The Ocean Star series by Mido has been the brand’s dependable answer to robust water resistance and everyday reliability since 1944, helping solidify Mido’s reputation as a maker of adventure-ready watches designed to withstand the elements. Over the decades, the Ocean Star has become a go-to for those who appreciate classic dive watch style with a subtle vintage edge. This summer, Mido dives into its archives, reviving a distinctive 1970s model (see here), the Multi Star World time, although just like its modern successor we’re looking at today, or the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer, it doesn’t quite fit the textbook definition of a true world time watch.
By classic standards, a world time watch, like created by Louis Cottier, shows the time in 24 time zones at once via an ingenious system, which dates back to the 1930s, and typically combines a 24-hour rotating ring with a fixed city ring on the dial, allowing the wearer to check the time around the globe with a single glance.
By contrast, the new Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer keeps things refreshingly straightforward, staying true to the spirit of the original. It displays local time with hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date, while a rotating bezel with 24 city names allows for “manual” tracking of a second time zone. There’s no synchronised 24-hour disc and no automatic time zone shifting, so it’s more of a GMT bezel (without the GMT hand) than a pure world timer. However, that’s exactly what gives this watch its laid-back, practical charm: it’s useful for travellers who prefer stylish simplicity over mechanical complexity. And it looks cool!
The stainless steel case of the new Ocean Star Worldtimer measures 40.5mm in diameter and approximately 47mm lug-to-lug, making it suitable for a sporty daily wearer. It is shared with the dive-oriented Ocean Star Tribute. The unidirectional rotating bezel, with its black aluminium insert and engraved city names, brings the “worldtimer” theme to life. While not a true complication, the city bezel is handy for quick time checks when hopping between time zones or daydreaming about your next destination.
Topping the case is a box-shaped sapphire crystal, a modern, scratch-resistant nod to the vintage acrylic crystals of the past. A screw-down crown and a screw-on case back decorated with the Ocean Star’s signature starfish motif complete the details. With 200 m of water resistance, it has genuine dive watch capacities and is not just a travel accessory.
The dial stays true to its retro roots. Silver-toned with a soft velour finish, it’s set apart by bold black-and-red chequered markings that channel classic 1970s sports watch feel, reinforced by the vintage Mido logo. The practical day and date display sits at 3 o’clock. Baton hands filled with Super-LumiNova ensure legibility in low light, complemented by a lollipop seconds hand with a luminous dot at its tip. Luminous dots mark the hours on the dial’s periphery.
The watch is powered by the Mido Calibre 80, an automatic movement based on the ETA C07.621 (Powermatic 80) with a Nivachron balance spring for improved resistance to magnetism. Running at 21,600 vibrations/hour, it delivers an impressive power reserve of up to 80 hours – more than enough for a long weekend away.
Completing the vintage explorer vibe is a black Bund-style leather strap with a removable under-layer for added versatility. White stitching, subtle red highlights, and a polished steel pin buckle finish off the look in true retro tool-watch style. Of course, you can remove the leather plaque for a more subtle and thinner look.
The new Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer is priced at CHF 850 (excl. taxes) or EUR 990 (incl. taxes), fair value for a practical, robust piece that stays true to the Ocean Star legacy. Sometimes, simple, good-looking and dependable is exactly what you want on your wrist when your next adventure calls. For more, visit www.midowatches.com.
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