The Mido Commander Inspired by Architecture 20th Anniversary Limited Edition

What do the Eiffel Tower, Rome’s Colosseum and the Guggenheim of New York have in common? Apart from being city landmarks, their architecture has provided design inspiration for Mido watches. The Mido Commander 20^th Anniversary Edition marks the fifth and final installation of limited editions inspired by remarkable monuments launched throughout 2022. Inspired by the architecture of the Eiffel Tower, the chronometer-certified watch is limited to 1,889 pieces, referencing the year the ‘Iron Lady’ was unveiled.

Founded on 11 November 1918, the same day as the armistice that put an end to the Great War, Mido’s centennial history is not particularly well-known outside niche watch circles. The Commander collection made its debut in 1959 and has been in continuous production ever since. The Commander Big Date model, for example, is often selected as a brand ambassador to commemorate big dates in the brand’s history, including Mido’s centennial in 2018.

Architecture is a common thematic thread at Mido, and many watches take their design cues from landmark sites. The iron soul of the Eiffel Tower inspires this Commander watch. Built for the 1889 World’s Fair by Gustave Eiffel, the tower was considered a technological masterpiece in its day and was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Chrysler Building in New York topped it in 1930. Soaring 300 metres above the Parisian skyline, the tower was constructed of lattice-wrought iron and served as the entrance to the exposition.

The iconic silhouette of the Eiffel Tower is represented on the dial as an index at noon. Applied to the grey dial with its elegant sunray finish, the Eiffel-inspired index is accompanied by eleven polished indices. To emphasise their architecture, the polished rectangular indices are applied to the dial and filled with black paint and light brown Super-LumiNova at their tips. Similarly, the flat diamond-cut hour and minute hands have a black spine and light brown Super-LumiNova. Occupying a prominent place on the dial is the rectangular framed day and date window at 3 o’clock. It’s worth noting that the index at 3 o’clock has not been shortened to accommodate the large bevelled aperture that matches the colour of the indices. Set against a white background, the black inscriptions are highly legible.

Made of high-grade 316L stainless steel and water-resistant to 50m, the 40mm case is smooth and rounded with a profusion of satin-brushed finishings and a contrasting thin polished bezel. Short lugs and a recessed crown contribute to the compact architecture of the case. Another reference to the Parisian landmark can be found on the caseback with its engraving of the Eiffel Tower.

Calibre 80 Si

The Commander IBA (inspired by architecture) is equipped with calibre 80 Si (ETA C07.821 base) with COSC chronometer certification, an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and a robust power reserve of 80 hours. Although the sealed caseback hides it, the oscillating weight is decorated with Côtes de Genève stripes.

Availability & Price

The Mido Commander IBA is a limited edition of 1,889 pieces and retails for CHF 1,460 / EUR 1.420. For more information, please consult Midowatches.com.