Subtlety has never been the main tenet of Ming’s designs, but I think this time around, the 57.04 has really hit its stride by adding a little bit of restraint. Yes, the first 57.04 design was cool because it seemed to throw everything and the kitchen sink all together—vivid colors, even more steps on the lugs, a destro monopusher, tons of lume—but the Phoenix just feels more impactful to me.
You’re losing the full rainbow, but having the coloring peek through those dial cutouts is much more exciting in my book. Plus, the grey dial gives the whole watch a more industrial look, which makes it a nice addition to the core collection, given the recent discontinuation of the 37.02 Ghost. I’m still not sure how I feel about the triple-stepped lugs, but in person, I find that they’re less abrasive than in photos.