MIDO Ocean Star Tribute GRADIENT

Mido has been getting into its stride of late and its Ocean Star TRIBUTE is one example where this once shy and retiring brand is now really starting to shine. 

When the Ocean Star Tribute collection was launched last year it was given a largely warm reception albeit riding the back of its trendy green color pallet;

however since then the collection has grown to include several new variants which imo haven’t really done the watch justice. 

Until now that is as two new rather good looking “Gradient” variants have just been introduced that seem to work even better than the original launch models from 2021.

For summer 2022 Mido Introduces the Sea Star Gradient duo with their – well of gradient dials of course where color shifts from light to dark – in this instance the center is light and gets darker and darker as it move outwards.

There’s ref. M026.830.17.421.00 with its russet charms which is the color that has been receiving the most attention however I think that its gray sibling, ref. M026.830.17.081.00 is just as fetching. 

The watches of the OS Tribute collection pay homage to the OG Ocean Star which has been inspiration for the modern day OS Tribute family.

Those vintage cues from the 1960s such as its old school, box-shaped Sapphire crystal, its new vintage Tropic-style rubber diver’s strap and now gradient dial give the watch much of its appeal. 

Meanwhile the beautifully graduated dial in showcased in red or indeed in glorious gray comes with block hands, matchstick minutes and lollipop seconds hand.

The new Mido Ocean Star Tribute watches get compact 40.5mm in diameter by 13.4mm Stainless steel cases which are water-resistant up to a pressure of 20 bars (200 m/656 ft.). 

These are fitted with diver’s bezels with black inlays as well as solid screw-down case-backs with the brand’s historic starfish emblem on them.

Powering the collection is an automatic Mido Caliber 80 (base ETA C07.621) with 25 jewels, a day date function and 80hrs of power-reserve. 

Finally the new of Ocean Star Tribute Gradient watches come with black Tropic-style rubber straps harking back to the late 1950s and 60s.

The Mido Ocean Star Tribute Gradient has a Swiss retail price of 870CHF. It is now available from authorized MIdo retailers, worldwide.

Thoughts? I’ve told you that I quite like these OS Tribute watches and that the gradient dial variants are the best looking imo and that I think the gray dial is the unsung hero of the two. 

But what do you think? Don’t you think that the day-date should have been ditched for these special dial versions?