In an exciting horological collaboration, MING and J.N. Shapiro have unveiled their latest creation, the 37.06 "Lightning" timepiece. This watch seamlessly merges Shapiro's renowned dial craftsmanship with MING's signature aesthetic, offering a fresh yet recognizable design. The partnership stems from the Alternative Horological Alliance, which also includes Fears and Massena LAB, and aims to explore new avenues in watchmaking beyond their initial "universal" tantalum bracelet. This limited production model, priced at CHF 6,250, highlights bespoke artistry and precision.
The standout feature of the 37.06 "Lightning" is its captivating dial, meticulously crafted from grade-2 titanium. Each dial undergoes a hand-guilloché process in Los Angeles, utilizing a traditional rose-engine lathe to create an intricate "Lightning guilloché" pattern—a design never before seen on a J.N. Shapiro wristwatch. Following this, Ming Thein personally undertakes the delicate process of heat-staining each dial in Kuala Lumpur using a butane torch. This heat treatment, while known for creating vibrant colors, is notoriously challenging; even a slight variation in torch application can lead to uneven coloring or expose flaws in the titanium's crystalline structure, resulting in a high failure rate, with only one in three dials meeting the exacting standards.
Beyond its striking dial, the 37.06 "Lightning" retains core MING design elements, including its distinctive flared lugs and an engraved crystal that incorporates HyCeram luminous indices. The hands are coated with Super-LumiNova X1 for optimal legibility. Encased in 316L stainless steel, the watch measures 38mm in diameter, 10.9mm in thickness, and has a lug-to-lug distance of 44.5mm. It boasts a display caseback and is water-resistant up to 100 meters, ensuring both elegance and durability.
The watch is powered by the manually-wound Sellita for MING caliber SW210.M1 movement, visible through the sapphire caseback. This movement is distinguished by its skeletonized, rhodium-plated bridges and an anthracite-coated baseplate. Operating at a frequency of 4Hz, it provides a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. This reliable and aesthetically pleasing movement serves as a robust foundation for MING's characteristic flair, particularly complementing the mesmerizing dial.
Initial impressions of the 37.06 "Lightning" suggest that its visual impact is not merely an optical illusion. While titanium heat-coloring is a recognized technique, as exemplified by pieces like De Bethune's "Kind of Blue," achieving a consistent vibrant hue on a watch dial in production quantities is a formidable task. Despite the challenges, the resulting dynamic color adds a unique dimension to the timepiece. Though perhaps not a watch for daily, understated wear, its bold and distinctive appearance is sure to captivate those who appreciate a more expressive and avant-garde horological statement.
