Case in 316L stainless steel with satin-finished rose PVD treatment, 42 mm diameter, 10 bar/100 metres water resistance, display caseback

Skeleton faceted hour and minute hands with white SuperLuminova

Bracelet in 316L stainless steel with rose PVD treatment and alternating polished and satin finish

Self-winding Mido Caliber 80 (ETA C07.621), COSC certified, balance runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hertz), power reserve 80 hours

Mido Big Ben500-piece Limited Edition, reference M028.708.23.031.00, price €1,760

Watches by Mido often have an architectural inspiration, at times quite obvious, at times difficult to perceive. In this piece, there are a lot of details from London’s famous clock tower. It was born from a competition between three designers, Eric Giroud, Lorenzo Vallone and Sébastien Perret, commissioned to design a watch on the Big Ben theme. The results were then published online so that the public could vote for their favourite. This, together with the additional contribution of a panel of judges, led to Sébastien Perret’s design being chosen for this 500-piece limited edition. In the photos below, the designs by (from left to right) Eric Giroud, Sébastien Perret and Lorenzo Vallone.

Perret hints at the white background of Big Ben’s dial with a silver opaline finish. The square surround of the clock becomes a subtle case architecture, with four corners projecting from under the circular bezel. The clock’s dual chapter ring, with chemin de fer minutes track and Gothic numerals inside, is translated into modern batons, with just the IV in Gothic numerals. Hour and minute hands, and the hour batons, are partially coated with SuperLuminova for night-time visibility.

It’s a very attractive design, with lots of details, such as the three-dimensional hour indicators, and the slots in the ring under the bezel. The most direct reference can be found on the caseback, where the square geometry is more obvious, and the pattern on Big Ben’s face is transferred to the oscillating weight.

The rose gold PVD colour is appropriate for this tribute, echoing the warm stone of the monument. The case is 42 mm in diameter, waterproof to 10 bar (100 metres). Inside, it is powered by the self-winding Mido Calibre 80, based on the C07.621 by ETA, with COSC certification that guarantees a precision of -4/+6 seconds per day maximum deviation. It runs at 3 Hertz and has a power reserve of 80 hours.

The watch has a bracelet in stainless steel with rose gold-colour PVD treatment, well integrated into the design so that it is visually continuous with the caseband.

Reference and price

The Mido Big Ben Limited Edition is reference M028.708.23.031.00. It is a 500-piece limited edition, with a presentation case also designed by Sébastien Perret. The price is €1,760.

Elizabeth Tower, London, photo courtesy of ChrisA1995/flickr.com