Ming x Massena LAB 57.09 Secret Honey: A Horological Treat for the Wrist

Returning to Gotham Hall from October 16–18, WatchTime New York will once again bring independent watchmaking and prestigious manufactures together under one roof for a weekend-long celebration of horology. Among the timepieces making their public debut at the show is the Ming x Massena LAB 57.09 Secret Honey, the latest collaboration between the two independent names. Five years after their first joint release, they revisit the honeycomb-inspired design of the 17.09 Honey and 17.09 Black, this time with a more technical approach to the dial. Three rotating sapphire disks create a changing interplay of dark brown, black, and honey tones, while the case introduces a distinctive three-color treatment of its stepped lugs. The edition is limited to 125 pieces.

A Mesmerizing Optical Illusion 

The original Ming x Massena LAB 17.09 models drew on the "honeycomb" patterns found on collectible vintage watch dials from the mid-20th century. The new 57.09 Secret Honey takes a less literal approach. Its dark brown lacquered brass base dial features circular brushing and sits beneath three stacked sapphire disks, each with an anti-reflective coating. Rotating at different intervals—once every 24 hours, 12 hours, and 60 minutes—the disks create a continuously changing interference pattern that the brands describe as “dynamic guilloché.” 

Each disk has its own color and arrangement of apertures. As these openings align and overlap, they reveal shifting combinations of the underlying honey-colored indications and luminous elements. The hour and minute displays are integrated into the 12-hour and 60-minute disks and glow orange through Super-LumiNova X1. The markers and the Ming and Massena LAB logos are engraved into the box-shaped sapphire crystal and filled with Ming Polar White luminous material, adding a second luminous layer that becomes especially visible in low light.

Three-Tone Titanium Lugs

The case is made of Grade 5 titanium and follows Ming’s fifth-generation design language. Its defining feature is the triple-stepped lug construction, also seen on the 57.05 Comet and 57.04 Phoenix. Here, each step has a different finish and color: the outermost remains natural titanium, the middle step receives a titanium nitride (TiN) coating inspired by yellow gold, and the innermost step is coated in titanium aluminum carbonitride (TiAlCN) to evoke rose gold. The design comprises nine individual components, allowing the transitions between brushed and polished surfaces to remain sharply defined. At 40mm in diameter, 10.17 mm thick, and 47.8mm from lug to lug, the case combines a relatively slim bezel with a broad dial opening. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters.

Customized Movement and Two Straps

Power comes from the Sellita for Ming 330.M2 automatic movement, which is visible through the sapphire case back. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, its power reserve is approximately 50 hours. The movement features skeletonized bridges with brushed finishing and an anthracite coating, set against a matching coated mainplate.

The watch is delivered with two straps: a Vachetta-colored goat leather strap made by Jean Rousseau Paris and a black FKM rubber strap. Both feature curved quick-release spring bars and a stainless-steel flying-blade tuck buckle with micro-adjustment. Pricing is marked at CHF7,250 without taxes or approximately $8,738 when converted to USD.