A Hands-On Introduction To The All-New Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns
Two days ago, we attended an event called Watch Valley. It’s set up annually by Swatch Group brands like Tissot, Rado, and Certina to show their novelties to retailers and the press — kind of like a mini Baselworld. This year, Mido was there for the first time as well. We were expecting to see some updates to the Multifort TV and Ocean Star ranges, but we also saw something completely new and rather exciting. The Multifort 8 Two Crowns is Mido’s take on the steel integrated-bracelet sports watch. Fortunately, the embargo lifted today, so we can tell you all about it.
Mido’s Multifort collection consists of several different styles. There is the Patrimony line, which has a classic and more vintage-inspired aesthetic. Then, there are numerous references with a more modern character. Finally, there’s the brand’s TV line, which has a slightly more squarish shape. With the all-new Multifort 8 Two Crowns, Mido adds yet another genre to one of its more popular collections.
The Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns
When we sat down with the Mido representative, my eyes immediately fell upon the watch he was wearing. It was something I hadn’t seen before, but it looked rather exciting. It was fairly thin with a sporty design and an integrated rubber strap. He first started telling us about updates to the TV and Ocean Star lineups, and then he finally told us about the watch he was wearing.
The Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns is a 40mm stainless steel watch with a 9.5mm thickness and a 44.86mm length. The ’70s-inspired case has faceted sides, an octagonal bezel with polished facets, and a satin-brushed top. At 2 o’clock, there’s an octagonal screw-down crown that allows you to adjust the inner 60-minute bezel. At 4 o’clock, there’s a second crown with which you can wind and set the movement.
In black, blue, or gray-green
There are three versions of the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns. The version with the matte black dial also comes with black PVD-coated crowns and an integrated stainless steel bracelet. The matte blue version features blue PVD-coated crowns and comes on a matching blue rubber strap. Finally, there’s the version with a slightly shiny gray-green dial. This version includes a stainless steel bracelet, but its crowns have no PVD coating.
Let’s take a closer look at those dials for a moment. As mentioned, on the outer edge, there’s a flanged inner bezel that you’d also find on a dive watch. Mido doesn’t necessarily present the Multifort 8 Two Crowns as such but mentions that you can use the bezel for timing. The center of the dial has a stepped design and a horizontal texture. The lumed hour markers lie a little lower than the rest of the dial, which gives the entire thing a nice three-dimensional feel. Also, at 3 o’clock, there’s a cutout for the date.
A slim automatic caliber
Inside the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns is the automatic caliber 72. This Swatch Group movement is based on the architecture of the ETA 2892-A2. Above all, this means the movement is quite thin, featuring a 3.85mm profile. That’s also why the case of the watch has a very attractive 9.5mm thickness. The movement runs at a frequency of 25,200vph, features 21 jewels, and holds a comfortable power reserve of 72 hours. You can take a look at its basic finishing through the screw-in case back, which also helps keep the watch water resistant to 100 meters.
Up close and personal with the Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns
What struck me the most about the new Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns is its bold character in combination with its streamlined case design. Both the case and the bracelet are nice and thin, so they wrap comfortably around the wrist. The faceted octagonal bezel matches not only the two crowns but also the center links on the bracelet. Both the bracelet and the rubber strap come with quick-release spring bars, so it’s easy to swap one out for the other.
The butterfly clasp on the bracelet is nice and simple, and the half-links help to find the right size. However, I do think I prefer the rubber strap. It tapers a little more than the bracelet and comes with a basic but very adequate tang buckle. Besides, I think the two-tone setup really suits the sporty character of the Multifort 8 Two Crowns. The rubber strap features a ribbed texture to match the horizontal lines on the dial.
What do you think?
Mido has done it again. I’ve always been a fan of the brand’s Ocean Star models, especially the more vintage-inspired ones. With the new Multifort 8 Two Crowns, Mido has added another very attractive watch to the lineup. For its price of CHF 1,150 on the bracelet and CHF 1,120 on the rubber strap, this is a very well-designed and wearable watch.
I’d find it hard to pick a favorite among the three color options. I haven’t seen the black one in person yet. The dark blue one has a nicely designed rubber strap, which I love. However, the gray-green color also looks quite attractive in person. What do you think of the new Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns? Let me know in the comments below.
