Ming has released a first look at their long awaited take on the integrated bracelet this week, and as we’ve come to expect from the brand at this point, they’ve taken their own over engineered route to bring it to life. The watch is called the 56.00 Starfield and it uses the brand’s fifth generation design language set within a unique integrated bracelet that features a tool-less resizing system, and a quick expansion system for fine tuning, both of which were patented for this watch. It’s a new look, but the watch is still instantly recognizable as Ming, even retaining a flared lug within the integration.
As a quick aside… the word Starfield is an interesting choice here, as its trademark is owned by ZeniMax Media, who own Bethesda Game Studios, developers of the Starfield videogame, released in 2023. Though you may be more familiar with their other IP, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. The game received mixed reviews when it was released, and time hasn’t exactly been kind to it (Shattered Space expansion notwithstanding), and this is very much a conversation for another time, suffice to say there is some ill sentiment around the word itself. Setting that aside, it’s a cool word that works well in the context of a watch.
The 56.00 Starfield begins with a 40mm steel case that measures just under 10mm in thickness. A dynamic mosaic dial underpins a lume infused crystal, and hosts a pair of hands of similar length. The hour hand is filled solid, while the minute hand is an outline. Lume has also been embedded in the case itself, serving to highlight the integration between the case and the bracelet. There aren’t many straight lines to be found here, with plenty of curvature creating an organic experience all around. To accentuate this, the steel has been given a mirror polish, and takes on a skin-like effect as a whole.
While there are no traditional lugs here, Ming have found a way to keep their trademark flair intact with a design feature between the case and bracelet, visually separating the two just enough to preserve the distinction. It works quite well, and doesn’t feel as intrusive as it can in a more traditional case lug. The lead into the bracelet with a male end piece structure on the case itself, with a three-link design attached to it. The links are curved and use high pivot points for full articulation without separation. The push-button clasp can be expanded by 2.5mm on either side, eliminating the need for half links. Additionally, individual links can be removed with the help of a slider built right into them.
What appears simple on its surface is actually quite complex in nature, all done for a more ergonomic user experience. These are intuitive solutions that Ming has proven quite adept at not only designing, but producing as well. With only 20 of these watches planned for production, this feels more like a proof of concept, but it shows a clear direction for future references to build on. This watch uses a 3002.M1 Voucher movement, and will be priced at CHF 19,500 when released via Ming’s Special Projects Cave. Ming
