Using a “big date” to celebrate an anniversary is not original (I think that Glashütte Original has done this before and probably a few other brands as well) but it is appropriate in Mido’s case, founded on 11 November 1918. So this is the centenary year. The Commander Big Date is an attractive, dressy watch with a big date shown in two adjacent windows with sandblasted metal frame, each with a separate numeral disc. It’s a nice complication, very practical for everyone like myself who finds the figures of the usual single-disc date window slightly too small to be legible without glasses.
Apart from the big date, the Mido Commander Big Date is a classic three-hander, with a sunray dial and well-detailed design. I like the way that the hour batons are tucked into recesses in the inner bezel flange, and the partly recessed crown. At 42 mm in diameter and just under 12 mm thickness, it’s a bit larger than most dress watches, perfectly in line with one of the major trends in low-cost watches, large, simple, dressy styles. Like Daniel Wellington.
Two dial colours, bracelet or leather strap
The sunray satin-finish dials are in anthracite or silver finish. SuperLuminova on the hour and minute hands, and at the tips of the hour indices, provide night-time legibility. A two-tone model has touches of rose gold PVD finish on the bezel and crown, and also on the inside of the bracelet links. The result is very attractive, almost feminine.
The Mido Commander Big Date has a 50-metre water resistance, slightly better than the standard 30 metres but still suitable only for standing up to drops of rain and occasional splashes. Certainly no swimming.
Calibre 80 movement
The Commander Big Date has a new-generation movement by ETA, the so-called Calibre 80 (based on ETA C07.651), with 80 hours power reserve. This is about double the power reserve of the previous generation of ETA movements. It runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hertz), has 25 jewels, has an Elinflex mainspring (this new alloy contributes to the 80-hour power reserve), and a degree of movement decoration, including Côtes de Genève on the oscillating weight. It is adjusted in 3 positions, and it is the Elaboré version of the movement, not Top or Chronometer.
References and prices
The Mido Commander Big Date is available in four versions from 1 January 2018. Reference M021.626.22.031.00, with silver-toned dial and steel bracelet, costs €1,090, 1,050 Swiss francs (suggested retail price). Reference M021.626.11.061.00, with anthracite dial and leather strap, costs €960, 940 Swiss francs. Reference M021.626.22.031.00 has a silver dial with two-tone case and bracelet, rose gold PVD crown and bezel, and it costs €1,090, 1,050 Swiss francs. Reference M021.626.36.051.00 has an anthracite dial, with with two-tone case and bracelet, rose gold PVD crown and bezel, and it costs €1,090, 1,050 Swiss francs. Read more on the Mido website.
