Let us begin where Mido drew inspiration for its latest timepieces in its Ocean Star range.
At the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula stands a historic architecture that has stood the test of time and unfailingly watched over the Gibraltar Strait since 1841, the Europa Point Lighthouse. Its powerful beam of light helps sailors to find their bearings on the often rough waters between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Inspired by its reliability and navigational significance, Mido introduced the Ocean Star collection in 1944 with a concept based on the important role of the lighthouse in safely guiding men as they embark on new maritime conquests. Today, the company has enriched the collection with a GMT model, perfect for our increasingly mobile society, and a special- edition chronograph, equipped with a nautical tachymeter scale in miles.
OCEAN STAR GMT
Equipped with the highly practical GMT function, the 44mm beauty clearly displays the time in two different time zones: home time and local time. To make it easier to read, Mido has differentiated the hands according to their function. In addition to the hour, minute and seconds hands, a blue varnished 24-hour hand indicates the time of a second time zone by pointing to the hour-circle (24-hour format) on the flange of the dial. Its intuitive display places the daytime hours against a blue background, and the night-time hours against a black background. White Super-LumiNova on each of the hands and indexes allows the wearer to keep track of time, even in dark situations. Driven by the Caliber 80, the watch offers a breath-taking power reserve of up to 80 hours and indicates the date at 3 o’clock.
The watch’s unidirectional bezel in blue ceramic also allows the wearer to track elapsed time – whether it’s the time before the next expedition, or the time spent underwater. The fluting on the bezel makes it easier to operate, while the extremely hard ceramic is incredibly resistant to scratches and wear. The case is fashioned from robust stainless steel and presents subtly contrasting polished and satin-finished surfaces. The screwed case back and crown further enhance the Ocean Star GMT’s resistance to the elements. Water-resistant up to 20 bar and incorporating a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective treatment on both sides, this sporty model is the perfect ally for nautical exploration.
An equally attractive and technological blue fabric strap – which echoes the GMT hand – ensures comfortable wear while withstanding the elements. The Ocean Star GMT is also available in a version with a steel bracelet and orange- coloured GMT indications, and in a two-tone steel and rose gold coloured PVD version.
OCEAN STAR CHRONOGRAPH SPECIAL EDITION
Designed for those who love speed and elegance, the new Ocean Star Chronograph is the instrument of choice for the most exhilarating sailing races. Mido chose sleek and contrasting aesthetics for the timepiece, featuring radiant indexes and diamond-cut hands adorned with yellow Super-LumiNova against a velvety black dial, as well as white graduations on the flange’s nautical tachymeter scale. The sweep-seconds hand – the star feature of the chronograph function – catches the eye with its orange varnished tip as it glides across the dial. A 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, and a white date numeral in a black aperture at 6 o’clock complete the display. With an anti-reflective treatment on both sides, the sapphire crystal presents a perfectly clear view of this effective dial and its strong contrasts.
The Ocean Star Chronograph proves itself to be an essential instrument with several different uses. Firstly, its chronograph makes it an excellent companion for every kind of feat. Next, the dial enables speed in miles to be calculated across a precise distance – a nod to the nautical world of the Ocean Star collection. Finally, the high-tech ceramic unidirectional bezel allows the wearer to make additional measurements by marking a time interval. Coated in Super-LumiNova, the indexes, hands and reference dot on the bezel allow these functions to be used in the dark.
Made to meet the most demanding requirements, the 44mm timepiece is powered by the Calibre 60, adjusted on three different positions for enhanced accuracy and equipped with a power reserve of up to 60 hours. It is housed in a robust black DLC-treated stainless steel case that exudes subtle elegance, thanks to its alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces, and offers a water-resistance of up to 200m, with a screwed case-back that reveals a polished starfish in relief.
Supplied with two thoroughly sporty interchangeable straps, this Ocean Star Chronograph asserts its powerful aesthetics in every last detail. The first strap is made from solid black rubber, while the second can count on the resistance of a black technical fabric with stitching in orange – Mido’s colour. The Ocean Star Chronograph is also available in titanium with a blue dial and matching ceramic bezel.