Mido goes retro with the adventurous, vintage-inspired Ocean Star Worldtimer
Tom AustinMido is one of those brands that flies unjustifiably low under the radar, given its long and varied history. It’s a brand that dates as far back as 1918, taking advantage of the wristwatch boom that preceded the end of the First World War. Unlike several historic brands we know today, Mido has never really stuck to a particular design language over the years, and instead has produced countless watches that span eras of design and fashion influence.
One such model that stands out is the Ocean Star, a name that existed from 1944 but didn’t appear on a watch until 1959. Starting life as a tool watch dressed in everyday dress watch clothes, it subsequently went on to evolve into several different styles and variations, befitting of the eras they were launched in. Following on from the brand’s most recent vintage-inspired visits to the model, the Decompression Timer and Worldtimer, the Ocean Star has returned once more, once again influenced by 1970s retro style and updated with modern touches to meet the expectations of modern-day adventurers.
The case
Even back in the days when watches were generally much smaller, the Mido Ocean Star stood out for its larger proportions. The new Ocean Star Worldtimer is no different, but it’s perhaps more fitting to today’s standards. At 40.5mm in diameter and 13.4mm thick, the proportions are bold but not overly large, mainly due to the way the slender lugs and crown guards gently protrude from the edges of the rotating unidirectional bezel.
As you would expect from a tool watch, the case is made from stainless steel, which is finely polished on all visible surfaces. This also helps to make the watch look more svelte visually, and there isn’t a straight edge to be seen anywhere. The functionality continues, as the Ocean Star Worldtimer comes equipped with a sapphire crystal which has been given an anti-reflective coating on both sides, along with a screw-down crown and case back, providing the watch with 200 meters of water resistance. It’s nice to note that a solid case back has been used, too, which is engraved with each watch’s serial number and features the Ocean Star starfish emblem.
The dial
At first glance, the bright dial appears white, mainly due to the hard contrasting colours of the chequered design, but upon closer inspection, it’s in fact a fine “velour” silver finish. The vibrant red and black chequering denotes the time intervals which coincide with the world timer city indicator on the aluminium bezel insert, and the resulting vibe is well and truly retro. It’s accompanied by a vintage-style Mido logo and some simple dial text, which frustratingly appears to be in an ever-so-slightly different typeface. I know it’s not a significant detail, but it is something that can bother hardcore collectors.
Nevertheless, pedantic details aside, the 70s-inspired retro dial is ultra-cool, and is paired well with the straight, diamond-cut and faceted hands, which are filled with Super-LumiNova for added legibility. Another vintage nod is the oversized, silver-bordered day and date window, which usually would be off-putting, but I think in this setting, the Ocean Star pulls it off well, as it harks back to a time when date windows like this were commonplace.
The strap
Love them or loathe them, the bund strap makes an appearance on the Ocean Star Worldtimer, and you know what? I’m all for it on this watch. The black leather paired with white stitching matches the watch well, especially with the tiny hint of red stitching on the central strap. Thankfully, it won’t matter too much if bund straps aren’t your thing, because the under layer is removable, allowing you to wear the main strap as you would any other. The well-finished strap is finished with a stainless steel pin buckle, which is engraved with a Mido logo.
The movement
Hidden beneath the embossed case back is the Mido Calibre 80, an automatic movement based on an ETA C07.621 calibre. As is typical of most ETA movements, it’s a reliable and solid workhorse, and features a Nivachron balance spring, 25 jewels and a power reserve of up to 80 hours. The generous power reserve is partly thanks to a slower 3 Hz beat rate, which also helps keep things reliable. Also, it’s a Swatch Group exclusive movement, meaning it is only available in certain watches from brands like Mido, Hamilton, and Certina. Finally, despite being hidden away, the movement is modestly decorated with côtes de Géneve finishing and a Mido logo on the rotor. We promise.
The verdict
At US$1,070, the Ocean Star Worldtimer is difficult to fault. Ok, you could argue that it lacks a GMT function, which usually accompanies a true world timer (it doesn’t even have a GMT hand like the Decompression Worldtimer!) Put that aside, however, and you’re still getting a strong package for the money. Mido has managed to deliver things like 200 meters of water resistance and an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal in a bespoke stainless steel case for just over four figures USD, which isn’t to be sniffed at. And on top of that, it captures that 70s retro coolness perfectly, offering something different that stands out in a crowd at this level in the market, especially on that bund strap.
Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer pricing and availability
The Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer is available now from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: US$1,070, A$1,625
| Brand | Mido |
| Model | Ocean Star Worldtimer |
| Reference | M026.830.16.030.00 |
| Case Dimensions | 40.5mm (D) x 13.4mm (T) x 47.04 (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Silver with red/black chequering |
| Lug Width | 21mm |
| Strap | Black leather removable bund strap with stainless steel pin buckle |
| Movement | Mido Calibre 80, ETA C07.621 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, worldtimer bezel |
| Availability | Available now from the Time+Tide Shop |
| Price | US$1,070 A$1,625 |