Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black Ref. M026.608.11.051.00

On 11 November 1918, the same day as the armistice that put an end to World War I, Georges Schaeren founded the Mido Watch Company, then known as Mido G. Scaheren & Co. Schaeren was a highly competent watchmaker, obtaining his diploma in a watchmaking school in Solothurn and worked at various watchmakers up till the founding of his own company. The word mido translates to “to measure” in Spanish - a fitting name for a famed watchmaker. After all, it is the measurement of time that has fascinated men for centuries.

Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black Ref. M026.608.11.051.00

Apart from its name, the original Ocean Star that was launched in 1959 bears little to no resemblance to the current line-up. Instead, today’s watch closely resembles the Mido Powerwind 1000 released in 1961 - the brand’s first decompression timer. Mido also took reference from their SkyDive Diver and Diver Scuba watches, giving you the Mido Ocean Star 600 that you see today.

The Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black features a solid 316L stainless steel construction. It measures 43.5mm in diameter, has a lug-to-lug of 50mm, and is 14mm thick. As far as dimensions go, this is a modern dive watch that is robust and will exude plenty of wrist presence. The watch bears Mido’s iconic straight lugs mid-case design and features a satin-brushed finish with polished bevels that help to enhance the look of the watch. 

Tribute to its 60s Diver Scuba

No dive watch is complete without a bezel. The Mido Ocean Star 600 features an engraved black ceramic bezel. It is unidirectional, has 60 clicks, and features a push-down mechanism that when pressed, allows the bezel to turn smoothly and sharply with no back play. A signed screw-down crown and caseback offer a hugely impressive 600m of water resistance, which is also achieved through a helium escape valve. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides adds an extra edge of scratch resistance and also helps to make the dial legible in harsh lighting.

Moving on to the dial, the Ocean Star 600 features a rich black dial and a mixture of circular and squared indices - with the only difference being a double-squared index at 6 o’clock and a triangular index at 12 o’clock. A colour-matched date wheel can be found at 3 o’clock, ensuring an uninterrupted symmetry of the dial. The Mido logo sits proudly at 12 o’clock, while 2 lines of dial text feature at the bottom - “Ocean Star 600” and “Chronometer” - which signifies that the watch is an officially certified chronometer by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). 

Calibre 80 – Based on the ETA C07.821

As a dive watch, it is essential that the time can be read even in dark conditions. The Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black is no slouch in this aspect, utilising a generous coating of Swiss Superluminova Grade X on the hands, indices and bezel insert. The watch glows bright green in the dark and readability would definitely not be a concern. 

Powering the timepiece is the Mido Calibre 80 COSC. It is based on the ETA C07.821 movement, has 25 jewels and beats at 21,600 BPH. It features a silicon hairspring which helps with its anti-magnetic properties and also has a whopping 80 hours of power reserve. The best part? As it is a certified chronometer, the watch is highly accurate with daily deviance of just -4/+6 seconds. It is rare for another similarly priced watch to feature such a healthy level of power reserve whilst also being COSC certified. Mido offers exceptional value here with their Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black. 

SuperLuminova for Superb Glow In Dark

Completing the watch is a 3-link 22mm metal bracelet that tapers to a signed folding clasp with a diving extension. The bracelet is well built and is the perfect pairing to a modern sized diver like the Ocean Star 600 - enabling the watch to have tons of wrist presence and also ensuring an enjoyable wearing experience. The diving extension also adds a touch of practicality, allowing one to wear the watch over a wet suit when diving. 

The Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer Black is an extremely well built, Swiss-made dive watch that offers a lot of value for money. It features a solid case construction, a ceramic bezel insert, 600m of water resistance and a reliable COSC certified movement. There isn’t much to dislike about the watch, even for the most critical enthusiast, and that’s what makes it so great.

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