Mido has truly come out of the woodwork this year, and it shows. This latest addition, the Multifort TV Big Date Chronometer, is just further proof.
Retro-chic has become one of the prevailing trends in the modern watch industry. More than just manufacturing nostalgia, the horological world has been looking back to a more recent past for inspiration: the 1970s and 1980s. Though such eras were perhaps best defined by the quartz crisis, many brands on the brink felt it was the perfect time to take their watches in a futuristic direction, giving way to the highly disruptive, often campy designs of the era.
Swiss watch brand Mido is part of that legacy, with a storied history in TV-case watches stretching back to 1973. Fifty years later, the brand returned with the Multifort TV Big Date, which has since branched out into several compelling references.
But whether it was new colours, new materials, or an incredible Día de los Muertos special edition, one arena it hadn’t toyed around with was the mechanics. This year, however, that’s all changing with the latest addition to the lineup, combining accessibility with incredible mechanical accuracy.
Squared Space
The new Mido Multifort TV Big Date Chronometer makes no secret of its crowning party trick, so to speak. However, it still measures up to the same standards as the rest of its peers. With a 40mm case diameter, 46.85mm lug-to-lug, and a thickness of 11.5mm, the watch sounds fairly universally wearable on paper. But it’s important to keep in mind that these aren’t the dimensions of a round watch; square watches often wear considerably larger on the wrist than one might expect.
Regardless, it embraces its 1980s frame adroitly, leaning into the campiness while still keeping things refined. The vertically brushed bezel is evidence of this, breaking up the blocky square shape with protrusions at the top and bottom. Interrupted only by a lumed pip at 12 o’clock and a prominent polished chamfer, it gives way to the predominantly brushed, sporty case and crown guards.
Flowing from the lugs is the chunky H-link bracelet, terminating in a butterfly clasp for a more seamless fit. If the steel bracelet isn’t to your taste, Mido has you covered with tool-less interchangeability. While the watch doesn’t come with any complementary straps of its own, the 22mm lug width remains consistent with other 40mm models, meaning anything that works on those will work here, too. Topped off with 100m of water resistance, the watch remains highly versatile, further demonstrating the strength of Mido’s accessible craftsmanship.
First Screening
Speaking of craftsmanship, the design of the Multifort TV Big Date Chronometer differs slightly from that of the original release. As opposed to the decidedly retro themes of the original, the new watch leans into a sportier, more contemporary aesthetic, bringing the look into the 21st century.
Instead of the matte fumé dials found on previous models, Mido has opted for a more radiant sunray-brushed dial. In a classic blue, the brand has also removed the horizontal striations in favour of a repeating rectangular pattern.
While it certainly adds a sense of depth and dimensionality to the watch, my mind almost immediately wanders to one of the pivotal scenes in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. In the film, Bruce Wayne, or Batman, has a surveillance system that uses sonar to create a 3D map of Gotham City, with the outlines of every structure rendered as vibrant blue silhouettes across countless screens.
Closer to the real world, the pattern perhaps also symbolises the watch’s TV inspiration. The rectangular shapes are reminiscent of a news broadcaster’s control room, with countless TVs displaying multiple camera angles and statistics simultaneously.
Other elements of the Multifort TV Big Date Chronometer have also changed. The sunken, lumed indexes have been replaced by sharper applied markers alongside plots of lume. The rehaut has also been modified, displaying the five-minute Arabic numerals on a separate plane from the minute track. Finally, the Big Date complication now features a more prominent rhodium frame, once again reinforcing the technological aspect of the timepiece.
Chronometer Cool
But all the flash means nothing without substance. Fortunately, Mido is one of the class leaders in accessible yet powerful mechanical engineering. Proof of this can be seen through the exhibition caseback, where the brand’s automatic Calibre 80 is on display.
Effectively based on the Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80 architecture, the movement beats at a typical frequency of 3Hz (21,600VpH) and offers an 80-hour power reserve. Aside from the Big Date complication and Mido’s custom finishing, there’s little to differentiate it from other movements found elsewhere within the brand’s parent company.
However, one glaring distinction is immediately apparent. As emblazoned on the dial, the Calibre 80 is COSC-certified as a chronometer. This means the watch has been independently tested and certified for its mechanical accuracy, with the movement required to maintain a daily deviation of approximately -4 to +6 seconds.
Typical high-quality movements can deviate by around 15 to 20 seconds per day, so cutting that margin by more than half is an impressive feat. Sharing this certification with timepieces from Longines, Tudor and even Rolex, the Multifort TV Big Date Chronometer positions itself as a highly capable timepiece accessible to just about any enthusiast.
Initial Thoughts
The Mido Multifort TV Big Date collection is, in my opinion, one of the biggest success stories of the 2020s, at least within the watch industry. Though Mido could have easily brought back one of its old designs and called it a day, the brand instead used it as a blueprint for an entirely new chapter.
With an increasing number of watch brands leaning into that same era of heritage, bringing the TV design into the fold relatively early was an excellent move. Now complete with a chronometer-certified rendition, the Multifort TV Big Date’s value proposition becomes more compelling by the day. But even with this latest triumph, I don’t think Mido is stopping anytime soon. In fact, I think they’re just getting started.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | M049.567.11.041.00 |
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter x 46.85mm lug-to-lug x 11.5mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Sunray brushed blue with rectangular pattern |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 80 with COSC Chronometer certification & big date complication |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable steel bracelet with butterfly clasp |