Ming and Massena LAB Reveal the 57.09 Secret Honey, a Titanium Watch With a Dial That Never Stays Still
Ming and Massena LAB have introduced the 57.09 Secret Honey, a striking limited-edition watch that turns the dial into the main event. Limited to just 125 pieces, the new model is priced at CHF 7,250, or around $8,700 before taxes, and brings together layered sapphire, warm honey tones, and a finely finished titanium case.
The watch is scheduled to go on sale through Ming’s official sales channel at 1:00 PM GMT, with a public appearance planned at WatchTime New York from October 16 to 18. For collectors of independent watchmaking, this release is likely to attract attention quickly, especially given the previous collaboration between Ming and Massena LAB in 2021, which also centered around honeycomb-inspired design and sold out rapidly.
The most distinctive feature of the Ming 57.09 Secret Honey is its dynamic dial. Instead of relying on a traditional static display, the watch uses three stacked sapphire discs placed above a dark brown lacquered base. These discs rotate at different intervals: one completes a full turn every 24 hours, another every 12 hours, and the third every 60 minutes.
Each sapphire layer carries its own color treatment and cutout pattern. As the discs move throughout the day, the overlapping shapes create a constantly changing visual effect. The result is a dial that feels alive, shifting subtly as time passes rather than presenting the same layout at every glance.
Ming has leaned into the honey theme without making the design feel overly decorative. The hour and minute markings appear in a warm honey shade, and they glow orange in low light. The indices and logos are engraved into the box-style crystal above the dial, then filled with a luminous compound that emits a white glow. This layered approach gives the watch depth and makes the display feel almost architectural.
The case is made from grade 5 titanium, a material favored for its strength, corrosion resistance, and lightweight feel. It measures 40 mm in diameter, 10.17 mm thick, and 47.8 mm from lug to lug, giving it a modern but wearable profile. The watch also offers 100 meters of water resistance, making it more practical than many highly artistic limited editions.
One of the more unusual design details is found in the triple-stepped lugs. Each step uses a different finish to create a subtle multi-tone effect. The outer section is left as bare titanium, the middle step is treated with titanium nitride for a yellow-gold appearance, and the inner step uses TiSiN for a rose-gold tone. This gives the watch a layered metallic look while keeping the full case construction in titanium.
Inside the 57.09 Secret Honey is a Sellita-based automatic movement operating at 4 Hz, with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The watch comes with both leather and rubber straps, allowing owners to shift between a dressier appearance and a more casual, everyday style.
Ming, led by designer and photographer Ming Thein, has built a strong reputation in the independent watch scene thanks to its experimental designs, unusual case construction, and highly recognizable visual language. The brand operates between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Kuala Lumpur and has already earned recognition at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
Massena LAB, founded by collector and industry veteran William Massena, is known for collaborating with independent watchmakers on limited-run projects aimed at enthusiasts and collectors. With the 57.09 Secret Honey, the partnership continues its focus on distinctive dial work and collectible design.
For those interested in limited-edition titanium watches, independent watchmaking, or unusual mechanical dial displays, the Ming 57.09 Secret Honey stands out as one of the more creative releases in its price range. Its rotating sapphire-disc construction, warm honey-inspired palette, and mixed-finish titanium case give it a personality that should appeal to collectors looking for something visually dynamic and genuinely different.
