I can’t say as that I’m all that familiar with the original collaboration between Mido and Horween that resulted in the first Mido Multifort (back in 2015), but I am fully engaged with this latest one, the Mido Multifort Escape Horween Special Edition. You create a clean-looking watch like this and pair it up with a pair of straps made from impeccable leather? You, ladies and gentlemen, have my attention.
For this one, I want to start with the straps. If you’re not familiar with Horween, go ahead and do a quick Google search on them. Go ahead, I’ll wait. While I’ve not owned any leather from the tannery (a shame, given they’re local to me), I’ve reviewed some watches with their straps, and it is is beautiful, tough-wearing stuff. On the Mido Multifort, you actually get two of them – one in a brown calfskin (which picks up the indices), and one in a black calfskin (which of course ties to the dial).
Speaking of the dial, well, just look at it. I have not, in the past, been a big fan of machined patterning on a dial. Here, though, the vertical Geneva stripes (aka what you’d normally see on a movement) give things a lovely shuttered effect, which of course picks up the light and plays with it, making things much more interesting than a plain black dial would be.
Plain is a word that some might use to describe the Mido Multifort. I would instead opt for understated. There is a lot being done right here – interesting dial texture, great leathers, and an overall clean (and readable) dial design. All of that is hiding one special movement, clocking in with a mess of technical features (see below) as well as an 80-hour power reserve.
I’ve not handled a Mido watch in person before, but we are working to amend that in short order (with this specific watch, actually). With pricing at $1,090, I think the Mido Multifort has a lot going for it, and the color scheme is just perfect for this time year – particularly with a hefty slice of spiced pumpkin pie. midowatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Mido Multifort Escape Horween Special Edition (M032.607.36.050.99)
- Price: $1,090
- Who we think it might be for: You like your watches clean, you like them dark, and you like them hiding a robust movement under their catchy dial
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? The overall theme is a bit darker than I would perhaps prefer
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Let’s get this ready for spring, and opt for some lighter finishes on the dial and case
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The straps, of course, and those vertical Geneva stripes on the dial
Tech Specs from Mido
- Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber 80 (ETA C07.611 base), 111?2’’’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 4.74 mm, 25 jewels, 21,600 vph, NIVAFLEX NM mainspring, ELINCHRON II balance-spring. Finely embellished Elaboré movement, oscillating weight decorated with Geneva stripes and Mido logo. HMSD functions. Adjusted on 3 different positions for high accuracy. Up to 80 hours of power reserve.
- Case: 316L stainless steel with aged and sandblasted black PVD treatment, Ø44 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, screwed case back, transparent case back revealing the finely embellished Elaboré movement, engraved serial number, water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bars (100 m / 330 ft).
- Straps:
- Two easily interchangeable Horween® straps:
- Essex: brown genuine calfskin, whose patina will develop over time, black stitching, stainless steel pin buckle with aged and sandblasted black PVD treatment.
- American football: black genuine calfskin strap, football pattern, beige stitching, stainless steel pin buckle with aged and sandblasted black PVD treatment.
- Two easily interchangeable Horween® straps:
- Dial: Black, vertical Geneva stripes, beige minute circle, beige Super-LumiNova® on the numerals, date at 6 o’clock.
- Hands: Mat black varnished skeleton hour, minute and second hands with beige Super-LumiNova® for easy readability at night.
