Mido: history, models and value

Founded

1918

Founder(s)

Georges Schaeren

Headquarters

Le Locle

Owner / group

Swatch Group

Mido: origins and founding

Georges Schaeren founded Mido G. Schaeren & Co. in Biel/Bienne on 11 November 1918. The name comes from the Spanish "yo mido", meaning "I measure". In the 1920s the young company made enamelled ladies' watches with shaped cases and men's watches, and became known for watches shaped like car radiator grilles, made for brands such as Ford and Fiat.

Mido history and milestones

• 1930: A crown seal using cork, later called Aquadura, makes Mido watches unusually water-resistant.
• 1934: The Multifort, one of the first watches to combine automatic winding, shock resistance, anti-magnetism and water resistance. It was Mido's best-seller into the 1950s.
• 1954: The Powerwind winding system, which cut the number of winding parts from 17 to 7.
• 1959: The Ocean Star with a one-piece case and no separate caseback, plus the Aquadura seal. The Commander line continues this design.
• Early 1970s: Mido joins the ASUAG group, which later became part of SMH, today's Swatch Group.
• 1976: The first Baroncelli dress watch.
• 2012: The Great Wall collection, inspired by the Great Wall of China.
• 2016: A chronometer-certified movement with a silicon balance spring appears in the Baroncelli.
• 2018: For the 100th anniversary, the Commander Big Date with a movement based on the Caliber 80.

Famous Mido models

• Multifort: Mido's oldest line, from 1930s vintage pieces to modern automatics.
• Ocean Star: sports and diving watches since 1959; vintage pieces with the one-piece case are common finds.
• Commander: the angular one-piece-case automatic, made for decades with only small changes.
• Baroncelli: slim dress watches, many with automatic movements.
• Belluna and Great Wall: more classic everyday lines.

Movements and technique

Mido has always focused on practical engineering: water resistance, automatic winding and robustness. Modern Mido watches use automatic movements supplied by ETA, a fellow Swatch Group company, often in modified form. The Caliber 80 offers a power reserve of up to 80 hours, and Mido sends a large number of movements to the official chronometer testing body COSC. In 2013 the brand produced over 61,000 automatic watches, and it ranks among the larger chronometer producers in Switzerland.

Mido today

Mido is based in Le Locle and belongs to the Swatch Group, with a branch office in Shanghai. It is positioned in the entry to mid price segment, offering mechanical Swiss watches, many with chronometer certificates, at accessible prices.

Mido prices on the pre-owned market

Modern Mido watches usually resell well below retail, because they are widely available new. The models that move most easily are steel Ocean Star divers and Multifort and Commander automatics with the original bracelet and papers. Vintage Mido pieces from the 1930s to 1970s interest collectors when they are original: an untouched dial, correct crown, period bracelet and a working movement. Damaged dials, replacement crowns and quartz models usually sell modestly.

How to recognise a genuine Mido

Look for consistent Mido branding on dial, crown and clasp, and a reference number engraved on the case or caseback. On one-piece cases such as the Ocean Star and Commander there is no screw-down back, so the movement is reached through the crystal side; a screw-off back on such a model is a warning sign. Vintage dials are often repainted, so check that the print is sharp and matches period examples. For general checks see how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Mido worth?

Photograph the dial, case and any papers and use our free watch value estimate. If you need a signed valuation for an estate or insurance, we also offer a written watch appraisal.

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