MING Project 21 Series

The Ming Project 21 Series emerges from a unique proposition: a challenge presented to Ming Thein (MT), the creative force behind MING, during a collector's dinner in Singapore in 2023. The question posed was deceptively simple: What would a watch designed solely for his personal preferences, free from typical commercial restraints, look like? This inquiry, while seemingly straightforward, opened the door to a fascinating exploration of design and engineering, giving birth to something special for both the MING team and a very select group of collectors.



It's worth understanding that every MING watch already reflects MT's personal taste; the brand's distinctive aesthetic is a direct result of his vision. However, even within a creator's personal preferences, there are practicalities to consider. Material costs, production complexities, and the potential market appeal of a design all play a role in shaping the final product. Project 21, however, threw those considerations out the window. It was an opportunity to explore the boundaries of what was possible, driven purely by personal vision and a willingness to push those limits. It was an experimental process, that was important to experience.



The genesis of Project 21 wasn't about creating a commercially viable product from the outset. It was an "omakase" experience, a term borrowed from Japanese dining where the chef selects the dishes, trusting in their expertise and the diner's willingness to embrace the unknown. Ten collectors put their faith in MT's vision, committing to a watch with a capped price and an estimated delivery date, but without any concrete details about the design. The process began with the selection of a movement, a vintage Frederic Piguet cal. 21.



The movement itself holds a place in horological history. Measuring a mere 1.75mm in thickness, it was one of the thinnest movements ever created and enjoyed an extraordinarily long production run, from 1925 until Piguet was integrated into the Swatch Group. This caliber and its derivatives have graced the wrists of discerning collectors through the offerings of numerous prestigious brands, including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and many others. It was a movement that MT had long admired and desired to incorporate into a MING design. This started the ball rolling.



The choice of a small, exquisitely thin movement dictated the overall proportions of the watch. While MING has always prioritized wearability and visual presence over sheer physical size, a movement this compact demanded a correspondingly refined case. MT ultimately settled on a 35mm diameter, which might seem small by contemporary standards, but sits right at the edge of being considered modern with a bit of vintage looks. The design goal was to make the watch wear larger than its dimensions would suggest, and this was achieved through a careful interplay of design elements: a narrow bezel, markers pushed to the very periphery of the dial, and an overall emphasis on maximizing the visual impact of the dial within its restrained case size. The thickness, naturally, had to be kept to a minimum to complement the slender movement, and the entire watch had to be built to meet modern expectations of durability, including 50 meters of water resistance.



The case design is where Project 21 truly distinguishes itself. It's a monobloc construction, meaning it's crafted from a single piece of metal, with no separate bezel. This construction contributes to the watch's perceived rigidity and solidity, but also introduces a significant manufacturing challenge. To amplify the feeling of density and quality, MT chose tantalum, a rare and remarkably dense metal known for its resistance to corrosion and its unique, slightly bluish-gray hue. The case features a complex interplay of curves and finishes. The edge of the rehaut, the inner flange surrounding the dial, is mirror-polished, creating a bright, reflective contrast. The concave bezel and the tops of the lugs feature a fine, circular brushing, while the flanks of the case are sandblasted, creating a continuous, textured surface that extends to the case back. There's only one sharp, defining line on the case body, marking the transition between the upper and side surfaces. Every other contour is subtly curved, sometimes in multiple directions. Even the case back departs from the conventional circular shape, featuring a rounded trapezoidal protrusion that accommodates the crown tube and stem.



The challenges presented by the case design, the tight tolerances required, and the choice of tantalum as the primary material necessitated the involvement of exceptional machining expertise. Joshua Shapiro, a co-founder of the Alternative Horological Alliance (AHA) and a renowned watchmaker and machinist, took on the task. The Project 21 case is entirely produced and finished by Shapiro and his team in Los Angeles, a testament to their skill in working with this notoriously difficult-to-machine metal. Even the crown, a mere 3.5mm in diameter, features multiple finishes, showcasing the attention to detail that permeates every aspect of this watch.



The Frederic Piguet cal. 21 movement inside Project 21 isn't simply a vintage caliber placed in a new case. It has undergone a substantial reworking, courtesy of partnerships with TitAl SA and Mathis Horlogerie. A new, skeletonized train bridge, crafted from titanium and color-matched to the dial, takes center stage, revealing the intricate workings of the gear train. Jewels are set in chatons, adding a touch of traditional craftsmanship. The remaining bridges are finished with polished anglage (beveling) and fine sablage (sandblasting), a nod to the finishing techniques employed on other MING movements. This meticulous reworking of the movement is a testament to the commitment to elevate every component of Project 21 to the highest standard.



The dial is just as unique. Despite the watch's extra-flat profile, it features a two-layer construction. The upper layer is made of fused borosilicate glass, created by FEMTOprint, and features a complex, multi-layered pattern of strakes, lines or grooves, contained within the glass. This layer is suspended above a CVD-coated brass plate, a mere 400 microns thick, which features milling that echoes the strake pattern above. The indices are etched directly onto the outer crystal, eliminating the need for applied markers. The skeletonized hands, with their polished and angled flanks, complete the dial's minimalist, yet intricate, aesthetic. Notably, Project 21 is one of the rare MING watches to forgo luminous material, a deliberate choice that aligns with its overall design ethos.



Turning the watch over, the intricate details of the movement are visible. The exhibition caseback reveals the beautifully finished Frederic Piguet cal. 21. The skeletonized titanium train bridge, color-matched to the dial, allows for an unimpeded view of the gear train, while the jewels set in chatons add a touch of traditional elegance. The remaining bridges are finished with polished anglage and fine sablage, consistent with the finishing found on other MING movements. It's a movement that has been thoroughly reworked and refined, a testament to the dedication to detail that characterizes Project 21.



The watch comes fitted with a calf leather strap crafted by Jean Rousseau Paris, and an additional strap of the customer's choosing. The buckle is MING's signature "flying blade" design, executed in brushed titanium, and designed to tuck neatly away. These seemingly small details contribute to the overall experience of wearing the watch, ensuring comfort and a secure fit.



Following the initial delivery of ten "omakase" watches to the collectors who placed their trust in MT's vision, MING announced a limited production run of 15 additional pieces for public release. This edition features a 5N rose gold coated dial and matching movement with 5N rose gold coated bridges, adding a warmer, more luxurious aesthetic to the design.



The MING Project 21 Series is priced at CHF 32,500, excluding taxes. A deposit of CHF 9,750 is required to secure an order, with delivery expected in Q2 of 2025. The watch comes with a two-year warranty against defects and includes a complimentary service within the first five years of ownership. It's a watch that represents the culmination of a unique challenge, a testament to the power of creative freedom, and a showcase for exceptional craftsmanship.



Case: 35mm diameter, 6.9mm thick. Monobloc construction in tantalum with three finishes (mirror-polished rehaut edge, circular brushed concave bezel and lug tops, sandblasted flanks). Flat sapphire crystals front and rear with double-sided antireflective coating. 50m water resistance. 20mm lug width. Machined by J.N Shapiro in California.

Movement: Vintage Frederic Piguet Cal. 21, 18 jewels. Modified and reworked by Mathis Horlogerie and TitAl SA for MING. 20mm diameter, 1.75mm thickness. Skeletonized titanium train bridge, sandblasted surfaces with polished anglage. Approximately 38-hour power reserve. Adjusted to five positions.

Dial: Two-layer construction. Femtoprint fused borosilicate with voids over CVD brass. No luminous material.

Strap: 1x calf leather strap by Jean Rousseau Paris. 1x additional strap of customer's choice. Fitted with 'flying blade' brushed titanium tuck buckle.

Price: CHF 32,500 (excluding taxes).

Reference Number:

Notes: Originated from a personal challenge to Ming Thein. Features a heavily reworked vintage movement and a complex, multi-finish tantalum case. Limited to a total of 25 pieces (10 "omakase" and 15 for public release).