The latest from Ming is a continuation of their incredibly popular diver lineup, the current incarnation of which began with the 37.09 “Bluefin” and was later followed up with the 37.09 “Uni”. Both of those watches very effectively made use of a dual crown system (one for time setting, one for rotating an internal bezel that is not really a bezel at all), streamlined proportions, and Ming’s expertise in using sapphire and lume for both decorative and functional purposes. The new 37.11 Odyssey is an expansion of the ideas found in the Bluefin and Uni, with an added GMT feature and the option to spec the watch on the absolutely insane Polymesh bracelet.
When we had our meeting with Ming earlier this year at Geneva Watch Days, this was the watch that brand founder Ming Thein was wearing on his wrist. I’ll be honest, the Polymesh bracelet kind of stole the show in that presentation, overshadowing the Odyssey just a little, but that’s simply because the Polymesh was a legitimately novel creation, while the Odyssey is something a little more familiar. That’s not a slight, of course. One of the things that makes Ming such an impressive brand is the way a clarity of design runs through each new watch they make, always in conversation with earlier pieces. That’s what helps you identify a watch as a Ming, but it can also mean that certain releases don’t create that vibrational spark of interest that really gets you excited.
That said, the Odyssey is an objectively solid offering from Ming if you view it in the context of their most recent similar dive watch releases. The 38mm case is clad in Grade 2 titanium (which matches the Polymesh bracelet) and measures 12.6mm tall. Like the Bluefin and Uni, it has 300 meters of water resistance, an impressive rating for a watch with such tight proportions. It’s also quite light – Ming says it weighs in at just 42 grams.
The dial is smoked sapphire, providing a subtle view of the caliber beneath it, and serving as a canvas for Ming to have some fun with lume. The hour markers are etched into the sapphire crystal and in the same style as the 37.09 pieces, but the new twist with the Odyssey is the outer ring, which features lumed blue and orange 24-hour markers (orange for daylight hours, blue for evening). As with the 37.09 references before it, rather than a traditional rotating bezel, the dial itself rotates with a turn of the crown.
Powering the Odyssey is the “Sellita for MING” SW330.M2 caliber. The relationship between Ming and Sellita is now a longstanding one and Sellita always delivers interesting, customized movements with decoration that suits the Ming aesthetic. In this case, we have ample skeletonization on the mainplate, bridges, and winding rotor, all in anthracite. It’s a suitably toolish look for a watch that definitely veers more toward that end of the spectrum than many previous Mings, even those that live undeniably within the sports watch landscape. If there’s one gripe to be had with the Odyssey, though, it’s the use of a movement with a “caller” GMT function. As I’ll never tire of pointing out, this really reduces the functionality of any GMT watch as a true “travel” watch compared to the alternative (local jumping hours).
The new 37.11 Odyssey goes on sale tomorrow via Ming’s website and their network of authorized retailers. Pricing is set at CHF 4,950 on Ming’s FKM rubber strap, CHF 5,500 on the Grade 2 Titanium Universal Bracelet, and CHF 5,950 on the new Grade 5 Titanium Polymesh bracelet. Ming
Zach Kazan
2025-11-10 19:00:00