Hands-on with the MING 37.02 Monolith for 2025
A Study in Shadow and Substance
The Monolith is back. MING has just announced the 37.02 Monolith, a new limited production watch that builds on the design language of the 37.02 Minimalist—but does so entirely in black. The 37.02 Monolith is lean, legible, and unmistakably MING. And while its surface may appear stealthy and understated, this is a watch packed with detail.
A Blacked-Out Legacy
This isn’t MING’s first Monolith. The original debuted in 2020 as the 17.06 Monolith, followed by the 37.07 Monolith in 2023. Each was defined by its time-only simplicity, dark aesthetic, and strong execution. The 37.02 Monolith continues that tradition, this time using the blueprint of the Minimalist as its foundation.
The result is what MING describes as a “blacked-out Minimalist”—a concise way to capture its identity. The proportions, dial structure, and movement are shared, but the 37.02 Monolith distinguishes itself through material treatments, contrast choices, and limited production: only 100 pieces will be made in 2025.
Wrist Size: 6.75in / 17cm.
Case and Wearability
The case is crafted from 316L stainless steel with a black DLC treatment. Dimensions are conservative and wearable:
- Diameter: 38mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Lug-to-lug: 44.5mm
- Lug width: 20mm
As with other watches in the 37-series, the Monolith benefits from MING’s signature curved lugs which help it sit low and comfortable on the wrist. The black DLC finish contributes to its visual compactness—it wears smaller than the dimensions suggest.
Dial and Crystal
The sapphire dial is one of the defining features of the 37.02 Monolith. Laser-cut hour indices are filled with MING’s proprietary white emission lume—a compound the brand spent years developing and first introduced in the Minimalist. Unlike traditional white lume, which often glows pale green, this compound emits a crisp white glow in the dark. It’s exclusive to MING and, reportedly, mixed in-house by founder Ming Thein himself.
Adding to the contrast, the hands are filled with Super-LumiNova X1 in blue, creating a clear and legible readout in low light.
Both the dial and crystal are sapphire, but their treatments differ. The crystal is coated with five layers of anti-reflective material on both sides, helping reduce glare and maximizing the luminous contrast. The dial, meanwhile, takes on a chameleon-like character—shifting between deep black and reflective depending on the viewing angle. This dynamic surface adds visual complexity to an otherwise pared-down design.
Movement
Inside the Monolith is the Sellita SW300.M1, a slim automatic movement customized for MING. The SW300 beats at 28,800 bph (4 Hz) and offers a 50-hour power reserve. While it’s a familiar caliber across the industry, MING’s execution sets it apart.
The movement features anthracite-coated bridges and a customized rotor, both designed to suit the Monolith’s dark aesthetic. The finishing here isn’t just decorative—it ties the entire design together. It’s a reminder that even when a caseback is closed (as it is here), the work inside still matters.
Strap and Customization
The 37.02 Monolith ships on MING’s new Mango quick-release FKM rubber strap, a supple and durable material that’s been engineered for easy swaps. MING also offers a variety of strap colors in FKM, all of which pair well with the monochrome case and dial. Given the 20mm lug width, third-party options are also widely available.
More Than a Design Object
At first glance, the Monolith is minimal. But that simplicity is deliberate and achieved through a long series of nuanced decisions: a proprietary lume compound, a movement that’s customized despite being hidden, a double-sapphire architecture with controlled reflections, and a case that looks industrial but wears with elegance.
This is MING’s design philosophy in action—taking familiar ingredients and refining them to an uncommon degree. In a crowded market of blacked-out watches, the Monolith distinguishes itself not through novelty but through execution.
The 37.02 Monolith may be stark and simple in appearance, but underneath the surface is a deep well of thoughtful detail—the kind that quietly rewards long-term ownership.
The MING 37.02 Monolith is limited to 100 pieces in 2025, and is available at collectivehorology.com. Thanks as always for supporting independent watchmaking.