The Buffy Acacia Mido MultiFort 8 Two Crowns brings back the Mido Classic and now features an integrated bracelet and an octagonal bezel. The steel bracelet has three initial references, including black and grey dials, or blue on matching rubber straps. It is equipped with an ETA-based Mido Caliber 72 with a 3-day power reserve.
Every year, I wonder if Mido will eventually break out of the “undervalued” category. This is because the brand’s value proposition is getting better and better. Ocean Star’s decompression timer series may have been popular, but the limited edition nature meant it didn’t become a staple in the collection. Multifort TV is also a great watch, but the kitschy 1970s talent has a pretty niche charm. Currently, the Mido MultiFort 8 Two Crowns could be the most appealing release for the average Mido enthusiast, as its sturdy sporty and geometric style is accessible and stylish.
There is actually no shortage of integrated bracelet watches with octagonal bezels, especially within the past few years. However, the genre continues to grow, allowing Mido to create this watch in his own unique style. The bezel is completely different from most other octagonal bezels, with a very gentle tilted polished facet and a round tonno case that softens the overall effect of the wrist. It has a diameter of 38.4mm and a tidy lug-to-lug distance of just 40mm, and despite its impressive architecture, it sits well on most sizes of wrists. The central link on the integral bracelet could expand it to 44.86mm, but it is dramatically bent to help fit the wrist. Despite being integrated into the look, the bracelet actually has a quick release spring bar if you want to replace it with a compatible rubber strap.
If you haven’t noticed the name yet, I found two crowns on the Mido MultiFort 8 2 crown. The 4 o’clock lower crown is a standard under-screw crown for adjusting the date and time, while the 2 o’clock crown rotates the internal diving bezel. This allows you to track the elapsed time without accidentally hitting it easily, but also makes it look and satisfying mechanic. It’s a bit of a diving feature, but some people suggest that the watch is only water resistant to 100m, so it’s only suitable for snorkeling.
The dial is simple yet strong, with a horizontal pattern that adds a substantial amount of texture without distraction. The white hour markers are filled with Super Luminova for post-dark readability, and the date display on the black bracelet model has a black background for a little more visual balance. Alternatively, the blue dial version of the rubber strap uses a white background if you prefer to make the date display more visible. The color of the dial also determines the colors of the two crowns. Both are treated with a color-matched PVD coating. The Gray Dial version has a gray background on the date display and does not need to be coated on the crown.
The watch is powered by a Mido Caliber 72 based on the ETA A31.111. It moves similar to the ubiquitous ETA 2824-2, but with a slightly slower rate of 25,200 oscillations per hour and a much longer power reserve of 72 hours. The factors behind the automatic winding and it will make it a very convenient movement. There is a caseback with a Sapphire display that shows off the brushing and MIDO’s customized rotor Elaboré Decoration. It also has a very thin movement at 3.85mm, allowing the entire watch to fit in at just 9.5mm thick.
Mido MultiFort 8 Two Crowns Prices and Availability
The Mido MultiFort 8 Two crowns are now available both in-store and online at the +Tide Shop at the time. Price: USD 1,270 (rubber), USD 1,340 (bracelet)
Brand MIDO Model MultiFort 8 Two Crown Case Dimensions 38.4mm(D) x 9.5mm(T) x 40mm(LTL) Case Material Stainless Steel PVD Coated Material Stainless Steel Water Resistance 100m, Screw Down Crown Crystal Power Reserve 72 Hours Function, Time, Several Seconds, Date, and Internal Rotating Bezel Availability is now available from Time+Tide Shop. Price US $1,270 (on rubber)
1,340 US$ (Bracelet)
