Review – A Closer Look at the MING 19.02 Worldtimer
A few months ago, I found myself in Singapore sitting across from Ming Thein, founder of MING Watches. In my hot little hands was the MING 19.02 Worldtimer, a somewhat polarising watch that has generated plenty of discussion. The fourth model from the Malaysian start-up, it offered our first real indication that MING wasn’t going to be just another niche brand making distinctive-looking, time-only watches. Arguably the MING 17.03 GMT had already hinted at this fact. But with a Sellita movement and a retail price below CHF 1,650, it wasn’t quite the same shot across the bow of Swiss watchmaking as the 19.02. With its Worldtimer, MING is making a bold statement. And people – meaning collectors – seem to be responding.
Editor’s note: The two-tone watch seems to be having a resurgence of late, especially in the design studio of Tudor. While we first saw this in a subdued black dial Tudor S&G, the following year they gave us a champagne dial, and this year a two-tone chronograph on a bund strap no less. But two-tone watches aren’t always easy to pull off, with the spectre of the ’80s looming large in the peripheries of people’s minds. To help you reconcile your desire to buy a two-tone watch, and your discomfort with Wall Street stereotypes, we have created a handy guide for you on how you can approach this bi-colour problem. Now, if you’ve watched my review of the Tudor S&G you’ll know that I’m #team2tone all the way, but the thing is, I don’t *really* know how to wear it. I mean, I think I’d be OK in more formal settings — just pair it with a suit and away you go, but in every other part of my life — not so sure. I’ve got two-tone anxiety, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Because, much as we’re all aware that the mix of precious and plain metals…
In case you’re not familiar with Seiko’s Prospex line, it’s a venerable series of ‘professional specification’ watches that are made with a purpose. It’s a long-running series full of iconic divers with colourful names like the Turtle and the Tuna Can. Baselworld 2019 bore witness to what is perhaps the boldest iteration of the collection yet — the Prospex LX collection. The same sense of purpose is there, but so too is a level of finish that’s uncommon in the Seiko line. Prospex LX is top-tier stuff, with Spring Drive movements and case finishing that we’re far more used to seeing under the Grand Seiko name. With this higher level of execution comes a higher price tag. One that makes sense given the overall quality, but one that Seiko fans are unaccustomed to nonetheless. We already looked at the collection as a whole at Basel, but today we want to drill down into the three blacked-out versions … Seiko Prospex LX SNR031 The ‘safest’ of the trio is this Marine Master-esque diver. The bulk and blackness of the watch is offset by a clean dial layout and a water-ready silicon strap. RRP $8500 AUD Seiko Prospex LX SNR027 In contrast to…
There’s a lot to like about a rubber strap — especially if you live somewhere hot, wet or humid. The natural material is exceptionally hard-wearing, and comfortable to boot. The only issue is that in the past there’s been a perception that rubber is a strictly utilitarian affair and, as such, quality is of a lesser concern. The game has changed on that front, with brands like Hublot, Richard Mille and even Patek Philippe showing us what premium rubber looks like. But what if you’re after a solid aftermarket option? Well, we’ve got your back with these five high-end rubber strap options. ISOfrane rubber straps One of the more distinctive offerings on this list, if you’re a dive watch aficionado there’s a good chance you know ISOfrane already — these professionally oriented straps have distinctive large holes and an angled end. The company dates back to the ’60s and uses a compound called isoprene. And while the look isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (there are four more entries on the list, so don’t fret), the quality is very much there. $109 – $149 USD. Everest rubber straps Everest’s proposition is quite niche, but also somewhat genius. They’ve built their brand…
Editor’s note: When we’re talking about fine watches, our eyes are typically drawn to Switzerland and (to a lesser extent) Germany and Japan. But occasionally you can find some quality closer to home. That was the case when the Creux Automatiq Ghost Explorer landed on my desk around this time last year. The quality (especially in the case) is up there with the mid-tier Swiss guys, and the look is a little less cookie-cutter than what you typically get from your average upstart offering. Read on … Given that T+T is an Australian-based site, I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the years looking at watches from local brands. And I’ve got to say, I haven’t seen a single offering as all-round impressive as this Creux Automatiq Ghost Explorer. What I was most impressed (and surprised) by with the Ghost Explorer was the overall build quality. But I’ll get to that in a bit. First, let’s look at the bigger picture. Creux launched in 2016, the passion project of Kiwi rapper-cum-jeweller Dane Rumble. And what initially separates these watches from the rest of the indie/micro/Kickstarter pack is the look. Creux have opted for a more modern aesthetic, a style…
