17.06

Name: Ming 17.06
Brand: Ming

Upper $900–1,300

The Ming 17.06 is a Malaysian-designed, Swiss-assembled time-only automatic in 38mm stainless steel, defined by its multi-layer three-part sapphire dial construction and precise finishing that belied its CHF 1,250–1,500 launch price. The Copper and Monolith variants were introduced in September 2019, Slate followed in December 2019, and a 15-piece Special Edition was delivered in 2020; the Copper won the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve 'Horological Revelation' prize in 2019, and all variants are now sold out and will not be produced again.

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38mm

Case

100m

Water res.

10mm

Thick

43.9mm

Lug-to-lug

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Overview

Brand	Ming
Reference	17.06
Category	Dress
Released	2019
Price guide	Upper · $900–1,300

Full specification

Specs

Case & dial

Diameter	38 mm
Lug-to-lug	43.9 mm
Thickness	10 mm
Lug width	20 mm
Water resistance	100 m
Crystal	sapphire
Case material	stainless steel 316L
Bezel	fixed
Case back	solid

Movement & furniture

Type	Automatic
Caliber	ETA 2824-2 →
Power reserve	38 h
Jewels	25
Lume	Super-LumiNova C1
Strap / bracelet	Jean Rousseau Paris handmade strap

On the wrist

Picking up the 17.06, the first surprise is how composed everything feels for a watch in its original price class. The 38mm case measures just 10mm thick, the lugs flare and curve elegantly toward the wrist, and the 43.9mm lug-to-lug suits a wide range of wrist sizes without imposing. The case finishing is sharper than the price would suggest: brushed flanks transition cleanly to a polished bezel with edges that catch the light precisely.

The dial is the centrepiece and the source of genuine delight. The three-part sapphire construction creates a layered dimensionality that photographs cannot fully convey — the outer chapter ring appears to float above the inner field, and the hands hover a mere 0.30mm from the crystal underside, giving the whole assembly an almost holographic quality in shifting light. The deliberate omission of a seconds hand reads, once you're accustomed to it, as a confident design statement rather than a cost cut: the dial is quieter, more considered, and the two-handed legibility is flawless. C1 Super-LumiNova on the dial ring and hands charges quickly and glows satisfyingly, if briefly. This is a piece that invites returning glances throughout the day — which for a daily wearer is arguably the only metric that really matters.

Bottom line

One of the clearest value arguments in independent watchmaking at its launch price, the 17.06 offers dial depth and Swiss assembly rigour that most watches at double the cost cannot match — though with all variants sold out, buyers must now navigate a premium pre-owned market.

Highlights

Multi-layer three-part sapphire dial
38mm / 43.9mm L2L, 10mm thin
ETA 2824-2 modified top-grade, Swiss assembly
GPHG 2019 Horological Revelation (Copper)
Jean Rousseau Paris handmade leather strap

Who it's for

Buyers with wrists from around 150mm upward who value independent watchmaking, dial artistry, and object quality over complication count or brand recognition. The slim profile and clean two-hand dial make it an ideal daily wearer that moves naturally from casual to business settings, and the Jean Rousseau strap is a genuine luxury touch rarely seen at this price point.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you need a date window, a running seconds hand, or a bracelet option — and budget accordingly for the pre-owned premium over the original retail.

Before you buy

All variants discontinued — pre-owned market only
Confirm the specific variant: Copper (brushed/polished SS case) vs. Monolith (anthracite DLC case) vs. Slate vs. 15-piece Special Edition
Modified ETA 2824-2 has only two crown positions — the standard ghost-date crown position was removed
Monolith's DLC coating can develop wear differently from plain polished steel over time

FAQ

Is the 17.06 automatic or quartz?

The 17.06 is automatic. The ETA 2824-2 winds itself from the motion of your wrist, so it needs no battery. A full wind holds roughly 38 hours, so it keeps running overnight off the wrist; left longer it stops and restarts once you wear or hand-wind it.

What movement does the 17.06 use?

The 17.06 is powered by the ETA 2824-2 from ETA, an automatic caliber with 25 jewels, a 38-hour power reserve, and a 28,800 bph beat rate. Being automatic, it winds from the motion of your wrist and needs no battery.

How water resistant is the 17.06?

The 17.06 is rated to 100 m. That covers swimming and snorkelling, though hot water and direct high-pressure water are best avoided, and it is not intended for scuba diving. Whatever the rating, avoid operating the crown or pushers underwater, and have the gaskets checked periodically to keep it reliable.

How big does the 17.06 wear?

At 38 mm across with a 43.9 mm lug-to-lug and 10 mm thick, the 17.06 wears as a versatile mid-size watch. Lug-to-lug is the measurement that really decides fit, since it sets how far the case spans the wrist — 43.9 mm suits most wrists, and smaller wrists especially should check that figure.

Why does the 17.06 have no seconds hand?

The 17.06 is a time-only hours-and-minutes watch. Ming's official copy says the hands sit just 0.30mm from the crystal underside for minimal parallax, creating the watch's floating-hand visual effect while keeping the dial uncluttered.

Who actually builds the 17.06?

Assembly and quality control is carried out by La Division du Temps, a division of Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne in Switzerland, with the movement adjusted in five positions under a 250-hour test programme; final checks are performed by the MING team in Kuala Lumpur.

Has the GPHG prize moved pre-owned prices?

The Copper variant won the 2019 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve 'Horological Revelation' prize, and launch materials listed annual production at 300 pieces. Current pre-owned listings and price guides show 17.06 examples above the original CHF 1,250 Copper retail, though the exact effect of the prize versus scarcity and broader demand is not independently quantified.

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