t Europe’s southernmost tip stands an architectural construction built to withstand any storm, that has unfailingly watched over the Gibraltar Strait since 1841: the Europa Point Lighthouse. Its powerful beam of light helps sailors to find their bearings on the often rough waters between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Created by Mido in 1944, the Ocean Star collection is characterised by its reliability, just like this monument, which was built to safely guide men embarking on new maritime conquests.

Particularly popular with collectors, the 1961 Ocean Star Skin Diver Watch symbolises an entire era defined by the rise of diving for sport – an activity that was hitherto mainly practised by professionals. To facilitate calculations before and during a dive, the original model indicated the decompression times 6 metres below the surface.

These times could be read off very easily as they were displayed on contrasting coloured circles: yellow for a diving depth of 25 to 29 metres, green for 30 to 34 metres, pink for 35 to 39 metres and blue for 40 to 44 metres. By simply placing the minute hand at 12 o’clock before a dive, the wearer could read off the information on the table during immersion. The rotating bezel allowed diving time or decompression stops to be calculated.

In tribute to the original model, Mido reproduces the bright colours of the original table on the silvered white dial of the new Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 – an aesthetic nod that is by no means intended to replace modern diving rules and instruments. The depths are indicated at 12 o’clock in metres and feet. For visibility underwater, Super-LumiNova® adorns the diamond-cut hour and minute hands, as well as the polished indexes. The original Mido logo also features as a polished applied adornment on the silvered white dial, and as an engraving on the case back, crown and strap clasps.

A modern sapphire version of the ‘glassbox’-style crystal – more luxurious and less prone to scratches – reinforces the vintage feel of the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961. For added radiance, the round 40.5 mm case is crafted from polished durable stainless steel. At 12 o’clock, a large, neutral Super-LumiNova^® dot provides a point of reference on the fluted turquoise unidirectional rotating bezel.

Symbolising the Swiss watchmaker’s expertise in water-resistance, the Mido starfish is engraved on the stainless steel case back next to the serial number of each piece. The screwed crown and case back further enhance the durability of the watch, which is water-resistant up to 200 metres (20 bar/660 ft), while the Caliber 80 gives it an exceptional autonomy of up to 80 hours.

Available in November and presented in a special box with a limited edition certificate, each of the 1,961 timepieces comes with three elegant straps: a versatile braided steel bracelet, a more classic patinated leather strap, and a sporty turquoise fabric strap adorned with stitching in the colours of the table. A spur system allows for quick and easy strap changes.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Movement

Automatic Mido Caliber 80 (ETA C07.621 base), 11½’’’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 5.22 mm, 25 jewels, 21,600 vph. Finely decorated Elaboré-grade movement, oscillating weight decorated with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo. Functions: HMSD + day. Adjusted in 3 different positions for high accuracy. Up to 80 hours of power reserve.

Case

Polished stainless steel, unidirectional rotating bezel with turquoise aluminium ring, large dot in neutral Super-LumiNova® at 12 o’clock, Ø40.5 mm, 2 pieces, box sapphire crystal, polished screwed crown with original Mido logo and screwed case back with polished starfish in relief, engraved serial number + limited edition number, water-resistant up to a pressure of 20 bar (200 m/660 ft).

Bracelet

Braided polished stainless steel, brushed clasp with original Mido logo and safety catch. Bar with spur system for quick changes.

Additional strap 1: Turquoise fabric with leather appliqué and loops. 4 stitches on the case side recalling the 4 coloured circles on the decompression scale on the dial. Polished pin buckle stamped with the original Mido logo. Bar with spur system for quick changes.

Additional strap 2: Light brown leather with a ‘patinated finish’ and 4 beige stitches on the case side. Polished pin buckle stamped with the original Mido logo. Bar with spur system for quick changes.

Dial

Silvered white with polished applied indexes adorned with neutral Super-LumiNova®, date at 3 o’clock. Polished applied original Mido logo. Decompression scale represented by 4 coloured circles (yellow, green, pink and blue).

Hands

Flat diamond-cut hour and minute hands with neutral Super-LumiNova®, flat diamond-cut seconds hand.