Mido's roadmap towards the full distribution of movements equipped with a Chronometer's certificate throughout the whole range, continues at a fast pace and after the launch of the Mido Multifort Chronometer One, it's up to the Commander collection, the same one that, for its first 100 years has gained three different smoked dials (the Commander Shade Special Edition).
The Mido Commander Icone PVD Grey Anthracite brings the same contents available on the Multifort Chronometer One (and the Commander Icone Chronometer in stainless steel too) to this collection, Mido's most classic, once again with the difference that on this occasion it blends a 50s design, with the more advanced three-hands automatic caliber currently on the market and a PVD treatment.
The cushion-shaped case of the Commander Icone has a unique shape: it is flattened, it has no bezel and has two noticeable hollows at both sides; it is a tribute to the flat and round cases equipped with a Milanese mesh from the 50s, updated by Mido's designers. The brand has opted for an anthracite gray PVD treatment, useful on a product for everyday use, fitted with a steel bracelet integrated into the case, and has created an anthracite dial with a sunray pattern that reminds us of the dial of a Mido All Dial, due to the combination of colors and architecture, a rather common combination on Mido sports watches.
Virtually eliminating the bezel, and mounting instead a wide sapphire glass that drops from the case with a 45-degree step, is a trick that adds visual depth. The Milanese mesh has always been integrated into the case of the Commander: using this solution of continuity, the 42mm round case, high and important, contrasts with the mesh of the bracelet, too tightly woven to be a Milan mesh in my opinion, and with a very reduced thickness.
In addition to the aesthetic result, Mido's designers wanted to ensure a perfect adherence to the wrist, and it is in fact easy to tighten the cuff, adjusting the slide on one of the two parts, on which a safety buckle has been inserted, allowing for the blocking of the main latch, placed on the other end and fitted with hook-shaped catch.
It is a matter of personal perception, but I would have enlarged the bracelet mesh, which is a little flat for my taste; for the rest, the Mido Commander Icone PVD can be easily adjusted, and closed just as quickly. Regarding the dial, it is not only the combination of colors that contributes to the visual depth, but also the prominent (and rhodium-plated) applied indexes, the raised edge of the day and date window, as well as the central hand featuring a strong orange color.
I wonder instead if with so much formal purity, it was really necessary to leave the "Automatic" inscription on the dial, instead of only keeping the brand's logo, that has the rare fortune of being short, synthetic and can easily pronounced in all languages. In doing so, the brand's logo could even grow in size.
Caliber 80 and Chronometer certificate
When your budget is close to €1000, the technical specs are a basis for comparison with other brands more important than in the middle and premium range, because the strong competition in place and the need to manage costs, multiply the effort to provide an added value over the competition. It is on this ground that Mido plays with a Commander Icone PVD.
The caliber 80 with silicon balance spring, 80 hours of power reserve and chronometer certificate, represent a proposal that is unmatched within the class to which it belongs.
To mention competition calibres that could, on paper, compete with the caliber 80, in this price range, there are none outside the Group. I could name Sellita and Myiota, all respectable and reliable mass market movements, which suffer from general performance on paper, even considering that the choice of a watch touches several keys, and mechanics does not always get the first say in the matter.
For a brand that, translated to the letter from Spanish, means "Precision", these features represent a key requirement, which Mido proudly shows also through the case back and which, in a continuous process of building brand awareness, are an important choice-making trigger.
(Photo credit: Horbiter®'s proprietary photo-shooting by Simona Bertogliatti)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®
