Among the pantheon of exceptional independent watchmakers we've had the privilege of witnessing in recent years, two of the fastest-rising names in modern horology are MING and Massena LAB. Both brands have enjoyed remarkable success since their inception, so it came as little surprise that a collaboration between them was met with considerable enthusiasm, and rightly so.
Back in mid-2021, MING and Massena LAB unveiled the MING × Massena Lab 17.09, released in two limited variants totalling just 200 individually numbered pieces: 150 examples with a sleek black dial, and 50 with a warm, vibrant honey-colored dial—the latter being the very example offered here today.
Featuring the brand’s distinctive case design, the 17.09 begins just like most other MING timepieces, with a gently domed bezel and subtle flourishes like its flared lugs, a hallmark of MING’s aesthetic. The polished bezel and lug hoods are offset by a satin-brushed mid-case, creating a striking visual contrast that runs parallel to the case profile. On the underside, a solid stainless steel caseback conceals the Schwarz-Etienne Cal. 330.M1 automatic movement, which is essentially a modified version of the Sellita Cal. SW330-2. The caseback is engraved with the watch’s individual serial number and adorned with a honeycomb texture that echoes the design of the dial.
Aesthetically, what gives the 17.09 its distinctive character is its radiant honeycomb dial, which was directly inspired, according to William Massena, by mid-century Rolex honeycomb dials. The dial showcases an intricate hexagonal guilloché pattern that radiates outward from the centre, stopping just short of the concentrically satin-brushed chapter ring. This outer chapter ring provides a refined backdrop for the hour numerals and both brand logos, all uniquely printed on the underside of the crystal. The result is a multi-layered arrangement that adds visual depth and clarity, making the dial feel both richly detailed yet elegantly spaced—a design approach that is now a signature hallmark for many of MING’s horological creations.
With MING’s signature luminescent pattern applied onto the hands as well as the printed numerals on the underside of the sapphire crystal, the 17.09 stands as a beautifully balanced collaboration as a whole. It highlights each brand’s distinct design language while forming a cohesive whole that complements both identities without either overshadowing the other.
