The Hourstriker Verdict
MING's first release of 2026 sees the brand add another entrant to the Special Projects Cave collection. The 56.00 Starfield has a stunning 40 mm stainless steel case which takes on a nearly organic shape. The dial is comprised of a sapphire mosaic with laser etched patterns. Completing the look is the warp speed winding rotor, which blurs into star streaks as it spins at speed. We love some of the more out there designs that MING does on their more limited edition pieces, and the Starfield is amongst our favorites.
— Peter, Editor-in-Chief
The independent horological studio MING has announced its first release of 2026, the 56.00 Starfield, a reference that marks the brand’s formal entry into the highly competitive integrated bracelet category. While the integrated sports watch has dominated market discourse for the better part of a decade, MING’s approach diverges from the angular, industrial mimicry often seen in the sector, opting instead for a fluid, organic architecture consistent with its "fifth-generation" design language. Limited to just 20 examples, this release represents a significant technical evolution for the brand, introducing two patent-pending mechanisms within the bracelet and clasp construction, alongside a new movement partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. The release continues the brand’s established "Special Projects Cave" philosophy, where experimental engineering and high-grade materials take precedence over mass-market scalability.
The primary engineering challenge cited by MING in the development of the 56.00 Starfield concerns the transition between the watch head and the bracelet—a notorious friction point in horological design where circular case geometries must abruptly shift to articulated linear links. To address the ergonomic deficits common in this category, such as hair-pulling or rigid articulation that fails to accommodate smaller wrists, the brand has implemented a system of progressive curvature across multiple axes. Unlike traditional flat-link designs that drape strictly vertically, the 56.00’s links feature a calculated camber and a higher pivot point, allowing the bracelet to maintain a continuous, fluid line from the case lugs around the wrist. This focus on "organic" form over brutalist angles serves a functional purpose, minimizing the gaps and pinch points that frequently plague integrated steel designs.
Courtesy of MING
The Case and Dial
The 56.00 Starfield is housed in a mirror-polished 316L stainless steel case measuring 40mm in diameter and a comparatively slender 9.7mm in thickness. The choice of Grade 316L steel, an industry standard for marine environments, provides high corrosion resistance and allows for the liquid-like, distortion-free finish that has become a MING signature. The case profile features the brand’s characteristic flared lugs, but they have been re-engineered to seamlessly merge with the bracelet end-link, creating a unified visual volume. A notable addition to the case architecture is the inclusion of a HyCeram luminous insert. HyCeram is a composite material that fuses ceramic with luminous pigments, offering significantly higher durability and stain resistance than standard applied lume. This ring serves as a visual bridge, balancing the dial elements and referencing the brand’s earlier 19-series cases where a strap interface would traditionally reside.
The dial utilizes MING’s proprietary sapphire Mosaic technology, a process involving femtosecond laser etching within the crystalline structure of the sapphire itself. Unlike traditional surface dials where texture is stamped or guillochéd, the Mosaic pattern is suspended within the transparent body of the 1.7mm thick sapphire dial, creating a three-dimensional tessellation that interacts dynamically with ambient light. This internal etching requires precise focal depth control to ensure the structural integrity of the sapphire is not compromised while achieving the desired diffraction gratings. The dial is further furnished with blued hands for contrast and crystal-set indices, maintaining legibility against the complex background. The entire assembly is capped by a seamless sapphire box crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating, ensuring that the intricate internal laser work remains visible without the interference of glare.
Courtesy of MING
The Movement
Powering the 56.00 Starfield is the Cal. 3002.M1, an automatic movement developed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier (VMF). The shift to VMF, a high-horology movement specialist known for supplying calibers to marques such as Parmigiani Fleurier and Richard Mille, signals a move upmarket in terms of technical specifications and finishing for this series. The movement operates at a standard modern frequency (typically 4Hz or 28,800 vph for VMF base calibers) and offers a power reserve of approximately 50 hours when fully wound. The usage of a VMF base caliber allows MING to maintain the sub-10mm case thickness, as these movements are architected for slimness without sacrificing the reliability of the winding train or the robustness of the gear train.
The "Starfield" nomenclature of the watch is derived primarily from the unique animation visible through the exhibition caseback. MING has fitted the Cal. 3002.M1 with a proprietary rotor designed to create a "warp speed" visual effect. As the oscillating weight rotates to wind the mainspring, a series of radiating lines on the rotor blur into a streak-like pattern, mimicking the visual distortion of stars passing a spacecraft at hyper-velocity. This animation is enhanced by a liberal application of Super-LumiNova X1, the brightest grade of Swiss photoluminescent pigment available, ensuring the effect is observable in low-light conditions. This playful complication demonstrates the brand's willingness to utilize the kinetic energy of the automatic winding system for aesthetic novelty, separate from its chronometric function.
Courtesy of MING
The Bracelet
The bracelet of the 56.00 represents a substantial investment in mechanical R&D, resulting in two patent-pending systems designed to maximize user autonomy in sizing. The first is a tool-less link removal system. Traditionally, sizing an integrated bracelet requires precise screwdrivers and a steady hand to avoid scratching the polished flanks of the links. MING has engineered a slider mechanism located on the underside of each removable link. This slider, which locks positively upon engagement to prevent accidental decoupling, allows the owner to add or remove links instantly without external instrumentation. This feature addresses a common logistical friction point in the luxury steel sports watch market, where sizing typically requires a visit to a watchmaker.
Complementing the sizing links is a new, ultra-thin micro-adjustment clasp. Most ratcheting or sliding clasps add significant bulk to the underside of the wrist, disrupting the ergonomic profile of a thin watch. MING’s engineers have profiled a push-button clasp that integrates a mechanism capable of 2.5mm of adjustment on either side, for a total of 5mm of travel in 1.25mm increments. This "on-the-fly" adjustment capability is critical for accommodating the natural expansion and contraction of the human wrist caused by temperature and humidity fluctuations throughout the day. By achieving this functionality within a clasp that matches the thinness of the bracelet links, MING claims to have created the most comfortable integrated bracelet currently available.
Courtesy of MING
Pricing and Availability
The MING 56.00 Starfield is priced at CHF 19,500 (excluding taxes). The production run is strictly limited to 20 pieces, positioning it as a highly exclusive proposition within the brand's portfolio. The watch will be delivered in new packaging manufactured by Royal Selangor, a renowned Malaysian pewter crafter established in 1885, reinforcing the brand's dual heritage in Kuala Lumpur and Switzerland.
Orders for the 56.00 Starfield will open on February 10 at 1:00 PM GMT. MING estimates a delivery timeline of 12 to 15 weeks following the close of orders. Given the extremely low production volume and the complexity of the sapphire and bracelet components, this timeline suggests that assembly and final quality control are already well underway or strictly scheduled with suppliers.
Courtesy of MING
Technical Specifications
Case: 40mm diameter, 9.7mm thickness, mirror polished 316L stainless steel
Movement: Vaucher for MING 3002.M1, automatic winding, ~50hr power reserve
Dial: 1.7mm sapphire dial with laser Mosaic, blued hands, HyCeram luminous insert
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with patent-pending tool-less sizing and micro-adjustment
Price: CHF 19,500 (excluding taxes)
Reference Number: 56.00 Starfield
Notes: Limited to 20 pieces; 100m water resistance; Packaging by Royal Selangor