By 2017, photography was no longer a piecemeal pastime but a full-blown calling. Thein was chief of strategy for Hasselblad and advisor to the board of Chinese drone manufacturer DJI. But his passion for mechanical watches persisted, and in that same year, he launched Ming with five other founders who believed in his creative vision. Ming’s first watch, the Ming 17.01, was released in two dial variations — blue or anthracite grey — and featured 38mm titanium cases with a textured dial centre and a modern font, and was powered by a Sellita movement.
Forgoing formal training in the relevant fields was a conscious decision on Thein’s part. “I have a natural stubbornness, so if someone says I can’t do it, I’ll just want to do it anyway. And it’s not like this is a field that involves life and death, like medicine or law,” emphasised Thein. “I didn’t want to risk being trapped in the same patterns, doing things the same way it’s been done for the last 200 years. Asking, ‘Why does it have to be this way?’ is very important if you want to have any kind of innovation.”
The brand has since released some 70 references, all unified by Thein’s insistence on strong, distinctive design and material innovation. Unconstrained by the conventional boundaries of watchmaking and watch design, Thein was free to push any envelope he wanted. In 2023, Ming unveiled the ultra-light LW.01, weighing an astonishing 8.8g for the manual version and 10.8g for the automatic, making it arguably the lightest mechanical watch in the world.
Last year saw the launch of the 20.01 Series 3, showcasing the stunning and unconventional Agenhor Agengraphe movement (customised for Ming) beneath a truly unique dial: crafted from borosilicate and laser-cut with 600 tiny cavities, each filled with a generous application of lume, it delivers a spectacular light show in the dark.
