The Ming 37.04 Rose Gold Is A Step In A New Direction
The new Ming 37.04 Rose Gold is the independent company’s first-ever foray into using precious metal. Perhaps that’s surprising considering the vast array of innovative materials that have found their way into past releases. Yet here we are and, folks, this is a beauty, albeit one for those with deeper pockets!
In August 2022, Ming released its 37.04 monopusher chronograph in titanium. A hundred pieces of this model were made and sold out online as part of the brand’s Special Projects Cave. The watches featured a guilloché dial underneath a layer of sapphire. The result was a beautiful watch with lovely, wearable proportions. Thankfully, the team at Ming chose to give us a sequel. This time, however, it’s the 37.04 Rose Gold.
The Ming 37.04 Rose Gold
I suppose that for a relatively young brand, the idea of making a watch in precious metal is a fairly audacious step. It’s expensive and, therefore, the fan base needs to think enough of a company to be willing to pay the premium. Then — and this is probably even more critical for Ming — the metal needs to work within the design language. After all, not all designs translate well to all colors. The 37.04 Rose Gold, however, absolutely nails it on the aesthetic front.
The case in 5N gold
Ming chose to use 5N gold for the 37.04 Rose Gold. 5N translates to an 18K alloy comprised of 75% gold and 25% copper. The result is a bright pinkish hue, which certainly makes its presence known. The case comes in at 38mm wide and 11.9mm thick, which makes it suitable for a wide range of wrists. As an owner of a 37-series model, I can report that it wears beautifully but looks larger than prior releases due to its nearly nonexistent bezel. A 20mm lug spacing also provides visual mass. Ming includes two leather Jean Rousseau straps with fantastic tuck buckles. One buckle is plated, while the other is solid 5N gold.
A stunning guilloché dial
As I normally state with Ming watches, the dials are truly the stars of the show. In this case, the 5N gold guilloché dial steals the stage because it looks wondrous. The 37.04 Rose Gold, like its titanium predecessor, has a dial made by the renowned Swiss firm Comblemine. This dial radiates beautifully and incorporates a matte-finished 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock. To further enhance the visage, Ming adds a layer of sapphire on top of the gold dial, which includes a tachymeter ring that is etched and filled with Super-LumiNova. The hour, minute, and central chronograph hands sit above this and under a sapphire crystal with etched, luminous hour markers on its underside. Here again, as an owner of models with a similar layered effect, I can attest to the fantastic changes to the dial depending on the lighting environment.
The LJP 5000.M1 manual-wind chronograph movement
The Ming 37.04 Rose Gold uses the La Joux-Perret 5000.M1 manual-wind chronograph movement. As mentioned, it features a 30-minute totalizer on the dial and is actuated, stopped, and reset via a crown-mounted pusher. As far as other specifications, it also has a column wheel, a 28,800vph beat rate, and a 38-hour power reserve. The caliber is on display via a sapphire display window on the back, and it contains 5N-plated bridges. Partner Schwarz-Etienne also has its hand in the assembly and hand-finishing of the movement.
Pricing and final thoughts
The Ming 37.04 Rose Gold is currently on sale and will be made as a limited edition of 20 pieces. The price is CHF 48,000 with deliveries set to begin in the second quarter of 2024. This certainly is not an inexpensive watch, but precious metal watches are rarely remotely affordable. I find it achingly attractive, and if money were no object, I’d be looking forward to the April timeframe next year! Aside from that, I’m pleased that Ming has entered the world of precious metals and can only hope that we see more releases in the future. Perhaps a time-only offering could be in the cards.
For more information on the 37.04 Rose Gold, visit the official Ming website.
