Los muertos solo mueren cuando los olvidamos. Mido commemorates Día de los Muertos with a new Multifort TV Big Date decorated in the Alebrijes style.
A prevailing theme for Swiss watch brand Mido as of late has been their deserved return to the spotlight. Long considered merely the ‘dark horse’ of value-oriented watchmaking, they’ve been on the warpath to dissuade that notion. Not that they’re going the opposite way, but more so to present themselves as a first-round pick rather than the perennial second option to other greats in their market. This is evidenced in many of their recent releases, particularly their complete revision of the Ocean Star collection earlier this year.
But that doesn’t mean all things have to be completely reiterated. For example, the brand remains one of the biggest players in Latin and South America, especially in Mexico, where they have been colloquially referred to as the “Kings of Mexico”. As part of their flourishing relationship with the country and the greater region, Mido has routinely released watches specifically celebrating Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, for what is now seven years running. This year is no exception, as they add another special edition to their catalogue for the event.
La Muerte Es Segura
This is the Mido Multifort TV Big Date Alebrijes, paying tribute to both the festival and one of Mexico’s most enduring art styles. In stainless steel, the watch follows the rest of the collection released all the way back in 2023. Measuring 40mm in case diameter, with a 46.85mm lug-to-lug and 11.5mm thickness, the watch wears broad on the wrist thanks to its square, TV-like shape.
It’s certainly a design that takes up a lot more wrist than you’d expect, but it can still be pulled off by most. Despite the whimsical silhouette, the Multifort TV Big Date ensures it remains distinctive compared to its other similarly shaped peers. Crown guards curve outwards to protect the screw-down crown, while the bezel features both a polished chamfer and small protrusions at 12 and six o’clock to break up the square frame. At 12 o’clock, a lumed pip also makes its presence known for added visual intrigue and legibility.
The Multifort TV Big Date Alebrijes comes initially on the collection’s classic steel strap, terminating in a butterfly clasp for a flush fit. But because it’s a special edition, Mido has also provided two more straps to help considerably switch up the look. Also available is a solid Milanese mesh strap, which provides a much lighter fit than the steel, or the integrated rubber strap for a more casual look.
Regardless of which you prefer, each strap also comes with interchangeable features to allow for seamless switching. Combined with 100m water resistance, the watch remains as versatile as its predecessors, with the ability to be dressed up or down for any occasion.
Pero Su Hora Es Incierta
Of course, where it differs dramatically is in its dial. Here, Mido has carefully and lovingly crafted a design inspired by the traditional Mexican folk art of Alebrijes, introduced by cartonería artisan Pedro Linares López in 1936. The art style came to him in a dream he had while deathly ill, where a surreal forest full of brightly coloured, hybrid animals shouted the nonsense word “alebrijes!”
Using paper, cardboard and paste, López would recreate these creatures in his art, capturing the attention of famous artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Now, Alebrijes remains one of Mexico’s proudest art forms, which Mido has transposed for the Multifort TV Big Date.
Set atop a grey fumé backdrop, multiple depictions of Alebrijes creatures can be seen in brilliant colour, while others are subtly stamped into the dial’s surface. In the middle of it all sits a brightly coloured Calavera, or sugar skull, which itself traces its history through both Mesoamerican and Italian influences to pay tribute to dearly departed loved ones. One more artistic detail can be found in the big date window itself, where the ‘1’ has instead been changed to a bone in accordance with the festivities.
But that’s not all, as the entire arrangement is completely lumed. Much like the Día de los Muertos editions that came before, the Multifort TV Big Date Alebrijes takes both the painted skull and creatures and lumes them, revealing their skeletal figures in low light. It’s a fun detail that also helps keep the watch legible, as the execution is done alongside plots of lume in the indexes and hands. However, I do wish they would have still used a wider array of lume colours as they did in years prior.
Espero Alegre La Salida Y Espero No Volver Jamás
But don’t let the expressive dial or the bold frame distract you, as within the watch still remains an affordable powerhouse. Inside beats Mido’s Cal. 80, with a classic beat rate of 3Hz (21,600VpH) atop an 80-hour power reserve. As you might have imagined, the movement takes after the Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80, the long-running darling of the conglomerate’s accessible watchmaking scene.
This is largely thanks to its reliability, with an architecture based on the iconic ETA 2824-2 and equipped with a Nivachron™ balance spring for added antimagnetic resistance. The Cal. 80 has also been extensively finished and modified to fit the Multifort TV Big Date’s form and function. Of course, the obvious part is the big date complication, one rarely seen at this price point, while Mido has also added Côtes de Genève (Geneva striping) atop the rotor for added visual intrigue.
Initial Thoughts
I have always had both an affinity for and massive respect for Mexican culture. As a Filipino, our cultures are so intertwined despite being on completely opposite sides of the world. Any friend of Mexico’s is, more often than not, a friend of mine, which perhaps also explains why I have such an affinity for Mido, too. While the watch world is becoming more diverse than ever before, Latin and South America are often almost never given the time of day to be a part of watch culture.
Yet, Mido remains the chief representative and ‘face’ of the Swiss watch industry, both in Mexico and the wider region. Combining both their own heritage with Mexico’s most famous celebration and art form, the annual release of such special editions also serves as a way to give back to the audience that has adored them since they broke into the space in the mid-20th century.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | M049.526.11.081.02 |
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter x 46.85mm lug-to-lug x 11.5mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Grey fumé with calavera & multicoloured lumed Alebrijes motifs |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 80 with big date complication |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable steel bracelet with butterfly clasp Complementary interchangeable steel Milanese mesh bracelet with sliding clasp Complementary interchangeable integrated red rubber strap with steel pin buckle |