Hot Take: MING 19.05 Rounds Out 2020 In Style
The MING 19.05 is here and it represents the last release of the year for the popular independent brand. It also marks the last incarnation in the 19-series of watches.
Reader note: if you’d like to order the MING 19.05 now, please head to the order link. We’ll see you back here afterward.
It’s always a good day when a new MING hits the shelves. Ok, they rarely spend any time at all on a shelf, but I suppose you catch my drift. I’ve really come to enjoy the brand’s uniquely clean and purposeful design language and today’s release stays the course. The new MING 19.05 is here and I can already hear the complaints in the comments section because they’re only making 15 of these.
The MING 19.05 — what is it?
The MING 19.05 is described as the last launch for 2020 and also the last of the 19-series of watches. If you know the brand reasonably well, it issues watches such as this year’s 18.01 H41 diver at an approachable cost. However, MING has a flagship line that sometimes hit the five-figure price mark, and these often introduce complications alongside exceptional movement finishing.
Of course, there’s still the “typical” MING style case and dial. The 19-series has stood as the flagship and a look at the archives shows a couple of lovely Worldtimer models that are predictably sold out. With the last of this line, we see some similar traits in a watch that still manages to look incredibly fresh. Oh, and if you’re wondering what will come next for the flagship line, take a look at the recently auctioned 2020 Concept Set for ideas.
Movement and dial details
The MING 19.05 eschews the fancy complications but brings a stunner of a movement and some new elements to its dial. Regarding the movement, MING leans on partner Schwarz-Etienne for the caliber ASE 200.1. This is a skeletonized automatic with a tungsten micro-rotor and 72 hours of power reserve. You can see that it uses rose gold plating and is viewable via a sapphire case back. Like the other flagship watches that used this base movement, it is adjusted five times. You can read more about the in-house base movement here.
The MING 19.05 uses a sapphire dial with black undercoating. For the first time, lume fills wells that have been cut into the dial surface itself. There’s also a ring of Super-LumiNova X1 around the bezel that provides a rather “Tron”-like look when things begin to darken. In keeping with other 19-series watches, the lumed hands are also skeletonized.
The case
Grade 5 titanium makes its way to the MING 19.05 and its 39mm diameter case. With a thickness of just 10.9mm, the watch manages 50 meters of water resistance. And with a lug to lug of 43.9mm, owners should find daily comfort with either the included titanium bracelet or blue 20mm Jean Rousseau leather strap. The bracelet, as you’ll recall, also debuted at the time of the diver’s release and it is wonderful. Topping it all off, MING includes a black leather travel pouch from Studio Koji Satto.
Final thoughts and pricing
The MING 19.05 will retail for CHF 9,950 and should make its way to customers during May 2021. With this latest watch, MING shows us that after seeing so many formulaic watches from others, they’re somehow able to create fresh variants on an already distinctive theme. Plus, add the incredible finishing and attention to detail, and I’m not so concerned about the pricing. As I mentioned in the beginning, there are only 15 of these. Like it, love it, or despise it — it’s probably sold out by now anyhow.
Visit the official MING site for more information.
