The Mido Ocean Star 200C Trilogy

An often-overlooked Swatch Group brand, Mido has always represented solid content at accessible prices. Mido’s flagship Ocean Star collection welcomes three new models with ceramic bezels and colourful patterned dials. Attractive and robust all-rounders powered by Swatch Group’s latest-generation calibre 80, the Ocean Star 200C trilogy has plenty of grit and traction for action-packed surf or turf activities.

Background

Mido was founded in 1918. Thanks to its Aquadura crown sealing system of 1930, with a cork gasket on the crown to prevent water and dust from entering the movement, Mido would become a pioneer in waterproof watches. In 1934, the Multifort appeared, a robust, automatic, anti-magnetic watch with built-in water and shock-resistance that would become a best-seller through to the 1950s. The Ocean Star family, with its starfish logo, was born in the early 1940s and evolved over the years to incorporate a single-shell (monocoque) case and the brand’s Aquadura cork crown-sealing mechanism to increase the water-resistance of the watch.

Nature-inspired colours

The dials and bezels of the Ocean Star 200C have been refreshed with new colours, new textures, and the incorporation of scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic in the bezel to match the dial colour. Available in green, blue or grey with a matte finish, the dials are decorated with an attractive rippled pattern (waves) in relief. Upping the habillage of the watch, the knurled unidirectional rotating bezel, an essential feature of a dive watch, is fitted with a ceramic ring and bold white markings. All the individually applied indices and the dot at 12 o’clock are filled with white Super-LumiNova. The central groove of the diamond-cut hour and minute hands, and the lollipop on the sweep seconds hand, are filled with luminescent material. Clearly designed to be used below and above deck, the dial features a day and date window with a white background and black numerals.

Robust case

The stainless steel case has a diameter of 42.50mm and a thickness of 12.3mm. The screw-down crown with guards and the screwed caseback ensure the 200m water-resistance. Surprisingly well finished for a watch under EUR 1,000, the steel case and bracelet display satin-brushed and polished finishings. Obviously, as a sports watch, the polished finishings are more predominant in areas that don’t come into as much contact with surfaces, like the central polished link of the bracelet and bevels on the case. A starfish, the logo of the Ocean Star is engraved on the caseback in relief and polished.

Calibre powermatic 80

Although the movement is hidden beneath the solid steel caseback, the Ocean Star 200C is powered by the Mido calibre 80 based on the ETA C07.621. Shared by some of the most accessible brands in Swatch Group, the Powermatic 80 is an evolution of the 2824 architecture improved with a revised kinetic chain and lowered frequency. Now beating at 3Hz, it also has more than doubled its power reserve to 80 hours. It is presented in an élaboré grade and adjusted in three positions.

Price

The stainless steel bracelet comes with a folding clasp with a diving extension. All three models retail for EUR 990 and come with a two-year warranty. For more information, please consult www.midowatches.com.