There’s very little that hasn’t been done in watchmaking. That’s part of what makes vintage-inspired new releases so popular among watch enthusiasts, especially for diving styles. Mido’s Ocean Star range has sat in this bracket, earning a good reputation for solidly built and classically handsome dive watches for their affordable cost; however, they toed the line between vintage and modern quite conservatively. The new Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 smashes that established model by going back to Mido’s mid-century cult classic, the Powerwind “Rainbow” diver. This isn’t just a one-for-one reissue, as many brands would be tempted to make. Firstly, the case has been bulked up for modern tastes. A 40.5mm diameter ensures wrist presence and legibility, but short, vintage style lugs remain in place to keep it from being overbearing on the wrist. Even with a domed sapphire crystal, the 13.4mm thickness shows some restraint as well. The original may have claimed a 300m water resistance, but without a screw-down crown that may not have held up over the years. The newer Decompression Timer uses a more standard three-piece case construction with a screw-down caseback and crown, getting that rating to 200m. The caseback is also beautifully etched…
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