A lighthouse is an unexpected choice of inspiration for a watch, even for a diving companion, yet, here we are celebrating an old beacon built 181 years ago in Spain with a timepiece that marks the 20th anniversary of the All Dial line inspired by an ancient stadium in Italy. Strange or not, prepare to fall in love with the Mido Ocean Star 20th Anniversary.
Mido
Mido Multifort Two Crowns Automatic Skin Diver
While Mido is good at producing watches that look anonymous at best, this new stainless steel Mido Multifort Two Crowns (Ref. M005.930.11.060.00) actually looks nice and even recognizable, although even this design always leaves you scratching your head trying to remember if you have already seen this gadget before.
Introducing the Mido Commander Datoday Automatic
Mido, yet another child of Swatch Group’s quiverfull family, has finally updated its Commander line of sporty timekeepers. The refreshed Mido Commander Datoday Automatic (ref. M014.430.11.061.00) features the same ETA 2836-2 self-winding blank movement that also powered their Multifort Bicolor 42 mm model presented back in 2011, but features a lot more interesting looks with lots of straight lines and an elegant, lugless design of its compact body (although it may make it difficult to find an after-market replacement strap or bracelet if need be).
Understated Luxury: MIDO Baroncelli III Chronometer
MIDO has just presented its updated Baroncelli III Lady Chronometer (Ref. M010.208.16.053.20). Although some bloggers take MIDO’s recent press release too literally and call this new model the brand’s “first” entry into the world of ladies chronometer watches, it is not exactly so. Here’s why.
MIDO Baroncelli III Rose Gold 18K Chronometer
The 2011 MIDO Baroncelli III Rose Gold 18K chronometer (ref. M901.408.76.033.20) was revealed at Baselworld 2011 show. The dressy timekeeper successfully combines a chronometer-grade -albeit relatively inexpensive- Swiss-made movement with an elegant, classic shape of the case.
Mido Multifort PVD Special Edition Chronograph
When I wrote the first draft of this brief review, I started with a claim that this (then) “new Mido Multifort PVD Special Edition Chronograph (ref. M005.614.37.051.01) was one of the most bizarre “ordinary” timepieces I have seen this year.” Now, upon taking some time (more than eight years, actually) to reconsider my opinion, I decided to partially re-write this article as this relatively affordable gadget grew on me (if that’s possible to say since I was too slow to grab one of these beasts myself and now if you don’t mind the expression, have to enjoy it from a distance) and I now think that this thing is interesting in its ability to mix things that many watchmaking specialists deem, um, unmixable. I would also like to note that, as guys in crime movies often say, I am not making this statement under any duress: I simply changed my opinion after so many years.