Dive into the Sixties

The Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 reproduces the irresistible vintage charm of the Ocean Star Skin Diver Watch, a popular 1960s Mido model that remains one of the brand’s most sought-after original timepieces to date. Dedicated to the underwater world, this watch also served as a precious diving tool thanks to the multicoloured display of decompression stops on the dial. The version paying tribute to it today is limited to 1,961 pieces – in reference to the year the original model was released – and features a polished 40.5 mm case. It uses the best of current technology to revive the striking codes of the time, namely a rotating bezel with countdown timer and a coloured table beneath a ‘glassbox’-style sapphire crystal. The Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 is driven by the excellent Caliber 80, which offers a power reserve of up to 80 hours, while its stainless steel case back is adorned with a starfish engraved next to the timepiece number. Each model comes with three easily interchangeable strap options to vary the ways in which this extraordinary creation can be worn.

Come hell or high water

At Europe’s most southern point 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 as they embark on new maritime conquests.

A nod to the ‘diving’ spirit of the 1960s 

To facilitate calculations before and during a dive, the Ocean Star Skin Diver Watch from 1961 indicated decompression times 6 metres below the surface. These times were displayed around contrasting coloured circles for enhanced legibility: 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 immersion, the wearer could read off the information on the table throughout the dive. The rotating bezel allowed diving time or decompression stops to be calculated.

The new Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 pays tribute to the model created by Mido in 1961 and its innovative decompression scale function. Against the black background of the dial, Mido reproduces the bright colours of the original table – a subtle nod to the aesthetics of its predecessor that is by no means intended to replace modern diving rules and instruments. The depths are indicated at 12 o’clock: in metres (left) and feet (right). Super-LumiNova® adorns the diamond-cut hour and minute hands, as well as the polished indexes, for perfect visibility underwater. The Mido logo from the 1960s also features as a polished applique on the black dial, and as an engraving on the case back, crown and strap clasps.

‘Glassbox’ and stainless steel

A modern version of the ‘glassbox’-style crystal from the 1950s-60s (less prone to scratches than the original) reinforces the vintage feel of the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961. For added radiance, Mido has polished the case of the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 crafted from durable stainless steel. At 12 o’clock, a large Super-LumiNova® dot provides a point of reference on the fluted black aluminium unidirectional rotating bezel. The screwed crown and case back further enhance the durability of the watch, which is water-resistant up to 200 metres.

Presented in a special box with a limited edition certificate, each of the 1,961 timepieces comes with a choice of two leather straps and a metal bracelet: in black calfskin with four stitches in the colours of the table, in leather with a black synthetic coating and yellow stitching, and in braided polished steel. A user-friendly system with spurs facilitates quick strap changes. 

With the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961, Mido is offering enthusiasts and collectors the chance to bring some of the exhilarating spirit that characterised 1960s sports dives to their wrists.