Minim MN01

A Bridge Between Worlds

October 25, 2025

I’ve known Chloe, the creative mastermind behind MINIM, for what feels like a lifetime at least in Instagram years. She’s scrappy, passionate, endlessly curious, and has a heart of gold. Born in Hong Kong and now based in London, Chloe has always lived between cultures, moving effortlessly between languages and aesthetics. It’s only natural that her first watch would do the same.

So when she told me she was launching her own brand, I wasn't surprised. If you want something done and done properly Chloe is the person who will see it through from sketch to final screw. This girl is energy, passion, and hard work personified.

What did surprise me was how mature and self-assured MINIM’s debut model feels. The MN01 isn’t a typical “first watch.” It’s thoughtful, balanced, and quietly confident (much like Chloe herself). This is the kind of debut release that already knows who it is.

Lines of Latitude and Language

The name MN01 is a reflection of Chloe’s world, a bridge between East and West, between her proud heritage and the heritage of watchmaking combined with the modernity she now inhabits. You see it instantly in the details.

The Chinese numerals on Bik¹ 碧 (Olive Green) and Zing¹ 晶 (Ice Blue) speak softly of Chloe’s roots, while Laan⁴ 蘭 (Purple) with its Roman numerals and intricate guilloché nods to European watchmaking tradition. It doesn’t feel like a fusion; it feels like fluency. The design doesn’t just borrow from two cultures, it belongs to both. And it’s a brilliant move to make the two collide, testing the waters and giving the potential owner options and forcing them to ask themselves what appeals more to them, whilst always blending both East and West.

The Dial: Where Light Lingers

I was lucky enough to handle the Laan⁴ 蘭 for this review, and it’s a stunner. The purple is deeply regal, yet somehow never loud. The kind of hue that shifts between soft lilac and smoky plum depending on the light. It feels timelessly elegant on the wrist, the colour draws your eyes in and delights with the gorgeous use of different CNC Guilloché patterns without tipping into something vulgar or flashy.

The 36.5 mm stainless-steel case frames it perfectly. Compact but not dainty, it strikes that elusive balance between proportion and presence. Beneath the flat sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint coatings, the CNC guilloché comes alive.

In the Laan⁴, layers of soleil, écaille de poisson, and clous de Paris overlap like the folds of fine silk, catching light at every turn. It’s one of those dials you can lose time just staring at a surface that feels alive, almost breathing. In search for a better word… It’s dreamy. The other two versions, Bik¹ 碧 (Olive Green) and Zing¹ 晶 (Ice Blue), each tell their own story: one grounded and earthy, the other cool and crystalline. But for me, the Laan⁴ is where the MN01’s personality truly unfolds like rich, luxurious purple silk fabric. It simply shines.

The Ritual of Winding

At the heart of the MN01 beats the Sellita SW261-1M, a manual-wound Swiss movement with small seconds at six o’clock. It’s a deliberate choice, and one that says everything about Chloe’s philosophy. In an era when convenience rules, there’s something quietly rebellious about winding your watch. The soft resistance of the crown, the faint click as the spring tightens its tactile poetry. The act itself becomes a pause in your day. A moment to connect.

Chloe could have gone automatic, but she didn’t. She chose a movement that asks you to participate. That’s what makes the MN01 special, it doesn’t just tell time, it reminds you to

spend time with it. It really is a watchmaking love story.

Wearing the MN01

At 9.5 mm thick, the MN01 slips neatly under a cuff but looks just as natural beside a rolled-up sleeve. The Epsom leather straps from HasNoBounds available in grey, taupe, or blue-grey complement each dial’s mood beautifully.On the wrist, the Laan⁴ feels elegant, assured, and distinctive. The 43.5 mm lug-to-lug makes it a joy to wear for most wrist sizes and I LOVE that it sits so nicely on my 13.5cm wrist, but will look fantastic on much larger wrists too (the joy of a woman designing a watch, who deeply understands the importance of the lug to lug ratio).

This watch doesn’t hover or press; it simply settles on the wrist like a warm hug. This is a design that feels lived-in from the very first moment you fasten it.

Small Details, Big Intentions

Even the unseen details carry weight. The caseback engraving MINIM, MN01, 5 ATM, Assembled in Great Britain will feature on the final production models, a thoughtful nod to where vision meets execution. The metallic medallion logo and refined strap stitching are subtle but intentional updates from the prototypes.

Lean in to Laan with style!

This watch is a breeze to style. It made me want to dress like a queen so that’s exactly what I did. Wearing a metallic corset, and a matching rich purple skirt, just shows how this piece is red carpet ready. This rich jewel tone of purple looks incredible with an all black or grey ensemble and that purple pop would elevate even the most casual look, but I had too much of a good time pushing boundaries to illustrate just how versatile this beautiful purple can be. The floral trousers and matching shirt, with touches of purple are the perfect example of the Laan being the icing on the cake and giving a light and breezy feel to an otherwise very elegant watch.

I also had fun with a beautiful pink knit and a touch of denim as a high impact contrast with a casual look and loved how they looked together. Go bold or go home. This colourway will attract attention so why not lean in to Laan with equally bold colours?!

Final Thoughts: A Bridge Worth Crossing

The MINIM MN01 feels like the watch Chloe was destined to make and the one we didn’t know we’d been waiting for. It’s more than a debut. It’s a distillation of everything she stands for: craft, culture, and connection. It’s a conversation between East and West, between precision and poetry, between the relentless tick of modern life and the quiet ritual of winding a crown. Some watches impress you. Others stay with you. The MN01 does both.