 is aesthetically similar but visually very different from most Ming pieces due to being a distinctly different watch purpose, the 27.01 is a product of design evolution and tweaking and refining details.
Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
The first thing to note is that the 27.01 is an ultra-thin watch and built differently to accommodate that and highlight the differences. While the case outline and proportions are mostly the same from the front, the side profile is much more revealing. I mean this literally: the lugs and case band have been carved out to take what is already extremely thin and make it paper thin.
Breathe in: Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
The 17 and 19 series watches ranged from 9.3 to 10.9 mm in thickness, and the 27.01 is a rather svelte 6.9 mm thanks to the modified ETA Peseux 7001 inside, which is 2.5 mm in height. With the carving of the lugs and case band, the visual edge drops down to less than a millimeter, giving the illusion of a much thinner piece. But if the only changes were the thickness, that would be the end of it.
The 27.01 is what Ming is calling the beginning of “design language 2” or DL2 for short. As indicated by its reference number – DL2, series 7, model 01 = 27.01 – this model introduces a few changes that shift the look of Ming toward a more minimal styling, something already strong across the brand’s design language. The numeral track is the most obvious since it no longer has any numerals.
Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
The original 17.01 used all the standard numerals oriented toward the center for more radial symmetry, and the 17.06 replaced all the odd numbers with single hashmarks to reduce visual clutter even more. With the new DL2, all of the even numerals have now been replaced by double hashmarks (alluding to even numbers versus the odd numbers of the single hashmarks), which finally does away with any remaining symmetry issues from the visual difference between the numbers 10 and 2 or 8 and 4.
Small cues can mean a lot
The DL2 also cleans up the zero at 12 o’clock, which previously followed the typography of the numerals but now has become geometric to match the other indications. With this change, the dial becomes almost text free, save the Ming logo.
While the logo was always kept to a minimum (the people behind Ming are collectors who know about brand logos ruining a beautiful dial), it now becomes almost elusive as it moves from the bottom of the dial above 6 o’clock to replacing the single hashmark at 3 o’clock. Since it was already very small, this change makes perfect sense for the new aesthetic.
Speaking of elusive, the hands have been skeletonized to reduce visual weight and match the hashmarks more closely. The minute hand has a small arc completing the radius of the tip to differentiate it from the hour hand by more than just size.
One change that some may not fancy is the disappearance of the “floating” sapphire crystal ring that previously held the numerals thanks to the new decreased thickness. Instead of the floating ring, we now find deeply etched hashmarks filled with lume in a brushed ring around the center of the dial. This adds visual depth without needing to add a whole extra layer.
But if you loved the sapphire crystal ring and thought it was a defining feature of Ming (I did, and it was) then fear not. Ming has recently presented the 2020 Concept Set intended for auction at Phillips on November 8, 2020, which includes the 27.02 concept showcasing the gradient sapphire crystal dial (originally seen in the 19 series) and guilloche ring sandwiched underneath, all taking the ultra-thin 27.01 to a whole new level. It’s different than the 17 series but I think it improves on both the 17 and 19 series, another evolution in the design language.
The last major change is the case back. Since the 27.01 has a bit more reason to show off the movement, we now find a sapphire crystal case back highlighting the caliber dubbed the 7001.M1 and design details seen on the 18.01. The 18.01 is sort of a bridge between DL1 and DL2 as it mostly sports the new design language but still has aspects of the original design language as well. Plus it is a reference starting with a 1, so there’s that too.
The 18.01 and now the 27.01 have case backs that feature debossed arcs with embossed text, with the case back screws highlighted by being the visual separation of the debossed arc segments. This is a stylistic choice seen on other watches, but for the highly minimal case backs of the 17 series this is a nice departure adding texture and making the watch feel more complete and considered.
Back of the Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
More crucially, the case back design also helps hide the fact that the movement is only 25 mm in diameter, leaving a fair bit of real estate around the sapphire crystal window that may have worked against the intended aesthetic. Since the movement choice was limited by the affordable price of the watch and the thickness desired, this is a great way to use design to highlight what was intended and divert attention from something undesired.
Nice contemporary finish on the movement of the Ming 27.01 Ultra-Thin
And since the original ETA Peseux 7001 was almost entirely reworked (minus the going train) to match the previous Ming aesthetic, there was no way Thein and his designers wanted to hide that behind a solid case back either. It was just one more small detail that the team considered at length to make the 27.01 a much better watch that could compete with long-established brands and their known design language.
The 18.01 and the 27.01 are two incredible examples of how Ming continues to evolve and develop the brand by focusing on details and considering them from every direction. The 2020 Concept Set shows that this will continue as the possible future 27.02, while the brand-new 20.01 S1 chronograph carries on Ming’s tradition of awesome watches.
While I am sure this trend will likely continue as the brand continues to gain fans and a back catalog, I still am continually surprised by how much I enjoy the brand and yet how I lost focus for so long.
If anything good comes out of 2020 (please let something good come out of 2020), it’s my reacquaintance with Ming and its latest offerings, which have definitely become a highlight of my October.
I look forward to both 2021 and the future of the Ming aesthetic as it grows and evolves with each new timepiece. And maybe someday the massively popular and limited production runs might line up with my extremely limited resources and I can finally find myself with one of these highly desirable watches!
For more information, please visit ming.watch/products/ming-27-01 and ming.watch/products/ming-18-01-h41-on-bracelet.
Quick Facts Ming 18.01 H41
Case: 40 x 12.9 mm, titanium or black DLC-coated titanium with stainless steel bezel
Movement: modified automatic Caliber ETA 2824-2 with 40-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph/4 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Price: 2,950 Swiss francs on rubber strap, 3,250 Swiss francs with titanium bracelet (initial production runs sold out)
Quick Facts Ming 27.01
Case: 38 x 6.9 mm, 316L stainless steel
Movement: manual winding Caliber 7001.M1 (based on a highly modified ETA Peseux 7001), 42-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph/3 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes
Price: 3,950 Swiss francs (initial production run sold out, future batches based on movement availability)
* This article was first published 31 Oct 2020 at Ming 18.01 H41 And 27.01: Revolution And Evolution
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Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/06/25/ming-18-01-h41-and-27-01-revolution-and-evolution-reprise/
