I guess we weren’t kidding ourselves when we said the watch world would be absolutely pummeled by new GMT watches in 2023. The emergence of newer movements ready for mass-production seems to be amping up competition and consumer choice. That’s a great thing to see. Now, next week on March 15th, Mido plans to release a new version of their super popular limited Decompression Timer. This time the watch will feature a jumping local hour hand “true” GMT movement with 80 hours of power reserve. And because it’s Mido, the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer GMT comes in at a price way lower than you can probably imagine for something like this.
We always love taking the opportunity to highlight Mido at TBWS—we even have an entire podcast episode dedicated to them. The brand offers such a diverse range of sport watches in interesting materials. And while certainly not cheap, their pricing always seems realistic above all else. Since the last two limited runs of their colorful Decompression Timers sold out, finding them on the used market hasn’t been pleasant with prices skyrocketing. Thankfully the new Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer GMT will be available as a “special” non-limited release. Here are the big takeaways: “true” GMT, combination worldtimer/dive bezel, classic rainbow decompression dial, 40.5mm, and a price of $1,310. Woah.
To me this watch just looks like the vacation I need right now. The rainbow decompression scale taking up most of the dial was developed to help divers plan decompression stops before surfacing. And from what I’ve found, the coloring was executed this way so the ring specific to your current depth would be most visible under water while the others would be less prominent at that depth. Sounds romantic but big if true. Surrounding that scale is a new 24-hour GMT scale, which functions with the red GMT hand tracking with it. While we’ve got two versions here (Rainbow and Orange), that Rainbow dial is clearly the winner in my eyes. I wonder if Mido will eventually release a turquoise-bezel version with the Rainbow dial. Now that would be a slam dunk.
Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer Specs
- Case diameter: 40.5mm
- Case thickness: 13.4mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46.9mm
- Water resistance: 200m
- Case material: Stainless steel
- Movement: Mido 80.661 “true” GMT (Powermatic, ETA C07.661 base)
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bracelet: Milanese stainless steel mesh and matching rubber strap
- Price: $1,310
I think what will really win most people here is the functionality of that jumping local hour hand. At this point we have some brands charging $4k+ with generic ETA 2893s that don’t have that feature. And if you’re snobby about the caller vs. “true” GMT thing, well, this is a pretty cool bargain if you ask me. No matter which colorway you choose, Mido will also sell you the watch with both a stainless steel mesh bracelet and a color-matched rubber strap. I can’t wait to see this release go live. Even though it isn’t limited, I wonder if several authorized outlets will have trouble keeping their stock up and in line with demand. Bravo, Mido.
The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer GMT will be available on March 15 and you can learn more about it on the brand’s official site.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.
Wow, busy. Way too much going on there.