Introducing: The New Ming 37.11 Odyssey — With Live Photos
The day has finally arrived when I get to write about a release that I’m extremely excited about. I’ve had to keep this one under my hat for over two months, but I’m finally able to share the new Ming 37.11 Odyssey. Spoiler alert: this one is likely to have me grabbing my wallet.
At the end of August, we met with the Ming team at Geneva Watch Days at their usual spot in a small boutique hotel. During the visit, we had the chance to see several upcoming products. All of them were exciting, but the piece that stuck out most for me was the 37.11 Odyssey. The watch fit my wrist like a glove, and the design was love at first sight. A month later, the brand’s CEO, Praneeth Rajsingh, was kind enough to send one my way. I had the watch for over a week and wore it nonstop. Here are my thoughts.
The Ming 37.09 Bluefin
The Ming 37.11 Odyssey
In May 2024, Ming released the 37.09 Bluefin, a highly anticipated follow-up to the brand’s first dive watch, the 18.01 H41. I own the original piece but found myself in a difficult state when the Bluefin hit the market. Buying a house, trying to be responsible, and all that boring stuff got in the way. Plus, if I’m being frank, I wasn’t convinced out of the gate by a twin-crown diver. Sure, I own a few vintage Super Compressors and some Japanese followers, but I prefer divers with a single crown. However, when I saw the Bluefin, I realized that I’d underestimated the watch’s appeal. It was beautifully crafted, the case hugged my wrist, and the crowns felt organic to the design.
The Ming 37.09 Uni
Then, earlier this year, a black-coated 37.09 Uni followed using a similar formula. Sadly, my situation was unchanged.
When the third time is the charm
Now, Ming is back with a third take on its double-crown case, and it’s a doozy with a GMT feature. The same 38mm by 44.5mm case remains. However, instead of brushed and polished stainless steel, the watch is crafted from Grade 2 titanium. Of course, this is dramatically different visually and in the hand. Also, while it isn’t a large change, the 12.6mm-thick 37.11 Odyssey is slightly thinner than the Bluefin. It has a 300m depth rating, which is half the capability of its true-diver brethren, but that’s negligible at these levels.
The watch I received came with the brand’s wonderful slate-gray FKM rubber strap and a matching titanium tuck buckle. I was also provided with the ultra-comfortable Universal Bracelet in Grade 2 titanium. Ming will offer both as options, while the stunning Grade 5 Polymesh will be the flagship choice. Openly, I spent 95% of the time with the watch on rubber because I loved the color and the comfort. England’s temperatures were ping-ponging between warm and cold with a mix of rain, so the rubber worked perfectly.
A captivating dial that drew me in
Ming has been tweaking its 37 series for several years now, so we’re familiar with certain hallmarks. For example, the 37.11 Odyssey contains the brand’s proprietary Polar White lume underneath the domed crystal. However, similarities to other pieces basically end here. The standout design change relates to the new central handset. For the first time that I can remember, the long, rounded hands are completely gone.
In their place is a set of luminous, gradient-coated hands that remind me of a space shuttle. This is especially true of the skeletonized outline on the hour hand. A white, needle-like seconds hand provides a delicate balance. Then, the 24-hour hand has a luminous spaceship on its end. Normally, this could sound kitschy, but it’s subtle and echoes the central hands’ design.
Nice, subtle color with fantastic luminescence
Like many other recent Ming pieces, this watch also has a sapphire dial. For the 37.11 Odyssey, it comes in a smoky shade and displays the movement. Here again, I’m not always a fan of open dials, but this application provides a nice balance between transparency and allowing for a dial theme. Speaking of this, the 24-hour numerals are blue and orange. The latter color is for the evening hours, while the former can be used for daylight timekeeping.
Ming typically excels in its use of luminous materials, and the 37.11 is no different. This watch shows off no fewer than three colors once the lights disappear. The orange and blue numerals glow brightly along with the hands, 24-hour ship, and the crown ends. Because of this, I’d actually argue that the GMT function is easier to read without light.
Other observations
Despite its darker color, I sometimes find that titanium leaves me cold. Perhaps this is because many makers pair the cases with dark, monochromatic dials. The 37.11 Odyssey certainly isn’t whimsical, but the design manages to draw my eyes inward, thus making the watch feel less impersonal. That said, the technical material still offers plenty of precision. A good example of this is the upper time-setting crown. A red ring alerts the wearer that the crown is unscrewed, a helpful reminder before jumping into water. What struck me, though, was the precise, instrument-like nature of the crown threads and ring. It’s lovely and looks as if it could be on a watch from a much larger brand.
I was also impressed with the well-defined but buttery smooth clicks when turning the lower crown. This rotates the dial in either direction, which changes the 24-hour indicator. Do note that it can be used underwater. However, the 24-hour hand is also adjustable using the upper crown.
A decorated Sellita SW330.M2
Like many other Ming watches, the 37.11 Odyssey used a modified Sellita movement. In this case, it’s the SW330.M2, which contains a skeletonized rotor and anthracite coating. It has approximately 50 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 28,800vph. For those who may have missed the comment above, this is an office or caller GMT due to the independently adjustable 24-hour hand.
A wrist magnet
I wear all of the watches I receive before writing about them. However, the 37.11 Odyssey rarely left my wrist during its stay. I loved this watch. Whether I threw on athleisure clothing or got dressed up for a birthday dinner in central London, the watch felt appropriate, light, and incredibly comfortable. Plus, with the rubber strap, it looked a bit technical and precise. The thickness was perfect, and I had no issues with hour and minute legibility. Regarding its use as a dive watch, I can imagine some will question the lack of a 60-minute dive bezel, but I suppose one could align the Ming name with the minute hand before heading into the water.
The bracelet was also a nice addition and is worthy of consideration. Some will continue to question the open slot between the case and end links, but I find that it supports additional articulation. Plus, the bracelet, with its screwed-in links, is incredibly smooth and supple. The Polymesh is an option that I saw in Geneva. You can expect a hands-on review soon, but it’s an awesome, albeit more expensive, choice.
Availability — this one’s not a limited edition
There’s good news about the 37.11 Odyssey. Like some other recent releases, this piece isn’t a limited edition. There will be an annual production total for 2025, but it will return for orders again in 2026. Regarding orders, the watch will be available on November 11th at 13:00 GMT on the Ming website and at authorized dealers. Prices will start at CHF 4,950 for the piece on rubber and will move up to CHF 5,500 for the universal bracelet. Finally, for those interested in the Polymesh option, the price tops out at CHF 5,950. For certain, this isn’t an inexpensive watch, but it’s so nice on the wrist and offers plenty of functionality. I’ll be happy to add one to my collection.
