Is the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns the brand’s key to becoming a collection staple?
Buffy Acacia- The Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns brings back a Mido classic, now with an integrated bracelet and octagonal bezel.
- There are three initial references including black and grey dials on a steel bracelet, or blue on a matching rubber strap.
- It’s powered by an ETA-based Mido Calibre 72, with three days of power reserve.
Every year we wonder if Mido is finally going to break out of its ‘underrated’ category, as the brand’s value propositions keep getting better and better. The Ocean Star Decompression Timer series may have taken off in popularity, but its limited edition nature meant that it never became a collection staple. The Multifort TV is also a fantastic watch, but the kitschy 1970s flair has fairly niche appeal. Now, the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns is perhaps Mido’s most alluring release for the average enthusiast, as its rugged sportiness and geometric style is both accessible and stylish – and we’re excited to be stocking it in the Time+Tide Shop.
There really is no shortage of integrated bracelet watches with octagonal bezels, especially not within the last couple of years. But the genre keeps growing, and it’s such that Mido can make this watch with its own distinct style. The bezel really is quite different from most other octagonal bezels, with polished facets that slope quite gently and a rounded tonneau case that softens the overall effect on the wrist. The diameter is 38.4mm with a tidy lug-to-lug distance of just 40mm, making it sit nicely on wrists of most sizes despite its impressive architecture. The centre link of the integrated bracelet may extend that out to 44.86mm, but it’s also dramatically curved to help conform to the wrist. Despite being integrated in looks, the bracelet actually does have quick-release spring bars should you wish to swap it out for a compatible rubber strap.
If you didn’t already notice in the name, you will have spotted the two crowns on the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns. The lower crown at 4 o’clock is a standard screw-down crown for adjusting the time and date, while the crown at 2 o’clock rotates the internal diving bezel. That ensures you can keep track of elapsed time without accidentally bumping it as easily, but it also just makes for a great look and a satisfying mechanic. Although that’s a bit of diving functionality, the watch is only water resistant to 100m, so some would suggest it’s only suitable for snorkelling.
The dial is simple yet strong, with a horizontal pattern that adds a decent amount of texture without being distracting. The white hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova for after-dark legibility, and the date display for the black, bracelet model has a black background for a little bit more visual balance. Alternatively, the blue dial version on a rubber strap uses a white background if you prefer your date displays to be more visible. The colour of the dial also determines the colour of the two crowns, as they’re both treated with colour-matched PVD coatings. The grey dial version does have a grey background for its date display, and has no need for a coating on its crowns.
Powering the watch is the Mido Calibre 72, based on the ETA A31.111. It’s a similar movement to the ubiquitous ETA 2824-2, except it has a slightly slower beat rate of 25,200 vibrations per hour, and a much longer power reserve of 72 hours. Factor in the automatic winding, and it’s going to be an extremely convenient movement. There is a sapphire display caseback showing off the Elaboré decoration of brushing and Mido’s customised rotor. It’s also quite a slender movement at 3.85mm, allowing the whole watch to come in at just 9.5mm thick.
Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns price and availability
The Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns is available now, both in-store and online at the Time+Tide Shop. Price: US$1,270 (rubber), US$1,340 (bracelet)
| Brand | Mido |
| Model | Multifort 8 Two Crowns |
| Case Dimensions | 38.4mm (D) x 9.5mm (T) x 40mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel with PVD-coated crowns |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black, grey, or blue |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet or blue rubber |
| Movement | Mido Calibre 72, ETA A31.111 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, internal rotating bezel |
| Availability | Now available from the Time+Tide Shop. |
| Price | US$1,270 (on rubber) US$1,340 (on bracelet) |