Ming 37.06 Royal Selangor: A Hammered Pewter Dial That Actually Makes Sense

Ming has built a reputation on bold dials and layered construction, so a new dial treatment isn't exactly news. But the Ming 37.06 Royal Selangor is a different kind of move. This is a genuine collaboration with Royal Selangor, the Kuala Lumpur-based pewter manufacturer that's been around since 1885. The result is a hand-hammered pewter dial that no other brand could credibly put on a watch right now.

Both companies are Malaysian. That shared identity isn't just a marketing angle here, it's the actual foundation of the project. Ming has always leaned into its Kuala Lumpur roots, and Royal Selangor is one of the most recognized craft brands to come out of Southeast Asia. Putting them together makes more sense the longer you sit with it.

The base watch is the 37.06, Ming's slim two-hander from the long-running 37-series. The case stays the same. The movement stays the same. What changes is everything you actually see on the dial, and that turns out to be enough.

What's Actually New

The dial is made from pewter, the material Royal Selangor has been working with for over a century. Each dial is hand-hammered, which means the texture varies from piece to piece. You're not getting a printed or applied finish here. Craftspeople at Royal Selangor physically work the surface of every dial, creating that irregular, organic hammered texture that catches light differently depending on the angle.

Pewter is a soft alloy, mostly tin, and it has a matte warmth to it that's genuinely distinct from the brushed or sandblasted metal dials you usually see at this price point. It doesn't have the cold precision of steel or the richness of brass. It's quieter, more muted, and oddly tactile-looking even under glass.

The Specs Worth Knowing

• Case: Ming's existing 37-series two-hander proportions, polished and brushed finishing
• Dial: Hand-hammered Royal Selangor pewter, unique texture per piece
• Movement: In-line manual or automatic as used across the 37-series (consistent with prior 37.06 references)
• Production: Limited edition, exact numbers tied to the collaboration run
• Origin: Designed in Kuala Lumpur, dial crafted by Royal Selangor artisans in Malaysia

Who This Watch Is For

If you already own something from the 37-series, this is a lateral move rather than an upgrade. The case and movement aren't new. What you're buying is the dial, the story behind it, and the limited production. That's a fair trade for the right buyer.

Ming's audience tends to skew toward people who genuinely care about design and material choices. This watch rewards that sensibility. The pewter dial isn't flashy. It doesn't do anything dramatic. But it has a quiet, handmade quality that most watches at any price point don't bother attempting.

For collectors with a connection to Malaysia or Southeast Asia more broadly, this one carries extra weight. It's not often that two heritage brands from the same city get to make something together that actually reflects where they're from.

How It Compares to the Rest of the 37-Series

The 37-series has seen plenty of dial variations over the years, from lacquered colors to more experimental textures. This sits apart from most of them because the dial material itself is the story, not the color or the pattern. A hammered pewter surface has a physical depth and inconsistency that printed or applied dials simply don't replicate.

Compared to the standard 37.06 references, this version will almost certainly carry a premium. Limited collaborations with genuine craft inputs usually do. Ming hasn't been shy about pricing its special editions relative to its core lineup, and given that Royal Selangor's artisans are putting real hand-labor into each dial, that pricing logic holds up.

The 37.06 Royal Selangor isn't trying to reinvent anything. It's a focused, well-reasoned collaboration that uses craft materials seriously and connects two Malaysian brands in a way that feels earned rather than convenient. For Ming collectors, it's probably an easy yes. For anyone curious about where independent watchmaking and traditional craft intersect, it's worth a close look.