MING has come a long way since its beginnings in 2017. Founded by Ming Thein, his creativity and eye for detail allowed him to almost immediately carve out a cult following for his designs. In the years since, MING watches have gone up in price point and complexity, and the brand has certainly received critical acclaim – often nominated for GPHG prizes. MING’s 37.09 is one such award-winning design, the Bluefin diver taking home the 2024 “Sports Watch” GPHG prize. And today, the next chapter makes its debut with the new MING 37.11 Odyssey that revisits the format and introduces a GMT twist.
The case
Normally, when a watch design introduces a new complication, the watch becomes larger in its diameter, thickness, and/or lug-to-lug. Despite the added GMT functionality, we still have excellent case proportions, its grade 2 titanium case measuring 38mm in diameter, 12.6mm thick, and 44.5mm lug-to-lug. Such dimensions are well-suited for smaller and larger wrists – most would consider these real Goldilocks dimensions. With a thin bezel, the dial is larger and therefore creates a sense of a bigger presence. Yet the thickness and lug-to-lug measurements ensure it sits slender and compact on the wrist.
The only accommodation for the new movement is the depth rating, which has now dropped from the Bluefins’ 600-metre depth rating to a (still very solid) 300 metres. Like the 37.09 Bluefin and Uni, the 37.11 Odyssey has two crowns on the right side of the case, with the top crown at the 2 o’clock position being the winding and time-setting crown. This screw-down crown features an “unlocked warning indicator” with a coloured ring that, when visible, indicates the crown has not been fully screwed down.
The 4 o’clock crown interacts with the rotating sapphire dial, allowing the wearer to rotate the 24-hour scale, which, in turn, allows you to track a third time zone. Though it is incredibly unlikely that while diving underwater you would change time zones, the 4 o’clock crown has once again been engineered so that you can safely adjust it underwater (a bit more of a relevant feature for the Bluefin’s 60-minute timing scale). MING also states that this 4 o’clock crown has been refined further, tuned for a better tactile feel than before.
The dial
The 37.11 Odyssey has a rotating smoked sapphire dial that puts on an absolute lightshow that maximises legibility. MING’s Polar White lume is utilised to indicate the hours and minutes; Super-LumiNova X1 with blue and orange emissions convey the night and day hours for the 24-hour scale, and the hands also use a gradient Super-LumiNova X1 coating. Even the crowns have luminous fillings, because… why not? There is so much depth to the dial here, with the white lume raised above the rotating sapphire dial’s 24-hour scale, etched underneath the top sapphire crystal.
I really like this new handset style. The 37.09 Bluefin’s handset, though attractive, had a more generic look. The 37.11’s hands feel more bespoke and distinctly MING in design. Though a watch inspired by supercompressor divers in regard to design, I like the small spaceship tip of the GMT hand that makes a full rotation each day, a ship gradually moving forward in its smoky sapphire space odyssey around the dial.
The straps
There are three strap options for the MING 37.11 Odyssey. The first is an FKM rubber strap that’s soft, supple, and comfortable on the wrist, but highly durable and robust. A small but significant detail I enjoy about MING’s rubber strap designs is how the tail of the strap is tucked in underneath the wrist, akin to an Apple Watch rubber strap, so that there is no pesky tail hanging out. It creates a very neat and tidy look. As someone who is smaller-wristed, yes, a typical strap has keepers to hold the tail. But the tail can be long enough, if your wrist is small enough, that it is not well-contained. Here, that is not an issue.
The second option is MING’s universal grade 2 titanium bracelet. It is named the universal bracelet because its endlinks are not bespoke/fitted to the case. So, while some may not love the gap between the case and bracelet, it does mean that it has greater, more universal compatibility with other 20mm lug-width watches – particularly 38mm diameter and 20mm lug-width MING watches.
The third and final option is MING’s new titanium Polymesh strap. If you asked me today what I felt was the novelty of the year in the horological world this year, it would not be a watch – it would be this strap. It is so strange to refer to something made of titanium as a strap, but MING’s Polymesh feat of engineering creates an experience that blends lightweight titanium with a wear experience akin to textile straps. It is like alien, futuristic chain-mail armour that is silky on the wrist and perfectly conforms to it. Though this is the most expensive option, it is the option I would endorse the most. You will not find anything like this from any other watch brand, and, having tried it on, it is sublime.
All of these strap options have quick-release interchangeable tabs, so you can quickly swap between them with ease whenever you like.
The movement
Inside, the MING 37.11 is driven by a 50-hour automatic Sellita for MING calibre, with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand to indicate a second time zone that, with the rotating dial’s 24-hour scale, offers the ability to track a third time zone, as I mentioned earlier. The bridges have been darkened and openworked to create a more elaborate aesthetic that elevates the Sellita origins, while also better suiting the future-forward feel of the overall design.
The verdict
Overall, the MING 37.11 is a welcome evolution of the Bluefin and Uni dive watches that ditches the 60-minute timing scale and 600-metre depth rating most would not particularly use for a GMT complication and still rock-solid 300-metre depth rating that I feel more watch wearers would make the most of. The case proportions remain excellent, and certainly clock in well within my ideal size parameters for a sports GMT watch.
Though the Sellita base for the 37.11 Odyssey’s calibre does mean you have a, by some standards, less glamorous caller/office GMT instead of a traveller/true GMT, the tradeoff is a watch that is priced lower than what it could have been had a so-called “true” GMT calibre been utilised.
Ranging from CHF 4,950 to CHF 5,950, some may feel that it is a big ask for a Sellita-based movement-driven watch. However, you really need to keep in mind just how elaborate the components of the watch are: consider the top-notch quality of the smoked sapphire dial, case, and various strap options.
MING 37.11 Odyssey pricing and availability
The MING 37.11 Odyssey is available now for purchase. Price: CHF 4,950 (on FKM rubber strap), CHF 5,500 ( on grade 2 titanium universal bracelet), CHF 5,950 (on grade 5 titanium Polymesh)
Brand
MING
Model
37.11 Odyssey
Case Dimensions
38mm (D) x 12.6mm (T) x 44.6mm (LTL)
Case Material
Grade 2 titanium
Water Resistance
300 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s)
Smoked sapphire front, sapphire exhibition caseback
Dial
Smoked sapphire dial
Strap
FKM rubber strap
Grade 2 titanium universal bracelet
Grade 5 titanium Polymesh strap
Movement
MING SW330.M2, Sellita SW330-base, automatic
Power Reserve
50 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT
Availability
Now
Price
CHF 4,950 (on FKM rubber strap)
CHF 5,500 (on grade 2 titanium universal bracelet)
CHF 5,950 (on grade 5 titanium Polymesh)