Ming returns to their Special Project Cave with the release of the 29.06 Peep Show, a watch that, at a glance, may look like a rather conservative entry to the usually expressive playground for the brand. However, every additional glance will yield a different view of a highly dynamic dial that reveals color and texture in layers that ebb and flow like a wave. This kind of dial quality has long been a feature of Ming watches, and with this 29.06, it’s been, well, dialed up to 11 (sorry).
What began with the colour-shifting multiphasic dial treatment first seen in the 57.04 Iris, with the Peep Show the idea takes a new direction thanks to the clever incorporation of polarization layers. The base dial itself features a deep-cut machined guilloché wave pattern with a multiphasic treatment that scatters light across a wide range of wavelengths, revealing an impressive array of hues in the process. Where things get interesting is how the hands have been implemented.
The hour and minute hands are set into discs of linearly polarized sapphire. As they turn, light from the dial is allowed through, except when those discs are at 90 degrees to one another, at which point no light can pass through. This provides another layer of intrigue to the experience of the dial, and indeed is hinted at in the somewhat risque (to be charitable) name of the watch. The shape of the hands are defined by lume infill, and will be visible regardless of what’s happening underneath them.
The idea of a watch with a dial that fully changes in appearance in 15 minute increments is interesting not just for the aesthetic, but also for its function. A view of the dial in full vibrancy happens at the top of the hour, and each half hour, meaning a brief glimpse will put you in the ballpark of where you are in the hour without needing to track the hand itself. Of course, it also invites the wearer to view the watch much more frequently to experience the full breadth of views on offer here. This is very much a watch that will provide unique views not only at different times, but in different environments.
All of this is set within a traditional Ming case constructed of titanium and measuring 40mm in diameter and 11.8mm in thickness. The flared lug is deeply sculpted, revealing a recess to the case itself. Inside sits a Schwarz-Etienne for MING calibre ASE 200.M1 micro-rotor automatic movement that is impressively finished to emphasize the depth of the movement’s architecture. The watch is affixed to a perlon-textured calfskin strap with Alcantara lining by Jean Rousseau. Just 50 examples are planned for production, with each priced at CHF 22,000. Ming
Leave a Reply