The watchmaking world may appear to be one fraught with contradictions to the uninitiated. After all, in an effort to capture the essence of time – a forward-moving process that pauses for nothing – watchmakers have often turned to the past, dusted off archives and sought out inspiration from the early days of haute horlogerie. The Swiss watch brand Mido recently celebrated a momentous occasion: the 75th anniversary of its iconic Ocean Star line in Bilbao, Spain. To mark the event, the maison launched a special edition series comprising two brand new Ocean Star models. The 2019 Ocean Star Tributes may be a novel take on Mido’s classic timepieces from the 1960s, but join us and you’ll discover why the new watches score plenty of points with the modern gentleman too.
The immediate thing you’ll notice about Mido’s Ocean Star Tributes are the watches’ distinctive vintage charm. Recalling the elegance of dive watches from yesteryear, Mido’s 2019 timepieces make a statement on the wrist, and for good reason too. First off, the watches are available in an option of two dials: a stunning Mediterranean blue and a deep black, housed in a 40.5mm case. Sticking to the DNA of dive watches, the Ocean Star Tributes are adorned with a unidirectional rotating bezel too. Divers keen to test out the watch in open waters will be thrilled to learn that the bezel, hour-markers and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova for enhanced visibility underwater and in poor lighting conditions.
The watches’ hour and minute hands may be flat diamond-cut, but it is the seconds hands that commands attention on the dial: painted in a vivid orange (the official Mido colour), it appears to float above the dial’s darker, somber tone. Meanwhile, there’s a day and date window on the dial at 3 o’clock. The most arresting feature of the Ocean Star Tributes for Mido fans, however, may be what’s on the case back. Flip it over and you’ll find a polished inscription of a starfish, the historical symbol of the original Ocean Star.
Charmed by the Ocean Star Tributes’ retro looks? Don’t be fooled by aesthetics alone. A quick study of the watches’ functions will reveal the exquisite craftsmanship that went behind the construction of the Ocean Star Tributes. For starters, the watches are powered by the automatic Caliber 80. As hinted by the movement’s name, you can expect a power reserve of up to 80 hours when you don on the Ocean Star Tribute, promising top-notch timekeeping for your ease of mind. Furthermore, the dive watches offer an impressive water resistance of up to 20 bars of pressure (200m or 660 ft).
It’s hard to imagine an extreme sports lover who’d be able to resist the Ocean Star Tributes’ functional designs. Take for example the practical multi-link bracelets that complement the watches; they come with a folding clasp replete with a diving extension, giving you a snug and secure fit over your wrist that’s capable of surviving most conditions and the elements. Not a fan a steel bracelets? Fret not, the Ocean Star Tributes also come with alternative straps (available in two colourways: a blue technical fabric or textile-look black leather), allowing you to switch up the timepiece according to your pleasing.
For more information regarding Mido’s Ocean Star Tributes, click here.
