Black PVD coats Mido’s latest release in their incredible Multifort 8 One Crown collection, turning the watch into an accessible demure icon.
As I’ve mentioned a few times in the past, Mido is currently going through a major transformation. They’ve come a long way from being pigeonholed as the perennial second option behind brands like Seiko, Tissot, and Hamilton. Now, through a sheer commitment to refined yet accessible craftsmanship, Mido has really come into its own.
While this is evidenced by the major updates they’ve been making across the entire catalogue, namely the recent Ocean Star 200, they’re not just rehashing old favourites. In 2025, they introduced a new player in their iconic Multifort line with the Multifort 8, Mido’s own take on the integrated bracelet sports watch genre.
With a tonneau case and a sloped octagonal bezel, the initial Two Crown release was a breath of fresh air at this price point. At the start of 2026, they simplified the design, removing one crown and the inner rotating flange for the appropriately named One Crown. Now, they continue to steadily expand the roster with a new reference in a stealthy matte black PVD finish.
Back In Black
For those unfamiliar, the Mido Multifort 8 One Crown collection currently comes in only one case size. Measuring 40mm in diameter and 44.86mm lug-to-lug, it wears very similarly to its peers in the category, such as the Tissot PRX. However, the impressive 9.9mm case thickness allows it to sit much lower on the wrist than expected. Additionally, it may also appear slightly smaller than its dimensions suggest.
That’s largely thanks to the matte black PVD finish over the stainless steel case, which creates an optical illusion that visually shrinks the watch. Despite the matte finish, Mido’s bold geometric silhouette can still be appreciated through the interplay of brushed and polished surfaces across the bezel and case flanks.
The new Multifort 8 One Crown Black comes fitted to a black rubber strap, making it the third reference in the collection to do so. While some may have preferred the idea of a full black bracelet, Mido has perhaps chosen to lean into the sportier character of the Multifort 8. Additionally, rubber straps on integrated bracelet watches often improve wearability thanks to their flexibility, despite remaining exceptionally durable.
I don’t doubt that a bracelet version will arrive at some point, but I wouldn’t wait around for it. The strap still features the same quick-change system as the rest of the collection and fastens with a black PVD-coated steel pin buckle. Combined with 100 metres of water resistance, this latest offering from Mido is a sports watch through and through, perfect for anyone after a stealthy grab-and-go timepiece.
Better In Black
As you might expect from a watch called the Multifort 8 One Crown Black, the dial follows suit. It’s finished entirely in black, with a series of horizontal grooves echoed on the rubber strap. It’s the same design introduced on the initial Two Crown models, but executed with greater depth and visual interest.
That effect is helped by the more open dial layout, as the removal of the internal rotating minute track allows the design to breathe. A printed white minute track is still present, though it’s much more restrained than its Two Crown counterpart. Also distinctive to the Multifort 8 One Crown line are the indexes.
Unlike the dive-inspired aesthetic of the Two Crown, the One Crown uses polished, faceted indexes that all point towards the centre of the dial. These are generously lumed, alongside the hour and minute hands, providing the same excellent low-light legibility established by the Two Crown models.
Finally, breaking up the monochrome design is a bright white date window with black numerals. While colour-matched date wheels are often preferable for a more cohesive design, the contrasting execution here is a practical decision that offsets the darkness of the case, strap, and dial.
I Have The Power(matic)
Turning the watch around reveals no surprises for those familiar with the brand. Yet the movement on offer remains as ubiquitous and reliable as ever. Visible through the exhibition caseback is Mido’s Calibre 80, beating at a respectable 3Hz (21,600VpH) with an impressive 80-hour power reserve. Given Mido’s long-standing place within the Swatch Group, it should come as no surprise that this movement is the brand’s own interpretation of the ever-popular Powermatic 80.
Manufactured by Swatch Group-owned movement maker ETA, it’s based on the classic Calibre 2824-2, one of the most reliable and widely replicated watch movements of all time. Mido achieves the 80-hour power reserve by intentionally lowering the original’s 4Hz beat rate, prioritising longer autonomy and greater day-to-day practicality. It’s not groundbreaking, but the Calibre 80 and its various iterations remain one of the best introductions to modern mechanical watchmaking for budding enthusiasts.
Initial Thoughts
For as far-reaching as the integrated bracelet sports watch segment has become, I found myself genuinely enjoying Mido’s Multifort 8 One Crown collection. Integrated bracelet sports watches are typically among the hardest for me to get excited about, simply because of how ubiquitous they’ve become in the modern industry.
However, the Multifort 8 not only breathes fresh life into the subgenre, but also provides a handsome, accessible entry point into these designs. The Multifort 8 One Crown Black may be a relatively small expansion to the range, but it continues to highlight Mido’s new direction as the brand turns the page into its next chapter. Technically sound, aesthetically bold, and intuitive, the Multifort 8 collection is rapidly emerging as the flagship of this new era for Mido.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | M055.507.37.051.00 |
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter × 44.86mm lug-to-lug × 9.9mm thickness |
| Case | Black PVD steel |
| Dial | Matte black with horizontal lines |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 80 with date complication |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable black rubber strap with black PVD pin buckle |