MING 57.04 Phoenix – Polymesh
A monopusher chronograph that you might not even mistake for a chronograph at first glance.
The MING 57.04 Phoenix follows the highly colorful Iris model, but interprets the same concept in a much more restrained way. At first glance, it appears almost monochromatic; only upon closer inspection and a change in light do colored reflections begin to appear beneath the deeply sculpted gray dial.
The Phoenix is also a destro monopusher chronograph – both the crown and the single chronograph pusher are positioned on the left side of the case. This unusual solution emphasizes the watch's asymmetry while keeping the right side of the case perfectly clean.
A dial with multiple levels
The dial is one of the Phoenix's greatest strengths. MING works here with depth, shadow, negative relief, and several different surfaces.
The deeply recessed gray upper section features radial cutouts through which the base plate below is visible. This plate has received a special multiphasic coating that changes color according to the incident light and viewing angle. The Phoenix thus appears discreetly gray most of the time, but as the wrist moves, surprising flashes of color emerge from within.
The three-dimensional character continues with the redesigned, sandwich-construction chronograph sub-dial. Luminescence is an integral part of the design – MING combines its own Polar White with Super-LumiNova X1, and luminescent elements can also be found on the diamond-cut hands.
One button is enough
The Phoenix is a mechanical chronograph controlled by a single button. Starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph are performed sequentially via the single controller integrated on the left side.
Inside, there is a hand-wound caliber specifically configured for MING: the Sellita for MING SW562.M1. The movement offers approximately 60 hours of power reserve and, for the Phoenix, has been given a striking anthracite three-quarter plate that visually ties into the darker character of the dial.
We believe the manual wind makes perfect sense here. The large crown offers pleasant mechanical contact with the movement while allowing an unobstructed view of the caliber through the sapphire caseback.
A case worth a closer look
The steel case has a diameter of 40 mm, a height of 11.85 mm, and a lug-to-lug distance of 47.8 mm. Its design is a modern interpretation of Art Deco, but far more interesting than the dimensions themselves is the construction method.
The distinctive stepped lugs are composed of several separate parts – their construction alone requires nine components. This allowed MING to create very sharp transitions between the polished and brushed surfaces that would not be achievable with a conventionally manufactured case.
Sapphire crystals are found on both the front and back, both featuring a double-sided anti-reflective coating. Despite the complex case construction and the monopusher chronograph, the Phoenix offers a very practical 100-meter water resistance.
Polymesh
This variant is delivered on a 20mm titanium MING Polymesh bracelet, which visually resembles a finely woven metal strap and perfectly complements the technical architecture of the case.
The combination of titanium and the Polymesh construction gives the Phoenix a completely different character than a classic leather or rubber strap – the watch feels more modern and technical, while also creating a nearly seamless connection between the case structure and the bracelet.
Why would you want a MING 57.04 Phoenix?
Because the Phoenix is not a chronograph that tries to show its complication using the usual pair of buttons and a classic dial with three sub-dials.
MING has taken a monopusher chronograph and completely translated it into its own design language. The color-changing base plate peeking through the radial cutouts, the three-dimensional dial, the left-hand operation, the hand-wound movement, and the nine-piece lug construction create a watch where it makes sense to explore the details.
And that is exactly what makes the Phoenix a typical MING: clean at first glance, surprisingly complex at the second.
Technical details:
