Since its 1959 debut, Mido’s Ocean Star has built a reputation as a one of the most revered, if not most underrated, dive watches around by delivering robust water resistance and no-nonsense functionality, all with a heaping dash of style. But even the most reliable workhorses benefit from occasional reinvention.
Trading in the collection’s traditional dive bezel for something out of left field, the new Ocean Star Worldtimer brings us back to the 1970s with its stunning aesthetic while doubling as a practical travel tool.
A Legend Reborn
The Ocean Star’s legacy begins in 1944 when the Swiss brand first trademarked the name alongside its now-iconic starfish emblem. Then, the original 1959 model introduced revolutionary single-shell case construction that eliminated traditional case backs, dramatically improving water resistance for its era. That pioneering spirit carries through to this modern interpretation, which maintains the line’s 200m water resistance while adding some new functionality.
As a practical choice, the new worldtimer bezel holds all 24 time zones in just 12 spots, saving space and offering a much cleaner look than other worldtimers that stagger the city names to make them fit.
Honestly one of the most attractive vintage-style timepieces we’ve seen in a while, the Worldtimer’s dial will undoubtedly catch your eye with its bold black-and-red checkerboard minute track against a silver velour finish with a day-date display on the right side. It’s an unapologetically retro design choice that harkens back to the adventurous optimism of 1970s sports watches right before the Quartz Crisis really made significant traction. The vintage Mido logo doubles down on the throwback theme, paired with the applied lumed hour markers and filled hands that should offer you superb legibility.
Substance Behind the Style
The 40.5mm stainless steel case shares its architecture with the Ocean Star Tribute, which is much smaller than we expected, especially considering all the information you’re getting. It goes along with a 47mm lug-to-lug measurement and a 13mm thickness. A box-shaped sapphire crystal covers the dial, mimicking the profile of vintage acrylic crystals.
Inside beats the Mido Caliber 80, an ETA-based automatic movement enhanced with a Nivachron balance spring for improved magnetic resistance. It’s given a very travel-friendly 80 hours of power reserve.
The Bund Factor
Mido pairs the watch with an old-school black Bund-style leather strap featuring white contrast stitching and red accents that echo the dial’s color scheme. Originally invented during World War II to protect the wrists of fighter pilots from the extreme cockpit temperatures that could heat up the metal backs of their watches, the Bund design is removable here to give you some wearing and styling options.
Spec Sheet
Model: Ocean Star Worldtimer
Case: 40.5mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47mm
Case Thickness: 13mm
Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Movement: Mido Caliber 80 (ETA C07.621 base)
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Water Resistance: 200m
Strap: Black Bund-style leather with removable underlayer
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Not limited in edition size, the Ocean Star Worldtimer is available now for $1,070 from Mido’s website.
Recap
Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer
Mido swapped out the diving bezel on its iconic Ocean Star for a Worldtimer, all while giving us one of the most stunning ’70s-inspired timepieces in recent years.
