Ming went through a number of potential case material options during the prototyping phase of the watch, but ultimately landed on an AZ31 magnesium alloy that the brand claims is lighter than carbon and offers manufacturing benefits over 3D printed solutions. The brand also explains that this material has the benefit of looking and feeling like metal, which was important given the goal of creating a watch that is wearable in the way a traditional watch would be. For durability and robustness, the case has been treated with an oxidation process for enhanced resistance to corrosion. The case itself measures 38mm in diameter and is just 6.5mm thick.
There are two versions of the LW.01, one manually wound, and the other automatic. The manually wound watch is powered by the ETA 2000.M2, and the automatic runs on the ETA 2000.M1. Both have been modified for this series by Schwarz-Etienne, with certain components removed or replaced to save weight. The end result is a watch that weighs just 8.8 grams for the manually wound version, and 10.8 grams for the automatic. That’s the “head only” weight, but Ming will be shipping these watches on ultra lightweight straps with AZ31 buckles to keep the total weight between 10.6 and 12.6 grams.
By any measure, this is a remarkable achievement for such a young brand. What’s more, if you compare it to other record setters, it actually represents a fair value. The watch is priced at CHF 19,500, and is limited to 200 pieces. A 50% deposit is required to order, and delivery is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. Ming