Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Mido Commander Gradient Calibre 80
Powerful mechanics partially visible under a gradient smoked acrylic dial.
The Swatch Group covers almost the entire spectrum of the watch industry, from accessible to haute horlogerie. When it comes to value for money, one of the most remarkable brands is Mido, with its cornerstone watch, the Commander. For the first time, this sporty model is fitted with a smoked acrylic dial, which gradually darkens towards the edges. Its gradient tone gives a rich depth to the watch, creating mysterious light effects while mechanics become visible. Let’s have a closer look.
The new Mido Commander Gradient is available in four different versions: steel on bracelet, rose gold PVD-coated steel, black PVD-coated steel on bracelet and the version featured in this article, black PVD-coated steel enlivened with the bright Mido orange accents – certainly the most striking version. Its 40mm x 10.84mm round case stands out with a slender bezel framing a sloping flange punctuated by rectangular indexes. These polished hour markers and the diamond-cut hour and minute hands are filled with orange Super-LumiNova. The exhibition caseback is screwed and water-resistance is rated 50m.
Peeking from underneath the smoked gradient dial and visible via the exhibition caseback, the movement is the Mido 80, based on the ETA C07.611. This precise and reliable automatic calibre displays the hours, minutes, seconds and the date. It is an upgraded version of the tried-and-tested ETA 2824, with several improvements, notably an improved 80-hour power reserve, a true competitive advantage at this price point where most movements boast less than 2 days of power reserve. This was achieved thanks to a frequency reduced to 21,600 vibrations per hour and a revised kinetic chain. For more information, you can read our dedicated review of this movement here.
The version of the Mido Commander Gradient we had for this hands-on is worn on a black fabric strap with contrasting orange stitching. It is secured by a PVD-coated steel folding buckle. Its price is set at EUR 870 or CHF 940 – like most Swatch Group offerings fitted with the Calibre 80, this represents excellent value in a highly competitive landscape.
For more information and to discover the other versions of the Mido Commander Gradient, visit www.midowatches.com.
1 response
Mido do some nice looking watches, I have been trying to get a look at a COMMANDER ICÔNE which on paper is just about perfect for me, but the nearest (of only two in the UK) dealer is a 400 miles round trip. I will probably pass..