Introducing Mido’s Ocean Star 200 Gets A Summer-Ready Update

Mido has just announced an update to its tried and tested Ocean Star 200 line-up, debuting a new reference that’s both more visually compelling and more affordable – a combination we don’t see too often in new releases. It represents a systematic overhaul of the Ocean Star 200 design, first released way back in 2018, bringing its appearance up to date with a few choice tweaks that usher in more of an evolution rather than a revolution.

The new Ocean Star 200 case has been resized in line with current taste trends, dropping from a diameter of 42.5mm to 41mm, with a lug-to-lug of 47.03mm and a mix of satin brushing and polished finishes. Working our way from the case inwards, the bezel features improved knurling and the blue aluminium inserts design has been tweaked with bolder, larger numerals, both of which nicely frame a quite substantial and gradually sloping rehaut with an inner minute track and numerals. 

The blue dial now features a granular texture, and the hour markers, whilst the overall design is unchanged, are much more three-dimensional with sloping polished bevels. The day and date window positions are unchanged and quite close to the centre handstack (something criticised on the outgoing model), but with the introduction of the thicker rehaut, they’re much better proportioned on a dial whose diameter has been solidly reduced.

The handset design also remains largely unchanged with its mixed skeleton and Super-LumiNova lumed sections (plus lumed bezel pip), but has been slightly shortened to accommodate the smaller dial, while the orange seconds hand tip has also been updated with a snowflake design instead of the previous generation’s arrow. 

Mido have also introduced a bracelet quick-release system that’s built into the spring bars, and while it’s not the most highly engineered solution, it’s a worthy addition, especially for the price. Its addition is also evidence that Mido has its owners firmly in mind, with most enthusiasts now expecting experience-improving features like quick releases as standard.

Beyond these new design changes, we have a sapphire crystal with two coats of anti-reflective treatment, a screw-down crown, and the Ocean Star’s usual starfish design caseback that guarantees 200m of water resistance. The press images don’t include an image of the clasp, but it does feature a built-in divers extension, which, if it shares the design of the previous generation, will be a ratcheting design built into the clasp that doubles as a micro-adjustment mechanism.

Under the hood, you'll find the same Mido Calibre 80 movement used across the existing Ocean Star range, which benefits from a Nivachron hairspring and an 80-hour power reserve. Its base is an ETA C07.621 that’s exclusive to Swatch Group watches, has proven a great workhorse movement across Swatch Group brands, and provides plenty of value for money.

The new Ocean Star 200 replaces the previous generation that was launched way back in 2018, and slots into the wider Ocean Star range as the entry-level model below the Ocean Star 200C. Crucially, despite these updates, Mido has actually dropped the price of the Ocean Star 200 from A$1,700 to A$1,400, meaning it now stands as the most affordable Ocean Star in the lineup, priced below the Ocean Star Tribute and Ocean Star 36.5 lines, all of which share the same Calibre 80 movement.

At least for now, it’s only available in blue and steel, which is a contraction from the previous generation that was available in five different references. In saying that, I suspect we won’t be waiting long for some more colour options.

This redesign is definitely the breath of fresh air the Ocean Star 200 needed. A lot has changed in the sub-$2,000 dive watch category in the eight years since the last generation debuted, and these changes will help bring it back into consideration for a lot of buyers. It’s brought some much-needed balance and proportion to the design of the previous generation, which I always found to be slightly unbalanced. There’s also more three-dimensionality to the watch, and with a smaller dial, I suspect it will actually wear a little smaller than its 41mm diameter would lead you to believe.

If I were to make one change to the Ocean Star 200, it would be an improvement to the caseback. I like the starfish design, but its finishing leaves a bit to be desired, especially when the Ocean Star 200C’s caseback features a nicer sandblasted finish. I also think some integrated rubber straps would go down a treat with this new design.

With a A$300 price drop over the previous Ocean Star 200, Mido are repositioning their entry-level diver in the sub A$1,500 dive watch market. I think it’s the right move (who doesn’t love a discount?), but it’s a market with a lot of competition, including a few others from inside the Swatch Group, possibly leaving buyers to ask themselves how the Ocean Star 200 differentiates itself from the rest of the pack.

As some of its comparatively-priced competitors stand, the Christopher Ward C60 Trident features a lumed ceramic bezel insert, the Tissot Seastar 2000 dives three times deeper and features a HEV and ceramic bezel (plus the same movement), and the Doxa Sub 200 has more variety in colours.

As its comparatively-priced competitors stand, the Christopher Ward C60 Trident features a lumed ceramic bezel insert, the Tissot Seastar 2000 dives three times deeper and features a HEV and ceramic bezel (plus the same movement), and the Doxa Sub 200 has more variety in colours. At its core, the Mido Ocean Star 200 remains a handsome, functional, straight down the middle dive watch with a nice design – and to a lot of buyers, that’s going to be perfect – but for enthusiasts cross-shopping purely on specs, they may overlook the Mido for something more technically capable or impressive.

We’ll be watching closely as Mido hopefully introduces some more colours, case materials and compilations in future.

Brand: Mido
Model: Ocean Star 200
Reference Number: M0269301104100
Diameter: 41mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47.03mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Colour: Navy blue with grain finish
Indexes: Applied, filled with Super-LumiNova
Lume: Super-LumiNova hands, indexes and bezel pip
Water Resistance: 200 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel folding clasp

Calibre: Mido Calibre 80 (ETA C07.621 base)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 5.31mm
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 VpH (3 Hz)
Jewels: 25
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: A$1,400
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No

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