With its 1960s-1970s television format, the (almost) square watch with its softened angles returns to the forefront, this time dressed in a rose gold finish and offered in dimensions perfect for the thinnest of wrists.

A screen that generally broadcasts black-and-white images and a very limited number of channels that can be changed by pressing the buttons placed on the frame: these memories awaken a certain nostalgia for those who grew up between the Sixties and Seventies. In 1973, this TV format inspired Mido, which reinterpreted the (almost) square silhouette with its softened angles to shape a watch case. The Swatch Group brand used it twice, in 1980 and 2000, before abandoning it for a few years to concentrate on other projects. In 2023, like a phoenix, the geometric piece resurfaces, and in the face of its success, the Le Locle-based company now offers a smaller version, the Multifort TV 35.

Measuring 35 x 34.2mm for a thickness of 9.3mm, the steel case is water-resistant to 30m and features a rose gold PVD coating, as do the links of the bracelet, and is topped by a curved bezel housing a punched pastille at 12 o’clock. This frames a face in warm shades of chocolate to ebony, curved with a graduated flange. A trio of central dauphine-style hands – hours, minutes, seconds – fly over three trapezoidal hour-markers coated with white Super-LumiNova® with blue emission, eight brilliant-cut diamonds and, at 12 o’clock, a date window. These displays are punctuated by the Calibre 72, designed on an ETA basis and fitted with a Nivachron^TM balance-spring offering enhanced resistance to wear and magnetism. Beating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour, this automatic movement delivers a three-day power reserve when fully wound.

The post MULTIFORT TV 35 appeared first on Watches News.

Following on from its highly-colorful version, the brand rolls out an upgrade of its dive watch whose design is inspired by a timepiece from its rich heritage equipped with a decompression table.

With its Ocean Star Decompression Timer, unveiled for the first time back in 2020, MIDO immerses itself in its past by reinterpreting one of its iconic 1960s models. This 1961-piece limited series pursues its route with all the qualities of its elder sibling, in particular its decompression table hosted around the center of its matte black dial. Four yellow-, green-, pink- and blue-hued rings make up this tool which lets the wearer know maximum immersion time for various depths – 25 m, 30 m, 35 m and 40 m, without the need for a decompression stop. You just need to read the division of the related minutes. Its position on the azure blue circle means the diver can only stay down at between -36 and -40 meters for 9 minutes, for example, on the way back up.

The watch nestles inside a 40.5 mm-diameter, PVD-treated steel case, waterproof to depths of 200 meters. A unidirectional rotating bezel with notched aluminum ring enhances safety even more when heading down for an adventure on the seabed. Data is still wonderfully-easy to read thanks to the widespread use of Super-LumiNova^® on the scale numerals. Time data is driven by the high-performing Caliber 80 which delivers a comfortable 80-hour power reserve. To ensure the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 is as versatile as possible, it’s complemented by three wraparounds, an elegant Milanese mesh bracelet, an optional leather strap and a rubber strand which emphasizes its marine-focused personality.

The post OCEAN STAR DECOMPRESSION TIMER 1961 appeared first on Watches News.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of its collection devoted to underwater adventure, the brand rolls out an upgrade of its dive watch in a brand new size.

As summertime comes around in the northern hemisphere, time surfs wonderfully-textured waves on the dial of MIDO‘s Ocean Star 39. On gradient hues ranging from abyssal black to a blue that’s inevitably navy, a two-toned swell hosts the hour chapter made up of circular and triangular markers adorned with Grade X1 white Super-LumiNova^®. This powerful luminescent substance, which also enhances the hour and minute hands as well as the disc poised on the direct-drive, delivers excellent readability to the time-data scenography under any conditions, be it in the sea or on dry land. Data displays are completed by a practical date aperture featured at 3 o’clock.

Caliber 72, designed on an ETA A31.111 base offers a generous power reserve of 72 hours. Its Nivachron^TM balance spring makes this selfwinding movement, which beats at 25,200 vibrations an hour, insensitive to the negative effects of magnetic fields. Everything nestles in a 39 mm-diameter stainless steel case, waterproof to depths of 200 meters. This container is set off with a unidirectional rotating bezel boasting a two-toned aluminum insert decorated with a scale that’s ever-so handy for excursions into the deep blue. A metal bracelet attached by a butterfly clasp and which can be extended to fit a thick wetsuit emphasizes the versatility of this diver even more. Its built-in interchangeability system means it can be swapped for an optional rubber strap.

The post OCEAN STAR 39 appeared first on Watches News.

With this new variation, perfect for wearing anytime, anywhere, the brand illustrates its ability to meet the expectations of aficionados of great watchmaking.

How do you define elegance? Is it universal? Watchmaking has never ceased to promote this through creations that combine colors, patterns and materials which, once brought together, deliver ever-so appealing visual harmony. The latest to date in MIDO‘s Multifort TV Big Date collection is endowed with this quality. This stylish version enchants through its dial in gradient-toned chocolate that veers to black, and blends with the iconic design of a steel case that’s intensified this time round through the savvy use of rose gold PVD treatment.

The hour and minute hands in this scenography, along with the markers, are dressed in blue-green-glowing white Super-LumiNova^®. This luminescent paint ensures reading is optimal whatever the conditions. Like the other references in the collection, this piece stands out with its large date at 12 o’clock. This complication, rare in this range of accessible luxury watches, is driven by the powerful Caliber 80 which offers a power reserve of 80 hours. This self-winding movement also boasts great reliability. Its Nivachron^TM balance spring makes it insensitive to magnetic fields. As always at Mido, technical progress means the use of its timepieces are child’s play. Adjustments can be made easily and quickly. And, for a perfectly-fitting finish, this Multifort TV Big Date Chocolate is worn on a strap fashioned in brown rubber clasped by a pin buckle. One thing’s for sure, elegance goes hand in hand with perfection and subtlety.

The post MULTIFORT TV BIG DATE CHOCOLATE appeared first on Watches News.

The brand is offering a series of 888 definitively sporty pieces crafted using a material that is both aesthetic and technical, and a COSC chronometer caliber.

For the 80th anniversary of the Ocean Star collection, MIDO presented an appealing limited edition with a vintage style. This spring, the brand unveils a development that emphasizes the versatile character of its diving watch and its ability to adapt. The Ocean Star 200C Carbon sports an entirely different, very contemporary personality, with its 42.5mm-diameter case and dial forged in carbon-fiber composite. A black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel decorated with a two-tone orange and gray scale reinforces its ability to tackle depths in safety. Light and robust, this model is waterproof to a depth of 200 meters thanks to its screwdown back, engraved here with a starfish. Readability is also optimal in all conditions of light thanks to hands and wide markers coated in white Super-LumiNova^®.

All information, including the day and date, is driven by the Caliber 80. This automatic movement with its silicon spring insensitive to the effects of magnetic fields, offers a comfortable power reserve of 80 hours. This high-performance, five-position mechanism is very precise. Its chronometry meets COSC requirements. Comfortable in the sea and on land, the ’Ocean Star 200C Carbon has a rubber strap fastened with a folding buckle or a fabric alternative in colors to match the carbon motifs. All you have to do is choose the right outfit!

The post OCEAN STAR 200C CARBON appeared first on Watches News.

This 999-piece limited edition offers a nostalgic, TV-focused flashback. A pilot episode of the first season of a new must-get-our-hands-on series?

Back in the 60s and 70s, lifestyle changes shook up the world of design. Unusual colors and shapes played a role in creating the groundwork for a new style. Looks were unleashed, curves softened lines, like the ones of TV sets. In 1973, MIDO showcased its Multi Star model. Its case was somewhat a tip of the hat to the screens that reigned in households at the time. Last year, the brand added to its collections by rolling out the Multifort TV Big Date watch boasting a highly-geometric steel case (40 x 39.20 mm) which unmistakably conjures up its elder sibling. This time round, the S01E01 limited edition whisks us back through time via a dial featuring the well-known test card display of yesteryear’s little screens. Here, this brightly-colored, relief-style pattern infuses the timepiece with a personality that’s as mesmerizing as a series broadcast on today’s can’t-do-without streaming platforms.

The white Super-LumiNova^®-topped hour and minute hands hover over this layered composition. The same luminescent paint also makes the dotted markers stand out in the dark. The large date catches the eye at 12 o’clock in this somewhat out-of-the-ordinary scenescape. As per usual, time data is driven by the renowned Caliber 80. What’s more, this selfwinding movement delivers a power reserve of over three days to the watch. To delight everyone, the Multifort TV Big Date S01E01 comes complete with an interchangeable metal bracelet, which can be zapped as you please for one of the two additional yellow and turquoise blue rubber straps.

The post MULTIFORT TV BIG DATE S01E01 appeared first on Watches News.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of its Ocean Star collection, the watchmaker invites to discover a charming variation of its versatile travel watch boasting resolutely-vintage adornments.

With its Ocean Star GMT Special Edition, MIDO gifts its watch featuring a display of several time zones with a brand new face and an unprecedented size. Its polished and satin-brushed finished, steel case stands out from the original 44 mm model with its reduced 40.5 mm diameter. Nonetheless, the watch is still waterproof to depths of 200 meters. Likewise, the scenography of the time data also changes significantly on the dark blue-hued dial. The rectangular markers are replaced with tapered alternatives conjuring up shark’s teeth. A silvered 24-hour scale, decorated with odd numbers, reigns on the flange whilst the bidirectional bezel flaunts even numbers. The red arrowhead GMT hand is slimmer and can be used to read two different time zones. The date aperture at 3 o’clock completes the data. And, thanks to the omnipresent Super-LumiNova^®, time can be read clearly in any situation.

Time data is all driven by the high-performing Caliber 80 equipped with an anti-magnetic Nivachron^TM balance spring. This selfwinding movement provides the displays with a comfortable power reserve of at least 80 hours. The Ocean Star GMT Special Edition is accompanied by a metal bracelet integrated into the case middle. And, thanks to its easy-change system, it can be replaced as quick as a flash by an optional NATO-type fabric strap.

The post OCEAN STAR GMT SPECIAL EDITION appeared first on Watches News.

This tool watch already has a solid reputation among underwater excursion enthusiasts, and now has an additional asset that is indispensable for all those who like to travel across time zones.

Since its creation in 1944, the Ocean Star watch has earned a solid reputation in the watchmaking world, notably thanks to its great resistance, before becoming, with the 1961 Ocean Star Skin Diver Watch, an indispensable companion for lovers of underwater excursions. The latter was reissued in 2020 and was so successful that Mido proposed an evolution, still perfect for underwater exploration since it is, among other things, waterproof to a depth of 200m, but with an additional asset that allows for serene navigation between different time zones: the new Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer Special Edition.

In the center of the dark blue dial, in addition to the famous circular decompression scale with its four concentric levels tinted light blue, pink, green and yellow for divers, a long red-varnished and luminescent arrow flies over the vanilla-colored 24-hour ring while pointing to the bezel. The bezel, capping a 40.5mm diameter steel case, has a blue aluminum insert on which are inscribed all the capitals and major cities of the world. Simply turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to choose your destination and, thanks to the central dauphine hands, obtain the local time and home time simultaneously. Available with a choice of a rubber strap that matches the dial and is decorated with an embossed checkerboard pattern, or with an easily interchangeable steel mesh strap, this Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer Special Edition, which beats to the rhythm of the self-winding Mido Calibre 80, is also available with a black bezel and dial and a decompression chart in shades of yellow to orange.

The post OCEAN STAR DECOMPRESSION WORLDTIMER SPECIAL EDITION appeared first on Watches News.

White mother-of-pearl, sparkling diamonds, polished steel and soft colors: this is the magic recipe of the watch brand based in Le Locle to illuminate the wrist with elegance all year round.

The use of color, in the wardrobe as on the wrist, is not exclusively reserved for summer. On the contrary, whether it’s deep or pastel, sparkling or tender, conventional or original, it’s highly recommended to use and abuse it throughout the year to bring that dose of softness, freshness and good humor to life. So, to close the 2022 chapter and start the next one, Mido proposes to light up the wrist with its new Baroncelli Signature Lady Colours, a watch that is as bright as it is “feel good” and can be styled according to your mood in a flash thanks to its interchangeable strap system, which you can choose from a soft color chart.

For the watch brand based in Le Locle, the magic recipe of this model is based on the harmonious combination of white mother-of-pearl spreading its iridescent reflections on the dial, diamonds placed at 3-6-8-12 o’clock that capture the light, the shimmering steel of the 30mm diameter case and colored leather links to be tightened against the skin. Plum purple, pearl grey, beige pink, intense raspberry, in crocodile-style, or delicately grained water green, these bracelets allow you to fully appropriate time, your time. The face of the Baroncelli Signature Lady Colours is decorated on its center by a thin silver ring which, coupled with long indexes, draws the silhouette of a graphic sun. In the center, two alpha-shaped hands accompanied by a slend hand indicate the hours, minutes and seconds, while a window at 3 o’clock displays the date in black on a white background. This time reading is punctuated by the Mido Calibre 48, a 4hz automatic movement based on an ETA that delivers 48 hours of power reserve when fully wound.

The post BARONCELLI SIGNATURE LADY COLOURS appeared first on Watches News.

If its aesthetics evoke both the spirit of the 1970s and a sunset on the sea, this new watch has all the qualities necessary to become an essential companion in everyday life.

It was in 1959 that the name Ocean Star made its appearance on the watchmaking scene and quickly became synonymous with water-resistance thanks to its monocoque case coupled with the cork seal of its crown. Now a collection in its own right and an ambassador of Mido‘s expertise, it now has a newcomer: the Ocean Star Tribute Gradient watch. With its vintage look, sporty silhouette and athletic heart, the latest addition to the Le Locle-based brand’s catalog is the ideal companion for everyday wear.

The spirit of a 1960s or even 1970s diver that emanates from this model is based on the case/dial combination, on the association between the rotating bezel equipped with a graduated black aluminum ring and the flamboyant disc, protected by a raised, domed glass, which runs through the “bâton“ shaped hour markers. The gradation starts in a very dark burgundy, almost black, from the full tour of the dial and fades to a brick-red hue in the center where the two hour and minute hands and the polka-dot second hand appear, a silver trio highlighted by white Super-LumiNova®. At 3 o’clock, a double window displays the abbreviation of the day of the week in English as well as the date.

Water-resistant to 200 meters, the sturdy 40.5 mm-diameter steel case – a size that fits most wrists – features a screw-down caseback with an embossed starfish engraving and houses Mido‘s Caliber 80. This automatic movement based on an ETA C07.621 provides a power reserve of more than three days when fully wound. The Ocean Star Tribute Gradient is worn on the wrist with a black textured rubber strap and pin buckle.

The post OCEAN STAR TRIBUTE GRADIENT appeared first on Watches News.

Notice to fans of extreme diving watches and amateur divers, the watch brand takes inspiration from a legendary piece of its heritage to create a limited edition with a colorful decompression picture on its dial.

Ever since the world began, humankind has been fascinated by the sea, drawn to it like a magnet. Unable to tame this wild and unpredictable universe, we settled over the years, over the centuries, with forging the necessary tools to sail on its often tumultuous waters and explore its depths. Since the 1940s, Mido develops reliable and robust watches for professional divers. In particular, a 1961 timepiece famous for its decompression table composed of colored concentric rings adorning its dial. This particular arrangement served as inspiration for the brand to develop a new watch with a vintage look. It will be available for sale in November: the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 Limited Edition.

This diver’s watch features four rings on its silver-white dial, representing various depths: yellow, from 25 to 29 meters; green, from 30 to 34 meters; pink, from 35 to 39 meters; and blue from 40 to 44 meters. To view the information announced in meters or feet on the board, simply place the luminescent dot on the rotating bezel, notched, and fitted with a turquoise aluminum ring at 12 o’clock. In the center of this explosion of bright colors is a trio of silver hands that display the hours, minutes, and seconds. These are overlaid by the original logo and outlined by large luminescent Arabic numerals. The rectangular hour markers placed around the dial contribute to the “rings in the water” effect.

The 40.5mm diameter steel case that houses the automatic Mido 80 caliber, with 80 hours of power reserve, is worn on a Milanese mesh steel bracelet, in blue textile or dark beige leather.

Price: CHF 1,130

By Sharmila Bertin

The post OCEAN STAR DECOMPRESSION TIMER 1961 LIMITED EDITION appeared first on Watches News.

With its elegant blue dial, perfect finishes, optimal readability, reliable engineering and reasonable price-tag, the Locle-based brand’s new limited edition boasting a big date has once again got everything right.

The timeless simplicity of their silhouette, their pared-down style flaunting curvaceous, refined architecture have led the watches listed in the Baroncelli collection to become icons since 1976. In just over 40 years, this watchmaking family has made its mark thanks to the quality and affordability of its products. Because, if truth be told, you can indeed become the owner of exquisite, reliable, robust automatic watches without having to break the bank or find yourself in the red for years. As this pretty much chaotic year of 2020 dawned, Mido unveiled its Baroncelli Big Date Limited Edition, available in… 2,020 pieces!

The “Big Date”, i.e. a double aperture displaying the date in a highly-readable way, and much more than just a simple porthole, was introduced in the Commander collection in 2018 to celebrate Mido’s 100^th anniversary, and now takes its first ‘steps’ in the Baroncelli line. To center stage this ever-so useful complication, the watchmaker chose to adorn the watch dial with a delightful blue set off with a sun-brushed finish. This luminous shade blends perfectly well with the russet warmth diffused by the rose gold PVD which covers the 40 mm diameter of the steel case. The PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) layer is bestowed with several advantages: it’s solid, uniform, impurity-free, corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. The Dauphine-style hour and minute hands and direct-drive, matching the case color, hover over golden applique Roman numerals whilst the Big Date reigns supreme at 6 o’clock, in black on a white backdrop. All these features are driven by the self-winding Caliber 80.

The Baroncelli Big Date Limited Edition is complemented by a crocodile-style blue calfskin strap attached by a rose gold PVD steel folding clasp.

Price: CHF1,090

By Sharmila Bertin

The post BARONCELLI BIG DATE LIMITED EDITION appeared first on Watches News.

The ambassador of the Locle-based watchmaking brand’s collections takes on a silhouette totally adorned in black to better highlight the misty blue which graces its face.

It was back in 1959 that the watchmaking brand Mido, established in Locle, created its future icon, the Commander watch. A model which has been produced constantly over the last 61 years. Its understated monocoque case, its reliable movement and its ever-so easy-to-read dial displays, along with a rather realistic price, make this piece a bestseller and the perfect ambassador for Mido which unveils a new variation as springtime comes around: the Commander Blue Shade.

So, what’s special about this new piece? Its 37 mm-diameter case – a wonderfully unisex size – is sculpted in satin-finished steel and coated with black PVD. The watch is waterproof to a depth of 50 m and hosts a closed caseback made from the same metal. This dusky case embraces the automatic caliber 80, based on an ETA, which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations an hour and, as its name suggests, delivers a power reserve of 80 hours.

On the face side, an acrylic crystal disc, with the Mido name discreetly stamped in the center, protects the dial. The Commander Blue Shade’s mysterious sunrayed face is enhanced with a smoke-like effect which goes from petrol blue then darkens with gradient tones of navy and black. The 12 silvered indexes, topped with Super-LumiNova® dots along the flange, are set off with a central black band, a unique graphic style which also features on the central hour and minute hands also highlighted with luminescent striations. A double open aperture at 3 o’clock reveals the day (in English) and the date in black on a white backdrop.

The Commander Blue Shade is complemented by a steel Milanese mesh bracelet with black PVD finish matching the case.

Price: CHF910

By Sharmila Bertin

The post COMMANDER BLUE SHADE appeared first on Watches News.

The Locle-based watchmaker proposes a new, totally-steel-machined dive watch, whose robustness and reliability invite you to explore the seabed with total peace of mind.

For 76 years, Mido has been enabling divers to sound the depths of the world’s oceans reliably thanks to a collection of watches designed for underwater exploration, baptized Ocean Star. This year, the Locle-based watchmaker proposes a new version, just as reliable but equipped with an impressive power reserve: the Ocean Star Caliber 80 model.

The Ocean Star Caliber 80 boasts a 42.55 mm-diameter case, fashioned in two parts and machined in steel. This metallic case, resistant to immersions down to 200 m, is complemented by a bezel topped with a blue aluminum ring featuring the graduated time scale and luminescent markers required for diving as well as a screwed crown. Its caseback is illustrated with a relief-engraved starfish.

The sea-inspired blue dial is detailed with vertical satin-finishing punctuated with white Super-LumiNova®-covered applique indexes. This same pigment also highlights the skeletonized pair of hands and the tip of the direct-drive whose arrow is varnished with orange. At 3 o’clock, a double aperture displays the day and date in white on a black backdrop, a contrast which offers fast data readability.

All the functions are driven by the caliber 80, a self-winding movement beating at 21,600 vibrations an hour and ensuring, as its name so states, a power reserve of some 80 hours.

This new Mido is complemented by a steel link bracelet closed by a folding clasp with an extension specially-designed to be worn over a wetsuit.

Price: CHF920

By Sharmila Bertin

The post OCEAN STAR CALIBER 80 appeared first on Watches News.