Mido's latest iteration within its esteemed Ocean Star collection, the Ocean Star 200C, showcases a distinctive aesthetic with a sophisticated black dial featuring an intricate wave-like texture, complemented by a bold red ceramic bezel. This model, a contemporary evolution of the brand's 1940s dive watch heritage, is engineered for both aquatic and terrestrial adventures. It integrates advanced features, including durable ceramic components and the efficient Swatch Group's Calibre 80 movement, making it a robust and stylish choice for watch enthusiasts seeking high performance and elegant design.
Tracing its origins back to the 1930s, Mido established itself as a leader in creating water-resistant watch cases, a pioneering feat achieved through its innovative Aquadura cork crown sealing system. The Ocean Star family, identifiable by its iconic starfish emblem, emerged in the early 1940s. Over the decades, this collection has expanded to encompass a diverse range of dive watches, from vintage-inspired models like the Decompression Timer and Ocean Star Tribute to the professional-grade 600m water-resistant variants, culminating in the modern Ocean Star 200C series. The '200C' nomenclature denotes the watch's impressive 200-meter depth rating and its use of ceramic materials, underscoring its dual commitment to functionality and contemporary design.
The newest Ocean Star 200C model draws its chromatic inspiration from the serene hues of twilight, where the sun's descent casts a warm glow upon the horizon. Its design harmoniously blends a deep black dial, embossed with flowing wave patterns, with a striking red ceramic bezel. A crucial component for any dive watch, the knurled unidirectional rotating bezel is meticulously crafted from highly resilient, scratch-resistant ceramic. It is adorned with prominent white markers for precise elapsed time measurement and a luminous Super-LumiNova dot at the twelve o'clock position, ensuring readability in low-light conditions. The watch's hands and applied circular hour markers are finished with a rose gold PVD treatment, adding a touch of refined elegance, and are also coated with white Super-LumiNova. This versatile timepiece is designed for various environments, featuring a practical day and date window with contrasting white background and black numerals for enhanced legibility.
Encased in robust 42.5mm stainless steel, with a slender profile of 12.3mm, this timepiece is built for durability. It features a secure screw-down crown, safeguarded by integrated crown guards, and a solid screwed case back. The watch's sporty character is accentuated by its brushed finishes, while the iconic starfish logo on the case back is rendered in a polished relief, adding a subtle touch of sophistication. Powering the Ocean Star 200C is the Mido Calibre 80, an automatic movement based on the ETA C07.621. This movement, widely adopted across various Swatch Group brands, is an enhanced version of the 2824 architecture. It operates at a lower frequency of 3Hz, which contributes to an extended power reserve of up to 80 hours. Furthermore, it incorporates a Nivachron balance spring, providing superior resistance to magnetic fields and ensuring consistent accuracy.
The timepiece is completed with a rich brown leather strap, featuring contrasting white stitching and a sturdy steel pin buckle engraved with the Mido logo. Designed for convenience, the strap includes lug bars that facilitate quick and effortless changes. This model is now a permanent fixture in the Mido collection, retailing at CHF 990 (inclusive of tax), offering an accessible yet luxurious option for watch connoisseurs.
The Ocean Star 200C embodies Mido's continued commitment to merging historical craftsmanship with modern innovation. This dive watch not only upholds the brand's reputation for creating robust and reliable timepieces but also pushes aesthetic boundaries with its thoughtful color scheme and refined details. Its blend of practical dive features, enhanced materials, and a dependable automatic movement makes it a compelling choice for those who appreciate a watch that performs flawlessly in challenging conditions while exuding an understated elegance for everyday wear.