A Personal Take On The New Mido Multifort TV Big Date in Black, Blue & Orange

Sometimes in watches, things come together in the most surprising way. While I was already familiar with Mido’s solidly built and, quite frankly, rather good Multifort TV Big Date from the video review we did, I must admit it wasn’t a watch that landed particularly high on my personal wish-list. I mean, I appreciate it for what it is and how well it’s made, but there are others higher up on the pecking order for me. But, surprising myself in the process, the latest version just instantly clicked for me! And it left me scratching my head a little as to what it is exactly. Is it the bold pairing of colours, or the fact that my Dutch roots naturally make me gravitate to the colour orange? Or is it something else entirely? Let’s find out by taking a closer look at the newest Mido Multifort TV Big Date!

Mido’s Multifort lineage goes back to the 1930s, indicating a waterproof, antimagnetic and shock-resistant watch. A milestone watch was the 1935 Multifort Automatic, further solidifying the brand’s capabilities by combining the Multifort’s traits with an automatic movement. The Multifort TV collection, however, is rooted in the 1970s, a period when most of today’s popular luxury sports watches find their origins. It was first introduced in 1973, so it actually pre-dates some of the biggest names in the field (Here’s looking at you, Nautilus, Laureato, Ingenieur). The style is typical of the era, with a rounded-square case profile, reminiscent of, well, a TV.

The collection is spread across two sizes and multiple colours for the case and dial. This one uses the larger of the two, the 39mm by 40mm Big Date platform, and dresses it up with a black PVD coating. The stout lines of the case are accentuated by a shaped bezel with protruding ‘lips’ at noon and six, a vertically brushed finish on top with polished sloping sides, and a recessed sand-blasted (non-luminous) pip at 12. On the right, a smooth protrusion on either side of the crown protects it from unwanted shocks and bumps. The sapphire crystal on top follows the shape of the case and bezel, and another one around the back reveals the mechanical heart inside. Being finished in black visually rehttps://monochrome-watches.com/mido-multifort-tv-big-date-orange-black-pvd-powermatic-80-introducing-specs-price/blackduces the size, which is helpful, as square or rectangular watches always feel larger than their dimensions suggest. And sticking with the Multifort’s heritage, it’s water-resistant to 100 meters, thanks to the screw-down crown.

Moving to the dial reveals a new tone for the Multifort TV Big Date. Where it’s previously finished with a gradient dark grey, deep blue, brown or green dial, this one is given more of a Petrol Blue tone. The dial has quite a lot of character, as it retains the horizontal grooves, recessed sections giving way to the hour markers, a sloped minute flange and the signature Big Date window at the top. The surprising touch here is the fact that the black diamond-cut and faceted hands, as well as the hour indices and other indications, are finished in orange! This is a look we know from the all-black Multifort TV Big Date, but it works brilliantly against the Petrol Blue dial as well.

From a technical perspective, it still relies on the Mido Calibre 80, which is based on Swatch Group’s ETA C07.651 movement. This automatic movement stands out for a few things, such as the anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring, its 21,600vph frequency and the 80-hour power reserve. On top of that, almost literally, comes the Big Date complication. This system uses two discs revealed through the double-framed window at noon. As a result, the date display is extremely legible, while adding a compelling retro touch to the dial. And a very welcome thing to a lot of people, no doubt: the discs are colour-matched to the dial and jump instantaneously at midnight! As mentioned, the watch has a see-through caseback, so you get a full view of the signed rotor.

Mido changes things up for the strap as well. Where the Mutlifort TV Big Date comes on a stainless steel bracelet with H-shaped links and a polished and brushed finish, or a contrasting rubber strap with a similar three-dimensional profile, this one uses neither of the two. Instead, it’s presented on a padded textile strap in dark blue, with contrasting orange stitching and a black PVD-coated stainless steel pin buckle. To me, this gives it a strong yet laid-back vibe, neatly tying in with the orange elements on the dial. The fact that it’s also a different shade of blue compared to the dial makes things even more interesting.

The design (and build-quality) of the watch was already very strong, and now gets a contemporary touch with its black PVD finish and blue-and-orange palette of colours. I know this is always very personal, but I think it’s a daring yet captivating look that doesn’t try too hard to work together, but just clicks! Combine all this with a retail price of EUR 1,350 and Mido has another winner on its hands that delivers aesthetically, mechanically and financially.

For more information, please visit MidoWatches.com.