IntroducingMing Concludes A Trilogy Of Moonphase Designs With The 37.05 Lunatic

When I think of Ming, the word "experimentation" comes to mind. Not only has the brand pushed its boundaries in manufacturing (with a new white luminous compound, uniquely complicated dial-making techniques, and more), but it is also not afraid to dramatically tweak design languages, even within the same line.

Today, Ming launches the third and final edition of the 37.05 Moonphase, "Lunatic," and completes a set of three distinctly different executions. The first 37.05 opted for a more industrial look, with a metallic gradient dial machined with a swirling texture underneath a layer of transparent sapphire, while the follow-up 37.05 goes for a more whimsical theme, with a sunray-brushed grey dial strewn with stars (some of the cutouts, for the luminous disc of the moonphase to show through).

It seems that the Malaysian brand has saved the most Ming for last, as the Lunatic goes all in on probably the most familiar design cue they use – layers of sapphire, with varying levels of transparency and tinting. This new design appears to answer the question of what the 37.02 Minimalist would look like if it were to gain a complication.

The partially transparent metalized sapphire dial has prominently contrasting markings for the hours in the form of an abstract ring filled with MING's Polar White lume compound, and the handset is also familiarly "minimalist" with inverted hour and minute outlines with blue Super-LumiNova X1. However, new to this design is the moonphase indicator and date window, both of which take advantage of the semi-transparent dial to maximum effect. The printing for the entire date window is lumed, while the moonphase indicator is no longer executed in a disk but rather a new, unique lumed indication akin to a progress bar. It's the biggest departure that the brand has made from the aperture-based moonphase, with this one feeling more space-age and almost digital. And of course, to be expected is Ming's signature inversion effect on the dial, with different angles making the surfaces turn from dark sapphire to reflective silver.

What hasn't changed is the case, with its 38mm diameter, 11.9mm thickness, and stainless steel construction. It's one of Ming's simpler case shapes, without the sculpted and pierced flying blade lug design, but it still retains that basic DNA. Behind the sapphire caseback lies the Sellita SW288.M1, a customized version of the manual-winding SW288 moonphase caliber, designed specifically for MING. The matte skeletonized bridges have contrasting finishes of black and silver, with many additional visual flourishes that separate this out from just your standard Sellita caliber.

Paired with Ming's FKM white rubber strap, the 37.05 Lunatic will be made in a run of 100 pieces as the conclusion to the 37-series moonphase trilogy, and will be priced at CHF 5,250.

If you told me a month ago that a new 37.05 Moonphase was on its way, this certainly would not have been my predicted outcome for the final act. And I think that, in a sense, is why new watches from Ming always tend to pique my interest. Such is the case here with the Lunatic and its unique expression of a moon phase indicator. I think it makes sense why they decided to ditch the more conventional indicator used in the previous two editions, as I'd assume the typically hidden portions for the indicator's colors would probably look less appealing when the entire dial is sapphire. And thus we get this new loading-bar moonphase, which I think is quite interesting for someone wanting an unconventional lunar indicator that matches the rest of the watch's space-age aesthetics. 

For those who find the Ming 37.02 Minimalist a bit too, well, minimalist, this hits that perfect sweet spot, with a very clean design that covers all of the Ming cues but with just a bit more visual flair to keep it interesting. Interestingly, the production run for the Lunatic will be significantly smaller than the past run, decreasing from 500 pieces for the 37.05 Series II to only 100 pieces. Whether that's attributed to production challenges, reduced market demand, or the desire for a quick sellout remains to be discovered. Still, I think that this one will sell quite fast, nonetheless.

Brand: MING
Model: 37.05 Lunatic

Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 11.9mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Partially transparent metalized sapphire dial
Indexes: Laser-etched and infilled with Polar White lume
Lume: MING Polar White luminous fill and Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: FKM white rubber strap

Caliber: Sellita for MING 288.M1
Functions: Hours, minutes, moonphase, date
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 5.65mm
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 28,800 VpH
Jewels: 18
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: CHF 5,250
Availability: Online at Ming or at authorized retail partners
Limited Edition: Yes, 100 pieces.

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