Sunday Morning Showdown: Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 Vs. Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite

It’s finally getting warmer here in the Netherlands, and many people are already enjoying their summer vacations. That means it’s time to dig up those funky, colorful dive watches and wear the hell out of them while diving, swimming, hiking, or relaxing next to your tent. We’ll do the same today during another Sunday Morning Showdown. This time, it’ll be a heated battle between the recently introduced C65 Super Compressor Elite from Christopher Ward and the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961. These are two lively and colorful dive watches, each with a distinct flair and features.

Both these watches display a colorful decompression scale on their dials. Divers used this scale in the past to avoid the effects of decompression sickness. Nowadays, dive computers will help you with that, but it’s still very charming to see these vintage-inspired watches proudly featuring such scales. During today’s Sunday Morning Showdown, we’ll find out which watch does it better. But while Thomas and Daan are getting ready in opposite corners of the ring, we’ll first take a look at what happened last week.

Previously, on Sunday Morning Showdown

Last week, for the second week in a row, we featured an Oris dive watch on Sunday Morning Showdown. The week before, the Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 earned 59% of the votes, giving Thomas a comfortable victory against Daan’s TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date. Last week, however, we put the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Calibre 400 38mm up against the Tudor Black Bay 54. This time, it was the Oris that had to leave the victory to its opponent. Both the Divers Sixty-Five and the Black Bay 54 are very similar in size, price, and vintage appeal. That’s probably why the comments showed nearly even support for both. In the end, though, the Tudor Black Bay 54 took home the victory with a comfortable 61% of the votes. Let’s see what will happen this week.

Daan: Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961

I don’t exactly know why, but I’m a fan of Mido’s heavily vintage-inspired Ocean Star series. I have experienced both the Ocean Star GMT and the Ocean Star Tribute special editions up close. I’m simply charmed by how these watches look, I guess. The 40.5mm case has good proportions, the bezel has a nice action to it, and they both come with great design features. The GMT has subtle and sharp shark-tooth hour markers, and the Tribute features a milky blue gradient on the dial. They’re both very easy on the eyes and wear well on the wrist. What more could you ask for?

When it comes to the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961, I feel the same. It features the same case as the two watches mentioned above, but this time, it has a completely polished finish. Mido first launched a black re-edition in 2020 and then presented a white re-edition a year later, which I prefer. I think the white backdrop works better with the pastel colors on the dial, and the matching blue bezel insert looks great. The whole thing immediately takes you back to the ’60s and the “flower power” movement.

The case profiles of the modern version (top) and a vintage example (bottom)

Capable without bragging

To be honest, the Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite’s looks are certainly not inferior to the Ocean Star’s. On top of that, the CW packs a neat party trick with its Super Compressor case. What I don’t understand, though, is why the Christopher Ward is only water resistant to 150 meters, while the Mido can go another 50 meters deeper. The Mido is also 0.35mm thinner. I have to admit that the case back on the C65 Super Compressor Elite looks great with the medallion inside the sapphire crystal. On the other hand, it seems a bit over the top, and I’m just as thrilled to see the happy seastar on the Mido’s case back.

Overall, I feel the Ocean Star is a bit less of a showoff watch than the C65. In that sense, I’d much prefer wearing the Mido over the Christopher Ward. The two crowns, internal bezel, and case back are all there not only to be functional but also to impress others. However, the Mido seems to be just as functional but doesn’t brag about it. It looks quite innocent with the rainbow colors on the dial. However, it’s made and designed with a very serious matter in mind.

Annoying details

Finally, as much as I like the looks of the C65 Super Compressor Elite, it still has two very annoying features. The people at Christopher Ward probably laugh every time these things come up, but I just can’t avoid them. The first issue is that the logo looks like one from a hospital. I think it’s too modern and farfetched. I am glad the designers put it in the center of the dial instead of on the left, where it used to be, but the logo still annoys me.

The same goes for the trident on the end of the seconds hand. It’s an unnecessary detail on a watch that otherwise feels thoughtfully put together. The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961, on the other hand, shows attention to detail and perfectly finishes it off with the brand’s curly vintage logo. All right, now it’s your turn, Thomas. Show us what you’ve got.

Thomas: Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite

Thank you, Daan. Let me start by admitting I agree on my candidate’s branding. However, I think you may be missing the key point here. Although I would agree that Christopher Ward fails to brand itself in a truly attractive, desirable way, this doesn’t seem to be the brand’s aim. Christopher Ward is all about the value for money — features, specs, execution, and sharp pricing. The “Do your research” slogan fits perfectly. It is a rational approach. It is aimed at the enthusiast who skips all our musings and scrolls straight to the specs box.

Admittedly, this is precisely why I have never connected with the brand. I look for a certain intangible sexiness in watches, and rational value for money is very low on my list of priorities when shopping for a luxury watch. I will be the first to admit that CW isn’t the sexiest of watch brands. However, the watches are seriously good and have prices that are hard to fault.

Today’s showdown proves that point perfectly. I think it is good to mention prices before I go any further. The CW Super Compressor Elite comes in at €1,795 on a rubber strap. The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 is officially discontinued, but you can still find unworn ones at certain boutiques and online. They tend to sit around €1,500. The Mido had an RRP of CHF 1,050 when it came out in 2021.

A word on the Mido

I know you are infatuated with the Mido, Daan. It must be those fancy colors obscuring your judgment. I don’t like to say this, but that watch was a massive letdown for me when I saw it in person. This is harsh, but I simply think wasn’t very nicely made.

The fit and finish, in my humble opinion, is just too crude for a modern watch in this segment. The case lines are a bit dull, the bezel is unrefined, and the handset is stamped out without any sort of dimensionality to it. Honestly, I hate to say it, but I feel that I have no choice: it leaves me under the impression Mido made the watch on a very tight budget.

This is where the Christopher Ward pulls miles ahead. The new Super Compressor Elite punches way above its weight. It is simply a very well-made watch. It is solid, refined, and very attractively finished. I like it in pictures, and I love it in real life. Everything is sharper, more defined, and more confident in this watch. If Sunday Morning Showdown were about quality only, the CW would deserve to win by a landslide.

Bragging rights: a true Super Compressor

Christopher Ward took the hard road when developing this watch. The designers didn’t merely copy a style. Instead, they decided to make it a true Super Compressor. That means the case actually compresses under pressure, making its seal tighter the deeper you go. You mention the lesser water resistance, Daan. As you know, the rating is a result of a balancing act between many variables. I am making this up, but it could be that the compressor mechanism added thickness, which CW compensated for with slightly thinner materials. It is just one of many possible explanations, but it isn’t an indicator of quality.

An original EPSA case

What I find very commendable is that the folks at CW reverse-engineered the old Ervin Piquerez (EPSA) compressor mechanism. They revived the technology and then put it on display through the sapphire ring in the case back. The fact that they pay tribute to EPSA with the company’s original dive-helmet seal is classy.

To me, this shows that this is a watch made by true enthusiasts. Could they have just slapped two crowns on a regular case and taken a bigger margin? Sure! But they built an actual Super Compressor instead, which is plain cool.

The Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite dial

Let me close my case by dedicating some words to the Super Compressor Elite’s dial. I am all for matte black divers and keeping it functional, so I tend to roll my eyes when I see a bright sunburst dial on a diver. If it is a gradient dial to boot, you can count me out.

But isn’t it great when our prejudices get challenged? I immediately fell in love when I saw the Super Compressor Elite in real life. The dial is just so well done. Its sunburst blue looks electric, almost luminescent, and the gradient hardly registers consciously but adds to the look. This dial is lively and exciting, even before you consider the orange details.

If you have the opportunity, I urge you to go and have a look at this dial. It is vibrant, and it looks, to put it bluntly, expensive. And I have only seen it in a relatively dark room, it should be positively radiant in bright sunlight.

Cast your votes

There you have it — two very colorful divers for your summer adventures. Which is the winner for you?  Is it the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961? Or does the Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite get your vote?

Cast your vote below, and please share your motivations in the comments section!