Hands-on review of the Mido Ocean Star GMT Special Edition is a diver’s watch of great versatility with GMT function. Price from €1,390/$1,390.
The new Mido Ocean Star GMT Special Edition is a diver’s watch of great versatility thanks to its additional GMT function and the possibility to switch, quickly and easily, from a metal bracelet to a fabric strap and viceversa.
After spending a few days with this timepiece, we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures.
The Ocean Star GMT Special Edition comes in a 44 mm x 13.4 mm stainless steel case whose lines are well highlighted by the alternation of satin-finished and polished surfaces. For its watches Mido exclusively uses high-grade 316L stainless steel to ensure complete compatibility with the skin and corrosion resistance.
The case is equipped with a unidirectional, counter-clockwise rotating bezel featuring a blue ceramic insert enhanced by a graduated scale that can be used to calculate the diving time (or any other event you want to measure).
Under a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, the dial reprises the blue of the bezel insert although in this case we have a velvety surface instead of a gleaming one. The blue of the dial is enlivened by red accents used for three key elements.
The diamond-cut hands with central grooves indicate the hours and minutes in the first time zone. A red varnished and arrow-tipped hand points towards the flange of the dial, which is marked with 24 hour intervals, indicating the second time zone. The red and blue background colours of the flange indicate day-time and night-time hours, respectively.
And finally we have the red tip of the central seconds hand, an important element of any diver’s watch, especially during an immersion as it provides the wearer with the confirmation of its regular functioning.
The hands and the applied indexes, as well as the bezel’s dot that marks the start of the dive time, are treated with Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability in darker environments.
Protected by two guards and decorated with the Mido logo, the crown is screwed for improved water resistance, guaranteed up to a pressure of 20 bar (approximately 200 metres / 660 feet).
Once unscrewed, the crown has three positions: Position 1 for manual winding, Position 2 for date and local display correction, and Position 3 for time-setting (local time and GMT) with stop seconds.
When travelling, to modify the local time only (without modifying the reference time in 24-hour format), it is sufficient to carry out the steps below in turn:
- Unscrew the crown, and then pull it out to the first notch (Position 2).
- Set the local time by turning the crown in either direction. The hour hand will move in 1-hour steps. The date is linked to the local time, and will be adjusted automatically when the hour hand passes midnight.
- Push in the crown and then screw it back in.
The Ocean Star GMT Special Edition comes with a three-link steel bracelet with satin-brushed and polished finishes. Its double folding clasp is fitted with a practical extension system to increase the total length by up to 15 mm, thus making it possible to wear the watch over a diving suit or simply tighten or loosen the strap as needed.
The presentation box includes an additional Nato-style fabric strap, featuring blue, red and white stripes. The bracelet incorporates a bar with a spur system that makes it easy to swap it for the fabric strap, or any other strap the wearer would like to use. The width lug is 22 mm.
Under the solid caseback engraved with the 24 global time zones, the self-winding Caliber 80 (based on ETA C07.661) beats at the frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) with a remarkable power reserve of 80 hours.
Its Nivachron balance-spring is made in a titanium-based metal alloy that contributes to reduce the effect of magnetic fields while improving accuracy over time and resistance to shocks.
Although not visible, the components of this movement are finely decorated in line with watchmaking tradition, with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo on the oscillating weight.
Combining a captivating look to excellent performances, the Mido Ocean Star GMT Special Edition ref. M026.629.11.041.00 is attractively priced at Euro 1,390 / US$ 1,390. midowatches.com
COMMENTS