Back In Black: Ming Introduces The 37.02 Monolith
Today’s new Ming 37.02 Monolith is the latest variant using the brand’s popular case design. While the case coating is the big news here, it’s worth a closer look. After all, small changes sometimes lead to significant results.
The 37-series of watches from Ming has stood as the more affordable range since 2021. During these four years, we’ve seen the underlying case serve as a platform for several types of watches. Moonphase pieces with date windows (yes, we’re still getting used to these on a Ming), divers, manual-winding models, and automatics have all received the 37-series treatment. In that respect, the new 37.02 Monolith is the latest edition, but it’s a sweet one.
A bit of background
Before we get to the 37.02 Monolith, let’s recap the various 37.02 models. The first and most popular edition was the 37.02 Minimalist. I’m fortunate enough to own one of these lovely pieces with its abyss-like black dial.
The sneaky release just a few months ago was the titanium 37.02 Ghost. This lovely, lightweight watch accompanied me to the Florida Keys and sparkled in the sunlight.
The Ming 37.02 Monolith
With the 37.02 Monolith, Ming is invoking a theme from 2023’s 37.07 Monolith. Like today’s watch, that one featured a DLC-coated stainless steel case and a dial similar to its uncoated counterpart. For the 37.02 Monolith, Ming uses anthracite DLC on a case with brushed and blasted matte surfaces. The 39mm diameter and 44.5mm length carry over, as does the comfortable 11mm thickness. Once again, domed sapphire crystals are on the top and bottom, with the addition of antireflective coating on each surface.
A dial that takes on different hues
Regardless of the exact model, Ming characteristically endows its watches with dials that play tricks in the light. The 37.02 Monolith uses the same sapphire dial as the Minimalist, which means it looks black head-on but glass-like at an angle.
Laser-cut channels in the sapphire dial house founder Ming Thein’s self-developed liquid Polar White material. With this formula, Ming sought to create the brightest and purest white luminous compound. The contrast is notable compared to the blue Super-LumiNova-filled hands.
The Sellita for Ming SW300.M1
Whereas Ming’s 37.07 models are manual-winding watches, the 37.02 translates to a watch with an automatic movement. Like others in the family, the 37.02 Monolith uses the SW300.M1, a Sellita with custom anthracite skeletonized bridges and a bespoke rotor. We’ve seen this execution of the movement before, but it looks most at home on this piece because it matches the case color. Regarding specs, the caliber has a familiar 45-hour power reserve and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph.
Mango is in the house and on the wrist!
Like the Minimalist, the 37.02 Monolith is paired with the company’s phenomenally comfortable FKM rubber strap and a DLC-coated tuck buckle. In this guise, Ming chose the new Mango strap, which provides maximum contrast. While I don’t have firsthand experience with this exact reference, I regularly wear the Mango strap on my Ming 18.01 H41 diver, which has a DLC-coated bezel. It looks awesome! My podcast partner Balazs and I constantly talk about how great this strap is — trust us, you won’t be disappointed! Sure, it’s sporty, which allows an owner to enjoy the watch’s 100m depth rating, but it’s also easy enough to swap for a dressier 20mm leather strap.
The 37.02 Monolith isn’t a limited edition per se
Ming is intent on always having some watches in stock. Therefore, the 37.02 Monolith will be made at a rate of 100 pieces per year. At CHF 3,500, it’s also consistent with the Ghost and just CHF 250 more than the Minimalist, which is likely on account of the DLC treatment. Considering the great all-around build quality and design uniqueness, I think that’s entirely fair. Sure, a black watch may feel sportier, but that’s not an issue for many potential customers. In my view, it’s a striking release and should prove popular. What do you think?
