Mido continues to evolve the entry-level sector, unveiling a set of new Ocean Star 200 watches that are near-unrecognisable next to their previous versions.
Of all the watch brands in the entry-level watch space, Mido is perhaps the most, as my generation would say, ‘slept on.’ This has always been the case. Sharing company with brands like Seiko and Swatch Group peer Tissot is an unenviable position, and any brand other than Mido may have caved under the pressure. Yet, the brand has continually challenged its ‘dark horse’ persona, releasing several watches that demonstrate a remarkable commitment to both design and function.
The key to its success can, for the most part, be attributed to the ever-popular Ocean Star collection. Introduced in 1944, it has since made a name for itself as a reliable, robust, and relatively accessible dive watch. But in recent times, the brand has begun extensively refining its catalogue. At the rate they were moving, it almost felt as though the roster’s flagship jack-of-all-trades, the Ocean Star 200, was being left behind in favour of the 39mm and GMT models.
Not so, as this year Mido has thoroughly refreshed and remastered the Ocean Star 200. Released as a capsule of five timepieces, the brand has created a new version of the watch that preserves its nature while making it sharper, tougher, and almost unrecognisable.
The New Look
The newest generation of the Mido Ocean Star 200 comes in a completely revised stainless steel case. Compared to the original’s 42.5mm width, 48.5mm lug-to-lug, and 12.3mm thickness, the new case trims everything down a notch. The diameter has been reduced to 41mm, the lug-to-lug to 47.03mm, and the thickness to 11.7mm.
The result is a highly wearable, compact, and clean frame that appeals to a wider range of wrists. Perhaps the only thing that hasn’t really changed is the screw-down crown and its adjacent crown guards, protecting the key to its 200m water resistance rating. An aluminium bezel insert, complete with a lumed bezel pip, sits within the knurled unidirectional bezel. It’s a slight step down from the ceramic bezel inserts found on older models, but it also helps reduce the watch’s weight on the wrist.
The entire package comes fitted to an interchangeable satin-brushed bracelet with polished centre links, tapering down to a folding clasp with a diving extension. Alternatively, one of the five new references comes on an equally interchangeable black rubber strap, complete with its own deployant clasp. All told, the Mido Ocean Star 200 is almost a completely different watch from the outset, yet it still ticks all the same boxes as the original.
Surf N’ Turf
Beyond the new case profile, the design of the Mido Ocean Star 200 has been extensively reworked. The brand has done away with the gloss-finished dials of old, replacing them with a grained central finish surrounded by a sandblasted minute track. Faceted rectangular indexes line the track’s periphery, each generously filled with lume.
The standard hour markers use a single luminous plot, while the quarter-hour markers are distinguished by two separated squares within each index. The hands are similarly lumed, though both the hour and minute hands have been semi-skeletonised for a sportier appearance.
The new-generation Ocean Star 200 is available in four colourways: classic blue, white with orange accents, white with black accents, and standard black. Finally, a day-date window occupies the three o’clock position, with a white background on the blue and white/orange references, and a black background on the remaining models. Each aluminium bezel insert is colour-matched accordingly, with my personal favourite being the white-and-black rendition, which really pops thanks to its contrasting black indexes and hands.
80-Hour Power(matic)
Turn the watch over and you’re greeted with a familiar sight: an enclosed steel caseback embossed with Mido’s classic starfish logo. Inside, however, things remain equally familiar, with the ever-present Powermatic 80 ticking away behind the scenes.
With a comfortable beat rate of 3Hz (21,600VpH) and an 80-hour power reserve, the movement has faithfully served virtually every entry-level Swatch Group brand since its introduction in 2012. Equipped with a Nivachron balance spring, it powers the day-date functions and remains one of the industry’s strongest guarantees of reliability and affordability.
Initial Thoughts
Again, Mido is so often slept on throughout the watch world. However, the tide has been turning for quite some time now, and the brand is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore or pigeonhole as a ‘dark horse.’ With the rate at which luxury watch brands continue to move upmarket, it’s unsurprising that Mido has fully embraced its identity as a value leader.
It continues to gain traction with modern watch enthusiasts, exemplified by the new Ocean Star 200. Soon, the brand will no longer have to fight to carve out a niche for itself in the entry-level watch space, because that niche will already belong to it.
In a world where so many brands look to move further upmarket, Mido does the same, but in its own way. Rather than chasing ever-higher price tags, it continues refining its watchmaking to increasingly impressive standards without the excessive mark-ups.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | M026.930.17.051.00 (Black with rubber strap) M026.930.11.051.00 (Black) M026.930.11.041.00 (Blue) M026.930.11.031.00 (White) M026.930.11.011.00 (White/black) |
| Dimensions | 41mm case diameter x 47.03mmmm lug-to-lug x 11.7mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Grained black, blue, white with orange accents Grained white with black & orange accents (White/black) |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Closed, embossed |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. Powermatic with day/date complication |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 200m / 20bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable steel bracelet with diver’s extension folding clasp Interchangeable black rubber strap with deployant clasp |