An affordable dive watch with mechanical might.

 

For watches at the ‘entry-level luxe’ price point of, say, in the S$1,000 to S$2,000 bracket, Mido throws up some very enticing options for consideration, whether you are in the market for a dress watch or a sporty timepiece. In fact, we voted the vintage-inspired Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 'Rainbow Diver' limited edition as one of our favourite timepieces of 2020 and were equally quite charmed by the quirky open-worked aesthetics of the Commander Gradient, also from last year, which you can read about here.

Unlike the aforementioned watches, though, the new Ocean Star 200C is pretty much a more aesthetically subdued and straightforward offering. A no-nonsense dive watch with more-than serviceable performance specs and pleasing aesthetics, the Ocean Star 200C ticks many boxes for those who are looking for a pedigreed dive watch without taking a big hit on the bank account.

Fitted with an Oyster-style bracelet with folding clasp and 1970s-style case with bevelled lugs and tapered crown guard, the 42.5mm watch bears the look of a robust and substantial sports watch that you wouldn’t actually mind taking out for a dip in the water. Technically, of course, you can manage way more than that, as the watch comes with a screw-down case and crown that ensures up to 200m water resistance. The Ocean Star 200C also comes with a unidirectional bezel in scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic to help calculate remaining dive times – a must for any modern dive watch worth its salt. Last but not least, the watch comes loaded with proper mechanical muscle by way of the Calibre 80 automatic movement, a staple engine used across the Swatch Group’s stable of brands including Hamilton and Tissot, and is known for its reliability and trademark 80 hours of power reserve.

Incidentally, it is the little touches that make the Ocean Star 200C stand out, despite its no-frills demeanour. Anchored by requisite huge dot markers and an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, semi-skeletonised hands that are filled with Super-LumiNova to ensure optimum legibility – again, a must for self-proclaimed legit dive watches – along with day and date window at three o’clock, the dial of the Ocean Star 200C features charmingly engraved wave motifs that allude to the collection’s seafaring spirit.

Available in grey, navy and green dials with matching ceramic bezels, the latter option ranks as our favourite not just for its colour that’s really on-trend, but also for being the most visually captivating of the trio. Easy on the eye and relatively so on the wallet, the Mido Ocean Star 200C is a good place to start if you are looking to welcome 2021 with a mid-luxury sports ticker.

Case	42.5mm stainless steel
Dial	Matte finish with waves decor in relief, applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova, day and date at three o'clock
Movement	Automatic Mido Calibre 80
Functions	Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve	80 hours
Bracelet	Stainless steel
Price	S$1,590

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