A Closer Look at the MING Polymesh with Praneeth Rajsingh, CEO of Horologer MING
At WatchTime New York, the product drawing the most attention was not a watch at all. Instead, it was the MING Polymesh: a grade 5 titanium bracelet-strap hybrid that behaves like fabric while feeling unmistakably like metal.
Pick it up and there is the cool sensation and strength of metal. Twist it and it flows, bends, and drapes like a woven textile. It does not conform to the traditional bracelet mold, and it is not a strap in any familiar sense. It sits comfortably somewhere entirely new.
Born of Additive Manufacturing
The Polymesh exists because subtractive processes cannot produce its nearly 1,700 interlocking micro-components. Each piece is laser sintered from powdered titanium in an inert gas environment, fused layer by layer, then finished to remove surface irregularities so it moves cleanly and comfortably on the wrist.
There are no screws or pins. Every miniature link is locked to the next in a closed-loop topology, including the articulated tuck buckle and hinge system that are formed in the same print process. The only assembly step is installing the curved-end quick-release springbars.
This topology provides greater motion radially than laterally, allowing the structure to curve fluidly around the wrist while remaining structured and supportive. It is a geometry that cannot be realized using machining or other subtractive methods.
Design Shaped by Technological Boundaries
To make the Polymesh possible, MING worked directly with leading laser-sintering manufacturers to understand the limits of resolution and tolerance achievable at this scale. The engineering challenge included tight clearances between components as fine as 70 microns and careful management of powdered titanium, which must be processed under inert conditions.
A full year of development and seven complete redesigns led to the final form: a technical object that flows and disappears like fabric while preserving the tactile satisfaction of metal.
Purpose in Experimentation
MING approaches watchmaking through a contemporary lens. If the mechanical watch is now primarily joy and expression, then every component is an opportunity to rethink what belongs on the wrist. Projects ranging from experimental dial structures to the LW.01 ultralight and novel luminous materials reflect this mindset.
The Polymesh continues that philosophy, demonstrating how design advances when manufacturing unlocks shapes and forms that were not previously possible.
Fit, Sizing & Compatibility
The Polymesh is designed for MING watches with 20 mm lug widths and fits wrist sizes from 152 mm to 206 mm on a 38 mm case. It wears compact thanks to its draping behavior, and its tuck-buckle architecture eliminates extra bulk or overhang. Stainless steel and 22 mm versions are in development.
The MING Polymesh in grade 5 titanium is available at collectivehorology.com. As always, thank you for reading and supporting independent watchmaking.