Mido Ocean Star GMT

Mido’s solid Ocean Star diver now comes with GMT functionality without sacrificing its hallmark 60-minute dive bezel. Three new models make their debut in the Ocean Star family with robust dive credentials, an easy-to-consult 24-hour second time zone scale, a powerful automatic movement with a high degree of autonomy and a very competitive price tag. Let’s have a look at the new 2020 Mido Ocean Star GMT, an accessible watch with solid content.

Background

Mido was founded in 1918 and 1930 had invented the ‘Aquadura’, a cork crown sealing system that prevented water and dust entering the movement through the crown. In 1934, the Multifort appeared, a robust, automatic anti-magnetic watch with built-in water and shock-resistance that would become the brand’s best-seller through to the 1950s. The Ocean Star was released in 1944 with its single-shell (monocoque) case and Aquadura cork crown-sealing mechanism to increase the water-resistance of the watch.

Dive and Fly

These new Ocean Star watches are equipped with a practical GMT function displaying two different time zones. What is clever about the Ocean Star GMT is that the 60-minute dive bezel – a must on any professional dive watch – has not been sacrificed or used for the 24-hour GMT function. Made from ceramic, the unidirectional rotating bezel allows the wearer to track elapsed time and features fluting on the sides to make it easy to operate. Another advantage of ceramic is its resistance to scratches and wear.

Three models have been introduced in this Mido Ocean Star GMT collection: steel with blue dial and ceramic bezel on textile strap; steel with black ceramic bezel on steel bracelet; and a two-tone version in steel with rose gold PVD coating and a black ceramic bezel on matching two-tone metal bracelet.

All three watches have velvety black dials with the 24-hour track printed on the periphery of the dial in either white or orange. To make consulting home and local time foolproof, the fourth hand corresponding to the 24-hour scale on the flange is varnished in a different colour. A nice detail on the model with the blue ceramic bezel is the night/day functionality with blue for daytime hours and black for night. As a diver first and foremost, legibility is crucial and the thick baton-style indices are treated with white Super-LumiNova and paired with large diamond-cut hour and minute hands with lume and skeletonised at the base. There is also a discreet date window at 3 o’clock with a black background to match the dial.

The stainless steel case of the Mido Ocean Star GMT measures 44mm with a thickness of 13.28mm and 22mm between the lugs. Finished with polished and satin-finished surfaces, the screwed caseback and crown ensure a water-resistance of 200 metres. The sapphire crystal protecting the dial has an anti-reflective treatment on both sides to increase display contrast and legibility.

Powerful movement

Underneath the caseback which is engraved with the world’s 24 time zones, is the Mido Calibre 80, a movement from the Powermatic family (ETA C07.661 base) with a robust 80-hour power reserve. A movement used across Swatch Group brands, it has a lot to offer at this price point. With a frequency of 3Hz or 21,600 vibrations/hour, the movement is decorated with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo, and is powering the hours, minutes, seconds and GMT 24h hand for over three days.

Price & availability

As mentioned, the blue bezel model comes with a technical textile strap with white stitching and a steel pin buckle and retails for EUR 1,150; the black bezel model with orange GMT indications comes on a steel bracelet and retails for EUR 1,210; the two-tone steel and rose gold-plated model comes on a matching two-tone bracelet and retails for EUR 1,340. They are now available at retailers.

More details at www.midowatches.com.