Mido Ocean Star

The Ocean Star is one of the oldest and most successful models in the Mido catalog. The first Ocean Star debuted in 1944, making it one of the earliest water-resistant watches. Its single-shell (or "monocoque") stainless steel case and then-revolutionary cork sealing system made waves in the industry.

Today, the Ocean Star has grown into a comprehensive collection of modern diving watches. Each timepiece has a unidirectional diving bezel, luminous hands and indices, sapphire crystal, and a screw-down crown. While most models are water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft), top models can dive down to 600 m (60 bar, 1,969 ft).

Mido outfits most Ocean Star watches with an automatic caliber from ETA, a Swiss movement manufacturer. The caliber 80 with an 80-hour power reserve powers the majority of the current collection. Some models even come with a chronometer certificate from COSC (the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). The Ocean Star collection has also contained quartz-powered watches since the 1970s, including the Captain Quartz Chronograph.

The Ocean Star Diver 600 is this collection's sole professional diving watch. This timepiece can survive depths of up to 600 m (60 bar, 1,696 ft) and, thanks to its helium escape valve, can even be used during saturation dives. Luminous material fills the applied indices and hands, guaranteeing optimal readability above and below the waves. The internal unidirectional diving bezel also glows in the dark.

The caliber 80 COSC Si ticks away inside the 43.5-mm stainless steel case. This chronometer movement is based on the ETA C07.821. It provides the Diver 600 with an 80-hour power reserve and a date display at 3 o'clock.

Mido produces two versions of the Diver 600. The first comes in stainless steel with a dark blue dial and bezel. It's mounted on a three-piece link stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp. The other version has a black PVD-coated case. Its dial, bezel, and rubber strap are also black. Both the black and blue editions cost roughly 1,500 USD.

The 42.5-mm Ocean Star Captain V is available in stainless steel or titanium. If you prefer stainless steel, you can choose from models with a polished finish, others with a gold PVD coating, and two-tone editions. The dial and bezel come in black, blue, or olive green, depending on the model. Mido pairs these timepieces with a stainless steel, rubber, or textile band. Titanium Captain V watches set themselves apart from their stainless steel counterparts with their anthracite dials and luminous orange minute markers on their diving bezels.

From a technological perspective, both versions are identical. The caliber 80 (ETA C07.621) powers each Captain V and lends it a day-date display a 3 o'clock. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial against the elements, and a screw-down crown keeps the watch water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft). Prices for the Ocean Star Captain V in titanium sit between 990 and 1,100 USD. Stainless steel models generally cost slightly less at 880 to 1,000 USD. Two-tone editions are the exception, demanding around 1,200 USD.

The Captain V's predecessor, the Ocean Star Captain IV is an even more affordable alternative. Narrow indices, wide sword hands, and the diving bezel's dark numerals on a light background result in a slightly sportier looking timepiece. Inside the case, you'll find the ETA 2836-2 movement. It offers the same functionality as the caliber 80 but with a 40-hour power reserve. Well-maintained Captain IV models sell for anywhere from 440 to 720 USD.

In 2019, Mido marked the Ocean Star's 75th anniversary by releasing the Ocean Star Tribute . This 40.5-mm stainless steel watch combines state-of-the-art technology with the design of classic diving watches from the 1960s. Retro elements include domed sapphire crystal and a dial with baton indices made of white luminous material. The baton hands also glow in the dark and fit perfectly with the vintage-inspired design. A day-date display at 3 o'clock rounds off the dial. Like the standard editions, this model houses the caliber 80 based on the ETA C07.621.

The Ocean Star Tribute is water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft) and available with a blue or black dial and bezel. Mido pairs this watch with a Milanese-style stainless steel bracelet. Both versions also come with an alternate band in matching black leather or blue textile.

Be sure to have about 1,100 USD on hand for the Ocean Star Tribute with a blue dial. You can purchase the black edition for as little as 1,000 USD.

Collectors may be more interested in vintage Ocean Star models, including the Ocean Star Powerwind . Produced in the 1960s, this 35-mm stainless steel watch features the Ocean Star's characteristic single-shell case. This means that the dial has to be removed to service the automatic caliber 1117P1 below.

The Powerwind has a very simple design. Its round case has short lugs and a sunken crown. There are also narrow hands and applied baton indices at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. You'll find polished stainless steel editions, as well as gold-plated watches with diamond-studded dials. As a result, prices vary greatly, going from 320 USD all the way up to over 1,100 USD.

The Ocean Star Datoday is also a product of the 1960s. Like the Powerwind, its design is very clean. However, it has applied indices for all 12 hours, as well as a day-date display at 3 o'clock. You can choose from models with either an automatic caliber or a chronometer-certified manual caliber. Prices for well-maintained stainless steel editions begin around 870 USD. Yellow gold models cost significantly more, changing hands for upwards of 2,200 USD. If you like the Datoday's retro charm but prefer modern technology, you should take a closer look at the Commander collection. These watches are the direct descendants of early Ocean Star models, combining their vintage designs with the latest movement technology.

Mido also equips certain Ocean Star models with quartz movements. The Ocean Star Captain Quartz Chronograph is one such timepiece. It's also made of stainless steel; however, with a diameter of 43.5 mm and a larger bezel, it feels more imposing than its automatic counterparts.

The matte black dial features a delicate wave pattern and wedge-shaped hour markers. A generous amount of luminous material fills both the indices and wide hands. A finely graduated second scale runs around the dial's outer edge. There are also three subdials: a counter for measuring 1/10ths of a second at 2, a small seconds at 6, and a 30-minute counter at 10 o'clock. A date display sits at 4 o'clock. This model gets its power from the quartz ETA G10.211 movement.

You can call this sporty timekeeper your own for between 440 and 500 USD.