Ming 29.01 Midnight Worldtimer
Midnight Moves: Ming’s Dark New Worldtimer Steps Into the Shadows
Ming has once again stepped beyond its comfort zone — and done so in complete stealth mode. The new 29.01 Midnight Worldtimer takes the brand’s already cerebral design language and cloaks it in something moodier, more mysterious. This is the worldtimer for those who prefer to stay under the radar — a traveller's tool wrapped in titanium noir.
Gone is the usual polished or brushed casework. In its place: black DLC-coated Grade 5 titanium, sculpted into a sleek 40mm silhouette with Ming’s now-iconic “flying blade” lugs. The surface treatment plays games with light — polished lug tips contrast subtly against matte flanks, all without breaking the clean, flowing lines. No bezel, no clutter. Just a large box-style sapphire crystal giving an unbroken view into the multilayered dial beneath.
Layers of Light and Time
Instead of a traditional worldtimer layout, Ming has layered the complication — quite literally. The base dial, softly textured in dark metal, holds a rotating 24-hour ring, effortlessly turning thanks to a hidden edge-mounted bearing. Sitting just above it, a transparent sapphire disc floats in place, bearing the names of 24 global cities.
Everything glows — but not all in the same way. The hour and minute hands, along with indices and numerals on the top sapphire layer, are filled with HyCeram infused with Super-LumiNova X1. Meanwhile, the 24-hour numerals burn a distinct orange glow, giving the dial a quiet complexity when the lights go down.
Mechanical Art, With a Golden Touch
Flip the watch over, and you’re met with an entirely different kind of spectacle. The ASE 222 calibre, developed for Ming by Schwarz-Etienne, is visible through a domed sapphire caseback. Finished in warm 5N rose gold, the bridges and plates are laid out with architectural precision. You’ll spot a curved tungsten micro-rotor, a skeletonised mainspring barrel, and delicate anglage — the kind of movement design that doesn’t scream for attention but rewards a closer look.
Tactile and Tactical
Paired with a snug-fitting FKM rubber strap and fastened by a matching DLC-coated buckle, the Midnight Worldtimer feels as put-together as it looks. And with just 11.8mm of case height, it’s slim enough to disappear under a sleeve — if you're the kind to keep your cards close.
Pricing for the 29.01 Midnight lands at CHF 22,000, which firmly places it in the realm of rarefied indie luxury. But that’s exactly what this is: not a loud statement, but a quiet flex — for those who appreciate the nuance of time, form, and a touch of the unknown.