Spending time with the Mido Multifort GMT

Back in April of this year, I gave you a quick overview on a recently-announced (at that time) watch, the Mido Multifort GMT.  When I wrote that article, I was pairing what I was seeing from photos and the press release, along with my then-recent experience with a non-GMT Mido Multifort.  Now we’re a little bit down the road, and we’ve recently had a loaner in of the Mido Multifort GMT, so we can give you our hands-on thoughts.

What struck me first when I opened up the Mido Multifort GMT was the color combo.  The brand here has gone with a rose gold tone on the case, handset, and indices which is then set off against a rather lovely, almost midnight-blue, dial.  This might sound a bit too dark, but when you consider the Geneva stripes present on the dial, it actually gives you a variety of shades, from lighter to darker.  Think of something like a gradient dial, except it repeats from left to right.  It’s tricky to capture in photos, and even tougher to describe, but take my word for it if you haven’t seen it – this is a lovely, lovely dial treatment.

When you see the 42mm case of the Mido Multifort GMT, you may immediately call to mind any number of compressor-style cases, one of which we just recently reviewed (here, along with a lesson on what a compressor case is).  For me, it actually brings to mind the very first automatic watch that I had, the Magrette Regattare 2011 which was later followed by a dual-time iteration.  While I may not have any dual-crown watches kicking around know, it’s a format I’m rather familiar with.

Here, the lower crown of the Mido Multifort GMT controls the winding and hand-setting for the movement, which is derived from an ETA 2893-2. The that means the upper crown has but a single job – adjusting that chapter ring with the 24-hour scale printed on it.  Sure, with a fixed bezel, you could just adjust the hand, but this (ostensibly) gives you quick changes in either direction, or, if you’re adventurous, actually tracking three time zones (with the hand just working a 24 hour scale that doubles the regular indices).  This upper crown was the one weak point of the watch, in my time with it.

Specifically, I noticed that, when I got the Mido Multifort GMT loaner in, the scale was not quite lined up.  Easy enough, just unscrew the crown, adjust, and then screw back down, right?  And it started out that way, for sure.  However, pushing the crown in wasn’t quite disengaging the stem, so as I was tightening things down, the chapter ring was moving over slightly.  So, it took some playing around with to get it to align as I wanted.  Now, in all likelihood, this action was due to the nature of a loaner watch shipping around and changing hands of reviewers, and heading out on the show circuit. And, a good watchmaker could probably sort it out easily enough.  In the off chance it’s not due to that, though, I thought it would be worthwhile to call out as something a potential buyer should look out for.

Due to the rose gold / dark blue combo, multitude of polished surfaces (on the case, hands, and indices) as well as the croc-embossed leather strap, the Mido Multifort GMT definitely presents as a dressier sort of a GMT (or travel) watch.  With a measurement of 42mm, the watch has some presence (even with the relatively thin bezel), but the overall thickness (just 10.6mm) means it slips under a cuff easily, helping to maintain that dressy look.  Which, frankly, is what the Mido Multifort GMT is intended for.  Once you move that GMT bezel under the sapphire crystal, you’ve gone away from the aesthetic of the sportier GMTs, and that’s ok.  Different styles for different situations, and all that.

For me, that meant that the Mido Multifort GMT was a easy selection for heading into the office, or even with a suit here and there.  Sure, the polished rose gold PVD is a bit flashier than I might personally prefer, but it did not feel like it was ostentatious (if there was a matching bracelet, though, that would be too, too much).  In other words, it felt like just the right amount of flash, particularly if you’re going for a more upmarket look in your style.  In practical terms, all that reflective against the more matte, darker dial, meant reading the time was a breeze, and the red GMT hand is simple to pick out.  The date was easy to read as well, what with the bright white date disc jumping out of the dark dial (yes, a darker wheel would be preferred).

Now, if you think you want to head for that more upmarket look that the Mido Multifort GMT affords, this is a watch that is very much in the realm of affordable luxury.  The price for the version we just reviewed comes in at $1,290, which feels right for this particular example.  I’d just recommend you check out that upper crown when you’re at the shop considering the watch before you get mesmerized by the dial.  While I would not go far as to say that the Mido Multifort GMT is my favorite Mido or favorite GMT, it was a watch I was more than happy to spend time with.  midowatches.com

Review Summary

• Brand & Model: Mido Multifort GMT
• Price: $1,290
• Who’s it for? You like GMT, and you like your compressor-style dual-crown cases.  This is the peanut butter cup you’ve been waiting for.
• Would I wear it? Very likely, though I’d go for some different case tones
• What I’d change: Wouldn’t mind some alternative brushed/polished finishing on the dial and a darker date disc
• The best thing about it: Geneva Stripes are amazing on a dial, and with this deep shade of blue, they really shine