Sure, sure, televisions aren’t really in this shape anymore (and current TV ratios would make for an odd watch on your wrist), but hey, history is what it is. And when you’re going back 50 years in the catalog, you get something that hearkens to the old square tube TVs. The latest Mido Multifort TV Big Date is done up in classic Mido colors.
Colors?
That’s right! Over time, Mido has been known for their combination of orange and black, and that’s why you’ll see it appearing on a number of their watches. Here, of course, it takes the form of the grey-to-black degrade dial set against the orange rubber strap (there are also versions with a blue dial on a blue strap; steel bracelets are an option as well). This sets it up as a no-mistaking-it Mido.
Why we like it
While you can get square-cased watches, none of them quite have the same look and feel of the case on the Mido Multifort TV Big Date, with the combination of flat surfaces, squared shoulders, and rounded edges. Add in that recessed lume pip on the bezel, and it’s a unique look for sure.
What really sells us (or at least, this writer) on the Mido Multifort TV Big Date is the BIG DATE display. I like having a date display on a watch, even when my eyes complain at me that the text is just too small. A magnifier on the crystal can solve for that, or you can do what they’ve done here, and gone with a two-disc display that puts those numerals up nice and large. If you want at-a-glance checks of the date, this is the way to go, at least in this price range.
The movement
Given that Mido is part of Swatch Group, it shouldn’t be any surprise that the movement in the Mido Multifort TV Big Date started out as an ETA, though it’s been massaged a bit to be labelled as the MIDO Calibre 80. Right there – as with any watch under the Swatch umbrella – lets you know you’re in for an 80-power reserve, which is quite, quite nice. Viewed through the caseback, you’ll get to see the decorations on the movement and the rotor.
Aesthetics
If you’ve thinking about something that looks a little retro or vintage, it would be hard to argue against the looks that the Mido Multifort TV Big Date has achieved here. Sure, it’s got all the modern niceties to it, but it definitely feels like a watch that came out of the 70s. While we do appreciate the full lean into the Mido color palette, I’d probably opt for the blue dial on a bracelet (though it would be fun to pair that with the orange strap). Whatever your color preferences are, this is a great-looking watch.
Wrapping things up
Past any of that, this is good all-arounder. With the case giving you 100m of WR, looks that can go from casual to dressy (thanks to alternating case finishes and the bracelet/strap swap-out), this is a good, solid, everyday watch that can handle the office, a night out, or even a trip to another country. Want to pick one up? It’s going for $1,070 on the rubber strap, or you can bump up to $1,100 and go for the steel bracelet. Check out the full collection over at midowatches.com
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- Movement
- MIDO automatic Calibre 80 (ETA C07.651 base), 12 ¾’’’, Ø 28.80 mm, height: 5.86 mm, 25 jewels, 21,600 Vib/h, Nivachron™ balance spring.
- Finely decorated Elaboré-grade movement, oscillating weight decorated with Geneva stripes and MIDO logo. Functions: HMS + instant large aperture date.
- Adjusted in 3 different positions for high accuracy.
- Up to 80 hours of power reserve.
- Case
- Satin-finished and polished stainless steel, 40 X 39.2 mm, 3 parts, sapphire crystal anti-reflective treatment on both sides, sand-blasted dot at 12 o’clock, finely decorated Elaboré-grade movement visible through the transparent case back, screwed case back, engraved serial number, screw-down crown, water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m/330 ft).
- Lug-to-lug length: 46.85 mm.
- Bracelet
- Embossed detailing orange rubber.
- Satin-finish stainless steel buckle with engraved MIDO logo.
- Dial
- In graduated grey to black on the outside, pronounced horizontal brushed finish, indexes coated with white Super-LumiNova® with blue-green emission.
- Minute track on the flange.
- Big date aperture at 12 o’clock.
- Hands
- Nickel-coated, diamond-cut and faceted hour and minute hands coated with white Super-LumiNova® with blue-green emission, large flat diamond-cut seconds hand.
