MING Project 21: A Horological Omakase Comes to Life
From a daring challenge to a tantalum-clad masterpiece, Two years in the making & limited to just 15 pieces.
PRESS RELEASE | 680 WORDS | 7 MIN READ
5th March, 2025: It all began with a challenge. During a 2023 collector's dinner in Singapore, MING's founder, Ming Thein (MT), was posed with a question: what would a watch designed entirely for himself, free of commercial constraints, look like? Could such a watch even be made? And would he share it with the world?
This sparked a journey of design, engineering, and collaboration that culminated in Project 21, a modern reimagining of the classic extra-flat dress watch.
Act I: The Challenge
MING's design philosophy has always been about creating watches they love, but commercial realities often temper creative ambition. As MT explains, "A significant part of the design process is experimentation... there are designs that are cool but perhaps do not make sense from a commercial standpoint – usually they’re just too niche or quirky – but they carry a lot of personal appeal to me.”
Project 21 was a chance to explore those personal preferences. With a price cap and estimated delivery as the only constraints, ten daring collectors took a leap of faith and committed to this horological omakase, trusting MING to deliver something exceptional.
Act II: Design & Engineering
Enter the Frederic Piguet 21, a legendary movement with a century-long history. This ultra-thin caliber, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, became the heart of Project 21.
MT envisioned a watch that balanced vintage proportions with modern sensibilities. The 35mm case, machined from tantalum, is a testament to this vision. "I wanted it to wear large, which it does thanks to a narrow bezel, and markers and dial elements pushed to the very outer edge," says MT. The result is a watch that feels both delicate and robust, a testament to meticulous design and engineering.
The case itself is a marvel, with contrasting finishes and flowing curves that belie the complexity of its construction.
"There is only one hard line in the case body proper," MT explains, highlighting the attention to detail that defines MING's design language.
Act III: It Takes a Village
Bringing this vision to life required a collaborative effort. MING partnered with Joshua Shapiro, a fellow member of the Alternative Horological Alliance (AHA) and a master machinist, to create the complex tantalum case.
Shapiro describes the challenge:
"Machining in tantalum always has its challenges, and Ming’s designs are always eloquent yet difficult. We were extremely pleased with the result despite the difficulties and feel a tantalum case like this has never been made before.”
The movement also received special attention. MT reworked the vintage Frederic Piguet 21 calibers, adding new bridges, including one in titanium color-matched to the dial. This collaboration with TitAl SA and Mathis Horlogerie showcases the intricate skeletonization and meticulous finishing that elevates Project 21 to haute horlogerie.
Even the dial tells a story. A multi-layered pattern of strakes, constrained within a fused borosilicate layer by FEMTOprint, sits atop a CVD-coated brass plate. Etched indices on the crystal and skeletonized hands complete the picture, creating a visually captivating and technically impressive display.
Project 21: A Limited Edition Release
Following the delivery of the ten omakase watches to the initial collectors, MING is releasing a limited edition of 15 pieces for public sale. This edition features a 5N rose gold coated dial and matching movement with 5N rose gold coated bridges.
Visit www.ming.watch or an authorized MING retailer to secure your Project 21. Priced at CHF 32,500, a 30% deposit is required for order confirmations, with deliveries commencing in May 2025.