An Indie Watchmaker Returns With an Affordable Mechanical GMT
In August 2017, MING — a watch brand founded by a collective of watch enthusiasts and lead by pro photographer Ming Thein — released its first watch to much acclaim. With a tasteful 38mm case made from titanium and boasting a hand-wound Sellita movement, the MING 17.01 was the kind of watch you’d expect to be designed for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. Now, the brand is back with a follow-up to that watch, the 17.03, and it doesn’t stray too far from that winning formula, but it comes packed with a new mechanical complication.
Powered by an automatic Sellita SW330-1, the new 17.03 now has a GMT function, allowing the wearer to keep track of two time zones at once. Rather than opting for an additional hand to indicate the extra timezone (like on a traditional GMT), the 17.03’s dial features a rotating central disk in its stead, cleaning up the face of the watch and allowing the floating numerals (a hallmark on the 17.01) to remain unobscured. That movement is housed in a case made out of grade 2 titanium that’s a perfectly-proportioned 38mm in diameter and 9.8mm thick.
The watch is available with both black and burgundy dials and comes mounted on a nubuck leather strap, while a titanium bracelet (with a quick release mechanism, to boot) is an optional extra. While mechanical GMTs often cost a hefty sum, this MING 17.03 starts at around $1,328 (1,300 CHF) which, when you consider that it’s also made from titanium, makes it excellent value for money.
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Fresh Deals
Herman Miller Sale
Save 15%: It’s difficult not to overuse the words “classic” and “iconic” when describing the products under Herman Miller’s design footprint. If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, it is perhaps the most famous producer of mid-century modern furniture ever. Purveyors of Charles and Ray Eames’s iconic lounge chair, molded plastic chair and charming Hang-it-All coat rack, as well as Isamu Noguchi’s ubiquitous coffee table and the beautiful, intuitive Line console. Perhaps more impressive than its distant past is the brand’s sustained run of performance — its office chairs are considered the best by everyone except, maybe, the competition).
Right now, all Herman Miller products on Design Within Reach are discounted and available with free shipping (yes, even a couch). — Will Price
R.M. Williams Class RM Leather Chelsea Boots
Save 20%: In 1932, Reginal Murray Williams founded his eponymous brand in Adelaide, South Australia offering saddles, riding boots and other leather goods for cattlemen. The boots, in particular, were a hit. Made from a single-piece leather upper, they had a clean silhouette, a simple pull-on style and superior durability. And over the past eight decades, the design hasn’t changed that much.
In recent years, the brand received investment from L capital — a private-equity fund sponsored by LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) — along with IFM Investors and Hugh Jackman. The influx of resources and capital allowed R.M. Williams to expand on a global scale, offering its iconic boots to a much wider audience. You can pick up a pair at East Dane, where the classic Chelsea boot style is now on sale. Available in both brown full-grain leather and black suede, it features elastic insets, branded pull-tabs and leather soles. The present sizes skew towards smaller feet and the current sale offers 20 percent off — that’s savings of $99. — John Zientek
Our “Editor’s Choice” Best Down Jacket Is Currently 45% Off
Save 45%: By most accounts, the Arc’teryx Thorium AR looks like your standard down jacket. But underneath an unassuming exterior lies a technically advanced jacket built specifically with versatility in mind. The “AR” at the end of the jacket’s name signifies “All Round,” meaning that Arc’teryx designed the jacket to function well across a number of different activities. One of the most interesting features of the Thorium AR is the combination of down and synthetic fill. In most cases, down and synthetic insulations are as separate as church and state. In the case of the Thorium AR Hoody however, they work together to strategically provide warmth and breathability where you need it most. These features secured the Thorium AR the “Editor’s Choice” spot on our list of the best down jackets of 2018. — AJ Powell
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