Disclaimer: this video/review was not sponsored by MING or any other entity.
Video
Review
As many of you know, I’m a bit obsessed with MING watches, and I’ve made it a point to either own, borrow, or at least catch a glimpse of every model they’ve released so far. While I haven’t checked off every single SKU yet, I’m still working on it. This review comes at an interesting time, as it’s being written in January 2025, but will be published prior to the release of the next batch of MING 37.08 Aventurine watches. The first batch of 300 watches was announced in June 2024, with deliveries starting in Q4 of the same year.
MING was kind enough to lend me one of these prototypes for review and photography, and I couldn’t have been more excited to get my hands on it – this is definitely one of my favorite releases from MING in 2024. As the name suggests, the 37.08 Aventurine introduces a stunning Aventurine dial to the 37.08 sub-family, which previously showcased a desert sand-inspired dial in the 37.08 Sand. Priced around $5000 USD for the first batch, I expect the price to remain the same for the second batch, and each watch comes with a universal bracelet.
Let’s check it out!
Case
The 37.08 Aventurine shares the same stainless steel case as the other 37 series models I’ve reviewed, such as the 37.02 Minimalist and both of the 37.05 Moonphase versions. The case measures 38mm in diameter, 44.25mm lug-to-lug, and 10.85mm in thickness, which includes the curved sapphire crystals on both the top and bottom.
The mid-case is notably slim, just over 3mm in height, maintaining the refined and elegant profile the 37 series is known for. While I won’t dwell further on the case details, as I’ve covered them extensively before, it’s worth noting that the build quality and finishing remain exceptional, with a simple design executed to a high standard.
Dial
The MING 37.08 Aventurine is truly defined by its dial and crystal, and while the 37.02 is labeled as the Minimalist, I find this Aventurine to be a more distilled version of MING’s essential, sci-fi-inspired design elements. Nothing feels excessive; every detail serves a purpose, resulting in a mesmerizing interplay of shadows, light, and lume set against the cosmic backdrop of the aventurine dial.
The base of the dial is crafted from aventurine glass, a manmade dark glass with sparkling gold and copper inclusions, giving it a cosmic, otherworldly appearance. There’s a floating marker ring etched into the underside of the curved sapphire crystal, featuring the MING snoot motif at the 12 o’clock position and discontinuities marking every hour or 5-minute increment.
The hour and minute hands both feature a highly polished black surface with lume plots, with the hour hand receiving a larger filled lumed section in white, while the minute hand has a lume outline. I really appreciate this hand set design, especially in comparison to the earlier hands seen on the 37.05 Moonphase.
The minute hand has less lume, but this is a small trade-off for improved legibility and the clear differentiation between the hands, which I think suits the watch’s design perfectly. Overall, the dial’s elements are simple, with no overly complicated manufacturing, yet they come together harmoniously to create something truly special.
Lume
As with nearly every MING watch (exceptions like the 27.01, 27.02 and LW.01 do exist), the lume is a signature aspect of its design, and the 37.08 Aventurine stands out as one of the more impressive examples. The floating numeral ring is etched into the bottom surface of the curved sapphire crystal and bonded with HyCeram, a hybrid ceramic luminous material.
This results in the ring casting a captivating glowing shadow onto the cosmic expanse below it, creating an effect that continues to impress every time I see it. In fact, this feature alone has placed the 37.08 at the top of my “next to buy” list.
Furthermore, MING has significantly improved the printed lume on the hands with the 37.08 Aventurine, as well as the 37.02 Minimalist. The lume is now more uniform, brighter, and longer-lasting, addressing the patchy lume issues seen in earlier 22 and 37 series models. Overall, the luminous signature on this watch is truly remarkable, with the floating lumed ring, starry dial, and well-executed hands making it a standout for lume enthusiasts.
Movement
The 37.08 is powered by a Sellita SW210 manually wound mechanical movement, which has been extensively modified and skeletonized by MING. The anthracite skeletonized bridges with contrast rhodium circular brushing give the movement a distinct, modern look that complements the futuristic design of the watch. MING has used variations of this movement architecture in the 37 series before, and based on my previous experiences, I can confidently say it performs well.
Aesthetically, the skeletonization and anthracite finish enhance the overall design, and for a Sellita SW210, the movement looks quite impressive. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and offers a power reserve of around 42 hours. As for performance, the watch was running at around +4 seconds per day during my time with it, which is excellent, especially considering the absence of a running seconds hand.
On The Wrist
The MING 37.08 Aventurine offers excellent wear-ability thanks to its proportions, which work well across various wrist sizes. With a 38mm case diameter and a lug-to-lug width just under 45mm, the watch feels larger than its actual dimensions due to the lack of a pronounced bezel.
Unlike the similarly sized 17 series, the 37.08 feels appropriately sized on my 6.75″ wrist, looking and feeling comfortable without being too small. The rounded case bottom allows the lugs to float slightly off the wrist, but the 10.85mm thickness ensures it sits sleek and low.
The included Universal Bracelet v2.0, which would cost about $700 USD if you purchased it separately, is made of polished steel links and is both comfortable and well-articulated, with a lovely link design. While it lacks on-the-fly adjustability, the bracelet’s relatively short links and the inclusion of two half-links offer flexibility for a good fit.
Wrapping Up
To wrap it up quickly, the MING 37.08 Aventurine might just be one of my favorite MING releases in recent times, and it stands as my top pick from the 37 series family, even outshining the Special Projects Cave releases. The combination of floating lumed numerals, a simple aventurine dial base, and MING’s design language creates a truly captivating, sci-fi-inspired aesthetic. For someone who has always associated MING (albeit perhaps mistakenly) with a futuristic, science-fiction vibe, this watch perfectly embodies that vision.
Priced around $5000 USD, it’s neither the most affordable nor the most expensive aventurine dial watch, and when factoring in the bracelet, it remains consistent with the rest of the 37 series offerings. At the time of writing this review, the 37.08 sits at the top of my list for my next MING purchase, but time will tell if another MING release will steal my attention (and money) before the next batch of 37.08s is announced!
Thanks for reading!
