KMII's exploration of the Mido Ocean Star Datoday Automatic Chronometer offers a fascinating look into a vintage piece that challenges modern perceptions of watch complications and design. His detailed account highlights how features once considered cutting-edge, like the day-date and Milanese bracelet, reflect a distinct era in horological innovation. This article provides valuable context for understanding Mido's historical significance beyond its contemporary positioning.
Once upon a time...
We often lament the presence of the date complication on modern watches and milanese bracelets are the current, retro inspired theme du jour in horology. Yet there was a time, when milanese bracelets were all the rage for being completely new, when having a day date was worth bragging about on the dial, and when a modicum of water resistance got watch nerds about as excited as a completely novel escapement would today. Enter the Mido Ocean Star Datoday - a relic of those times.
In spite of having made the odd excursion to vintage lands over the past years, I am nowhere near a consummate expert like many fellow Purists here, so this is a meagre attempt at a review of a piece hardly ever seen here otherwise. While Mido has inevitably ended in the Swatch conglomerate and is sharing the entry level spot there with many a brand, there have been times, when their watches - for all of their bread and butter price level positioning - were technically quite interesting. And when the above mentioned features were all the rage.
A dangerous feature of watch GTGs is that you get to talk to people very similarly disposed towards acquiring and possessing large numbers of watches, and very chatty about some of their horological choices. It was at one of those GTGs in Vienna (here:
www.watchprosite.com
for some additional details) that I sat next to a great lady, whom you might know via Magnus, where she mentioned in passing that she got one of these and that she enjoyed it a lot - both as a wearer and as a watchmaker. So I saved the information away for later, and as things sometimes go, saw one up for sale not many months hence. As the price of these is hardly 'challenging', I immediately pounced.
As you can see, it's hardly NOS, with a plexy that could use some TLC and which is not adjusted precisely. Speaking of which - the water resistance of 1965 dictated a monocoque case, meaning the watch is a front loader. Or put differently, the movement is being taken out dial side, as opposed to from the case back.
Datoday
Taking the name of the watch apart component by component, let me start with Datoday. My first challenge with the watch was the date. Already possessing a non-quick set day change Eterna Sevenday Fastbeat, I went on exploring how one sets it here, given that the watch did not come with box and instructions. And came across some pretty exciting information on the watch in the process. Speaking of date change, I am lucky to already have a relatively advanced model, where the date is changed by pushing in the crown, while the day, sadly requires circling around through - in the worst case - six days, to get it right. And an open browser window, to follow these in Spanish - the language of the day disc
As said, I am fortunate, the earlier versions are much more laborious, with nothing being of the quick change variety. Later versions, on the other hand, follow the currently more common approach, with both the day and date being adjusted through rotating the crown in opposite directions.
Ocean Star
In my deconstruction attempt, Ocean Star - i.e. water resistance - comes next. As already mentioned, the watch comes with a monoblock case, as a starting point - where there are no components to put together, water cannot get in, either. On top of that, it features a so-called Aquadura water proofing mechanism that should ensure that the watch remains water proof even with the crown pulled out - something even watches today do not uniformly offer. I am sure some of the members may be able to add more detail.
As opposed to later times, when one started seeing a proliferation of WR ratings and an arms race to what the various manufactures could accomplish, the Mido is perfectly happy only claiming 'Waterproof' on its case back, together with 'Shock Resistant', 'Antimagnetic', 'Selfwinding', 'Stainless Steel' and 'Switzerland'. And I guess that neither the innovative case design, nor the Aquadura will make me hop into a pool with it - at least not before it has been thoroughly checked by a watchmaker
Movement
In addition to the 'name components', what I found fascinating, was the movement. Put differently, it is my first watch beating at 19.800 vph - a very odd frequency from today's perspective but a not completely unique one from back in the day. Like Seiko, some Swiss companies started experimenting with beat rates faster than 2,5 Hz in the interests of accuracy, and adding 10% more seemed like a good idea (4 and 5Hz movements were just around the corner as the more ambitious attempts to solve the same issue).
While in its long life - the watch has been in almost continuous production from 1959 onwards - different movements were used, mine comes with a Mido Cal.1147OCD. As mentioned, it features a 19.800 frequency, has 17 jewels, a swan neck regulator, incablock shock protection and is adjusted to 6 positions and temperature. Quite impressive for a brand that did not aspire to haute horlogerie, not even back in the day.
I cannot attest to its accuracy, as my wrist time so far has been insufficient even for an anecdotal indication but will definitely report back on it, when it returns from the spa.
Verdict
In the meantime, I also understand, why Milanese bracelets disappeared for a while. Not that my left wrist is now peeled of all hair - that has luckily not happened. At the same time, at least the design used by Mido, where the bracelet goes inside, is not the easiest to attach and regulate. But maybe modern solutions are better in that respect.
Be that as it may, the watch exudes a certain attraction and charm. It has supposedly been crowned as one of the 19 all time horological greats by Klassik Uhren in 1998. While I cannot comment on that in any helpful fashion, the watch certainly looks cool in a retro sort of way. It may have been on the larger side in its day with 36mm but that makes it perfectly acceptable now - even if it is now more towards the lower end of the spectrum from today's perspective.
So off to the watchmaker then, and to many more 'Ocean Stars' in the years to come
Thanks for viewing!
