The GPHG Challenge category should probably more accurately be called the “Bang For Your Buck” category because this really is where you can see just how much watch you can get for your hard-earned dollar. But our panel is quite split on which watch delivers the most for the least.
It was with great interest (as a watch enthusiast) and some trepidation (as a humble photography student of polymath Ming Thein) that GaryG took on the task of photographing a pre-production example of Ming’s latest, Model 19.02 GMT.
Ming was fast out of the gate in establishing itself as a serious new contender at the more affordable end of independent watchmaking, and I believe the debut of the all-new 17.03 GMT indicates that this young brand is on a roll. This latest model was designed to be the new entry level star for Ming, checking all the boxes that the team behind it would want in a sub-$2,000 travel watch.
The name Ming Thein should be instantly recognizable (seriously) to any ardent purveyor of all things horological, and his new brand, Ming, has made a name for itself in record time. The new 19.01 features an exclusive Schwarz-Etienne 100-hour skeletonized movement, a stunning design, and an exciting glimpse into what we might expect in the future.
