‘Lightest Ever’ Watch Weighs The Same As Two Nickels
In the world of horology, the notion of crafting timepieces that defy the norms of weight without compromising quality has long captivated watchmakers. This intrigue has culminated in the creation of Ming Thein’s LW.01 Ultralight Watches, which the brand claims is the world’s lightest watch ever.
In a feat of engineering prowess, these LW.01 Ultralight Watches tip the scales at less than a third of Richard Mille’s RM UP-01 Ferrari, itself a featherweight in horology at 30 grams.
The magic behind these marvels lies in a 38mm magnesium alloy case construction, available in both automatic (10.8 grams) and manually-wound (8.8 grams) iterations, which is about the same as two nickels. Their profile stands at a mere 6.5mm, accentuated by an anodized aluminum crown and an AR-coated Corning Gorilla Glass 6-crystal lens.
Driving these lightweight timepieces is a modified ETA 2000.M1 movement by Schwarz-Etienne, joined by an Alcantara strap adorned with a magnesium buckle. In terms of aesthetics, both models feature a distinctive blacked-out dial layout adorned with contrasting white markers and hand-ends.
In this quest for records, it’s clear that the Ming LW.01 has secured a place as one of the lightest watches ever created. However, how certain this claim is remains unclear. As GQ has pointed out, given the vast array of watches produced over time, its pretty much impossible to go around measuring every single one. On its part, Ming has also conceded to leaving the claim open-ended.
For those looking to make a statement, the Ming LW.01 Automatic and LW.01 Manual are available for pre-order at CHF 19,500 (approximately US$21,625), requiring a 50% deposit to secure your piece. Deliveries are anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of the upcoming year.
[via HiConsumption and GQ, images via Ming]
This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been manually reviewed & edited.
