Ming x Massena LAB 57.09 Secret Honey: The Honeycomb Dial That Actually Moves

Ming and Massena LAB first teamed up in 2021 with the 17.09 Honey and 17.09 Black. That was a strong debut, built around a distinctive honeycomb dial pattern. Now, five years later, they're back with the 57.09 Secret Honey, and this time the dial doesn't just look interesting. It moves.

That's the headline. The honeycomb structure on the dial is kinetic, meaning the cells shift and catch light differently as the watch moves on your wrist. It's not a complication in the traditional sense, but it's a deliberate design choice that gives the piece a living quality most dials simply don't have. Pair that with the tri-tone lug treatment and you've got a watch that's easy to spot across a room.

This is also a meaningful moment for both brands. Ming, founded by Malaysian photographer Ming Thein, has moved well beyond microbrand status at this point. Massena LAB, William Massena's concept-driven studio, has similarly sharpened its curatorial voice. So this isn't a repeat of the same act. It's two more mature operations doing something they couldn't have pulled off five years ago.

What's Actually New Here

The original 17.09 Honey was about colour and texture. The 57.09 Secret Honey keeps the honeycomb DNA but elevates the execution substantially. The dial construction is the centerpiece. The honeycomb cells are layered and structured so they catch and reflect light in motion, producing a subtle but continuous visual shift. You're not just looking at a static pattern. The watch responds to how you wear it.

The tri-tone lug design is the other major visual update. Where earlier Ming collaborations leaned into cleaner, more restrained case work, this one is more expressive. The lugs carry distinct tonal variation, giving the case a sculptural quality without adding bulk or complication.

Who Is This For

You probably already know if this watch is for you. It's not a subtle piece. The honeycomb movement and the tri-tone lugs are both attention-seeking in the best way, and neither is designed to blend in with a field watch crowd.

If you've been following Ming's output over the past few years, the 57.09 fits neatly into the brand's evolving design language. The references are still there, the proportions are still thoughtful, but there's more confidence in the execution. For Massena LAB followers, it continues a track record of collaborations that actually push the form rather than just slap a logo on an existing product.

• Collector-focused, not a gateway watch for newcomers
• Suited for someone who wants dial depth and optical movement without a tourbillon price tag
• Appeals equally to Ming loyalists and Massena LAB devotees
• Wears well for someone comfortable with a visually expressive piece
• Limited availability means you'll need to move quickly if you're interested

How It Compares to the Original Collab

The 17.09 Honey was a strong first chapter. The colour pairing with the 17.09 Black made the launch feel considered, and the honeycomb dial was distinctive without being loud. But looking back at it now, it reads as a proof of concept. The 57.09 Secret Honey is what happens when you take that concept and actually push it further.

The movement is also reflective of where Ming sits now versus 2021. The brand has continued refining its approach to movement specification and case finishing, and the 57.09 benefits from that accumulated development. It's not a revision of the old piece. It's a proper successor built on a different foundation.

The 57.09 Secret Honey is a reminder that the best watch collaborations aren't about combining audiences. They're about combining perspectives to make something neither party would have landed on alone. Ming and Massena LAB have done exactly that, and the result is one of the more interesting dial stories you'll see this year.