BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Sporty chronographs are definitely a watch category we’d describe as en vogue. Most of us can’t get enough of having a watch that’s robust enough to go with us daily while also providing some potential extra functionality in the form of a chronograph. You only have to look at the average price of a Rolex Daytona 116500LN with the white dial, which is currently over double its retail price, to see just how en vogue sporty chronographs are. Chronograph diving watches, on the other hand, are not so in-demand. They’re usually more tricky to read, more substantial in their case dimensions and more expensive too. Has Mido done enough with their new Ocean Star Chronograph Special Edition to break that cycle?
On paper, I’d say they have. The new Ocean Star reference M026.627.37.051.00 is a handsome piece with an equally handsome price of €2290. The watch comes in a 44mm stainless steel case that’s been given a black DLC coating for extra stealth. The watch also has a water-resistance rating of 200m, with screw-down crowns the chronograph will not be operable underwater, but it’s still more than any of us will dive to. It’s coupled with a black rubber strap and a black dial that’s legible and simple.
A couple of orange touches make all the difference with this one, and they break the monochromatic appearance. The watch has a 30-minute chronograph and a date window at 6 O’clock. Interestingly, the chronograph has a tachymeter which is calibrated for measuring nautical miles, which is unusual.
Powering this watch is an automatically-wound ETA A05.H31 movement which Mido calls the Calibre 60 for some reason. The movement runs at 4Hz which is the industry standard, and it has a non-standard power reserve of 60-hours, far longer than most watches with off-the-shelf movements. The caseback is solid with a starfish on the back, so although you can’t see the movement, you still get something to look at.
If the black doesn’t take your fancy, then Mido will also be making one out of titanium with a blue dial and blue bezel and with a bracelet as well. The reference number for that one is M026.627.44.041.00.
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