For years, I’ve covered the luxury watch industry for publications including The Manual and other international lifestyle and luxury outlets, tracking everything from industry events like Watches & Wonders to the microbrands redefining modern horology. While the biggest brands often clinch the biggest headlines, some of the most exciting releases continue to come from the independent watchmaking community.
The latest collaboration between MING and J.N. Shapiro Watches is a perfect example.
The MING x J.N. Shapiro 37.06 Lightning goes far beyond standard releases with a showcase centering craftsmanship, artistry, and the increasingly important role indie brands play in pushing the boundaries of modern design.
The Convergence of Two Independent Visionaries
Founded by designer and photographer Ming Thein, MING has cultivated a devoted following through its futuristic aesthetic, intricately layered dials, and distinctive use of light. Meanwhile, American watchmaker Josh Shapiro has become a commodity in the industry known for preserving and advancing traditional hand-guilloché craftsmanship in the United States.
The 37.06 Lightning represents the first complete watch collaboration between the two brands, both founding members of the Alternative Horological Alliance. The mission statement was simple: combine two highly specialized forms of craftsmanship on a single dial.
The Dial Is the Deal Here
There’s no way around stating the obvious with this release: the dial is the star of the presentation, boasting a presence which will resonate with watch collectors. Each Grade 2 titanium dial is individually handcrafted by Shapiro’s team using a traditional rose-engine lathe to create an entirely new ‘Lightning Guilloché’ pattern. Instead of traditional geometric motifs, the engraving radiates outward in jagged, lightning-inspired formations that expose remarkable depth and movement.
The dial then makes its way from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur, where Ming Thein personally heat-colors each piece using a specialized handheld butane torch. The resulting spectrum transitions from warm golds and oranges into purples and deep blues, creating a dial that feels almost electric. Because the process relies solely on heat rather than paint or coatings, each dial is unique.
And then there’s the reported failure rate. Nearly one of every three dials makes it through the rigorous production process, indicative of the labor necessary to achieve this exceptional finished product.
Modern Wearability Meets Traditional Craft
Housing this remarkable dial is MING’s familiar 38mm stainless steel case. Measuring 10.9mm thick with a compact 44.5mm lug-to-lug profile, the watch maintains excellent wearability while allowing the dial to remain the centerpiece. The watch is powered by the manual-wind Sellita SW210.M1 movement, customized for MING and offering 42 hours of power reserve. Water resistance is rated at 100 meters, making it one of the more artistic luxury watches on the market.
Why the 37.06 Lightning Matters
The MING x J.N. Shapiro 37.06 Lightning combines traditional hand-finishing, American guilloché artistry, modern design language, and limited production in a market increasingly dominated by predictable releases. For collectors in search of a break from the conventional, the 37.06 Lightning delivers something rarer: a watch that genuinely feels truly new and innovative.
Triston covers Watches & Wonders, global watch releases, and Fashion Week events around the world for several publications, bringing an editor’s eye and a stylist’s sensibility to the intersection of luxury, lifestyle, and horology.
