The Nude Blue Mido Commander Gradient

Mido’s cornerstone Commander collection can boast that it has been in continuous production since 1959. Naturally, fashions come and go, and to keep up with the latest trends in watchmaking, the Commander quite literally went commando revealing its Calibre 80 movement through a smoked acrylic dial in 2020. This summer, the Commander Gradient reappears with a cool blue gradient dial and a casual denim strap.

Like earlier editions, the 50m water-resistant case measures 40mm across and has a thickness of 10.84mm with the characteristic slender polished bezel. The round stainless steel case has short brushed lugs and a sporty spirit but with moderate dimensions for everyday wear and tear. One of the most distinctive features of the Commander is its sloping flange that is rendered in a blue-grey brushed colour here, accompanied by a white minute track. The applied rectangular diamond-polished indices, whose shape is reminiscent of a tuning fork, have white Super-LumiNova inserts. The shape of the indices is echoed by the black, flat diamond-cut hour and minute hands, also filled with a strip of SLN.

Protected by a domed sapphire crystal, the blue-tinted acrylic dial reveals its gradient effect with a more transparent centre that becomes increasingly opaque as it reaches the perimeter. Peeking out from beneath the blue dial, you can see the brass gears of Mido’s calibre and the entire date wheel spanning the perimeter. The tinted blue dial is more transparent in the centre and becomes increasingly opaque as it reaches the perimeter. To consult the date, the smoked blue dial has a cut-out rectangular date window at 3 o’clock, revealing a white background.

Visible from the dial and round window on the caseback, the Mido Commander is powered by Swatch Group’s Powermatic calibre 80. This solid automatic movement marks a significant upgrade of the ETA 2824 with a reworked kinetic chain and a reduced frequency (21,600vph), resulting in a beefy 80-hour power reserve. You can read all about this powerful entry-level movement in our in-depth article on the Powermatic. For improved chronometric performance, the calibre 80 is also equipped with a high-tech Nivachron balance spring, making it more resistant to magnetic fields, shocks and variations in temperature. An elaboré grade movement adjusted in three positions, the rotor is decorated with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo.

The novelty here is the cotton denim strap with white top stitching giving the watch a casual, laid-back appeal that echoes the blue tones of the dial.  The Mido Commander Gradient joins the Gradient family and retails for EUR 930 (incl. tax).

For more information, please consult midowatches.com.