We all secretly know that most owners of dive watches rarely use them to dive. What people love about dive watches is their sporty, tool-like appearance and robust, all-terrain features. If you combine these traits with an interesting multicolored decompression table on the dial, you have the original and collectible Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 from Mido, reintroduced last year. All 1,961 pieces of the first 'Rainbow' model sold out before they hit retail, which is unsurprising given the attractive price. Following this, Mido presents a second version of its vintage diver with an even more fun color scheme, closer to the original 1961 model. With an appealing mix of 1960s style and the latest generation Caliber 80 from Swatch Group, the latest 'Rainbow' model will fly off the shelves.
BACK IN 1961…
In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, and the construction of the Berlin Wall, dividing East and West Germany, began. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, Mido released the Powerwind Diver 1000 - certified diving watches with water resistance up to 300 meters, a bidirectional rotating bezel, and a colorful dial with concentric scales to indicate decompression times at various depths. These are considered among the rarest watches produced by Mido, with some collectors willing to pay up to 10,000 USD for a vintage 'Rainbow' in good condition.
PIONEER IN WATERPROOF WATCHES
Founded in 1918, Mido became a pioneer in the development of waterproof watches in the early 1930s. The 1930 Aquadura sealing system with a cork gasket on the crown to prevent water and dust from entering the mechanism paved the way for more reliable diving watches. In 1934, the Multifort model appeared - robust automatic anti-magnetic watches with built-in water and shock resistance, becoming bestsellers until the 1950s. The Ocean Star family with the starfish logo appeared in the early 1940s and evolved over the years, featuring a monocoque case and Aquadura cork crown sealing mechanism to enhance water resistance. The Powerwind 1000 diving watches from 1959, known as reference 5907, became a standout product with multicolored scales (in feet) displaying decompression times on the dial. An incredible innovation for the time, these watches resulted from research conducted with professional divers.
UNIQUE DIAL AND BEZEL
As Bryce mentions in his report on the 2020 Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 with a black bezel, the basis for these watches was the Ocean Star 200 Tribute model. The stainless steel case measures 40.5 mm, compact yet larger than the original 1961. The case is polished all over, giving the watch a bright shine, and is equipped with two triangular crowns and a unidirectional rotating bezel with knurling. The latest version features a turquoise anodized aluminum bezel insert with a white 60-minute countdown scale and a luminous dot at noon. Enhancing the vintage appeal is a modern glassbox-style sapphire version over the dial, less prone to scratches. To ensure water resistance of 200 meters (less than the original's 300 meters), the crown and case back with an engraved Mido starfish are screwed down.
The cool turquoise bezel color extends to the first concentric decompression ring on the dial. If you compare this model with the Rainbow Diver 1961, you'll see that the color scheme here is closer than on the 2020 model with a black dial. Moreover, thanks to the silvery-white dial background, it appears larger and, in my opinion, even more legible than the black-dial model. Depth is indicated at noon in meters and feet, and the decompression scale transitions from blue to pink and green to yellow. Each scale corresponds to a diving depth: yellow - 25 to 29 meters, green - 30 to 34 meters, pink - 35 to 39 meters, and blue - 40 to 44 meters. By setting the minute hand to 12 o'clock before diving, the diver can find out whether a decompression period is needed during ascent and the duration of each stage. The silvery-white dial features applied rectangular indices with neutral Super-LumiNova coating, a date window at 3 o'clock, and luminous hour and minute hands with diamond-cut finish.
CALIBER 80
Although the movement is hidden under the massive steel case back, the Ocean Star 200C is powered by the Mido 80 caliber based on the ETA C07.621. The Powermatic 80 caliber is an evolution of the ETA 2824 architecture, refined with a kinetic chain and reduced frequency. It now beats at a frequency of 3 Hz, with a power reserve more than doubled to 80 hours. The watch is presented in élaboré grade and regulated in three positions.
THOUGHTS
If you're looking for original 1960s-style diving watches and aren't afraid of colors, the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 Turquoise is a great option. Perhaps the date window, which wasn't in the original, could have been left out, but honestly, it's not that noticeable. Attractive and very unlike standard black-dial dive watches, the Decompression Timer will certainly be a conversation starter. And with an aggressive retail price, some collectors might buy these just for fun.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICE
The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 Turquoise will be available in November. Limited to 1,961 pieces, the watch comes on a Milanese steel bracelet in a special box with two additional straps: a traditional brown leather strap and a turquoise-blue fabric strap with stitching matching the decompression table. The bracelet and straps can be easily replaced using quick-change spring bars. The watch will retail for 1,150 euros.
For more information, please visit Mido Watches.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - MIDO OCEAN STAR DECOMPRESSION TIMER 1961 TURQUOISE
Case: 40.5 mm diameter x 13.43 mm height - polished stainless steel case - unidirectional bezel, 60-minute scale on turquoise aluminum insert with luminous pearl - box-shaped sapphire glass - screw-down crown and case back - water resistance 200 meters
Dial: silvery white with polished applied indices with neutral Super-LumiNova luminous coating - decompression scale represented by 4 concentric colored rings (yellow, green, pink, and blue) - polished applied original Mido logo - flat diamond-cut hour and minute hands with neutral Super-LumiNova luminous coating - date window at 3 o'clock
Movement: Mido caliber 80 (base ETA C07.621) élaboré-grade - automatic - 25.60 mm x 5.22 mm - 25 jewels - 21,600 vibrations/hour - power reserve 80 h - hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Strap: stainless steel 'Milanese' woven bracelet - quick-change spring bars - also comes with 2 interchangeable straps with a steel clasp: turquoise fabric with leather appliqué and loops and 4 stitches on the case side, reminiscent of the 4 colored circles on the decompression scale on the dial, and light brown leather strap with patinated finish and 4 beige stitches on the case side.
Reference: M026.807.11.031.00
Availability: limited to 1,961 pieces, on sale in November 2021
Price: 1,150 EURO