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The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

I bought this watch over 10 years ago, before the smartwatch crisis. I wanted my first automatic watch, and I had no watchmaking background. The brand resonated French, offered numerous models, and was on private sale for around 70% off... there was little reason to hesitate.
This Cheverny does the job pretty well, I think. A 42mm case, an open back revealing the ultra-decorated Ambre MBP1000 movement. Perhaps too much? 3 hands, date at 3 o'clock, 28,800 vibrations/hour, 31 jewels, 45-hour battery life. I believe this is the caliber that powered the Yema models until recently, before their shift to true manufacture.
A textured dial with mirror-coated and luminescent (but not overly so) applied indexes, a circled date window, and a railroad flange that completes the finish. The mineral glass is flat and effectively anti-reflective. It came with a black crocodile-effect leather strap with a folding clasp, which I recently replaced.
This watch still works very well. It has faded into the background in my collection, alongside other, more appealing models, but it will remain the first in this story.



My first automatic watch

I bought this watch two months ago because I'm a fan of the California dial with its contrasting cream-colored numerals on a matte black background. It's easy to read and contemplate. It's more of a sporty look with this field watch dial. The case is original, quite body-built, with its sandwich cushion shape reinforced with bumpers on the right and left, and the faceted lugs that add to the sporty feel. This is what the brand is selling with its adventurous ambassadors, and it certainly appealed to me as well.

What I hadn't noticed when I bought it without trying it on was the multitude of polished chamfered edges that never miss an opportunity to play with the light. No matter how the watch is oriented, there are always several reflections on the edges, facets, and flat bezel to catch the eye. But I'm not even talking about the flat sapphire crystal, which shines with its transparency. Enough to make it a little more chic, and make me hesitate to hike with it!

The watch is rather thin despite its highly crafted case and 200m water resistance. I was a little worried about its 41mm diameter, placed on an even wider cushion, which makes it a bit imposing. On my 17-inch wrist, I'd say it's borderline. Furthermore, the lugs aren't at all dipping, which quickly creates a gap between the wrist and the bracelet. Fortunately, they're short.
The brand recently released this case in a 39mm size, and I think it's more versatile.

What I like less is the lack of comfort of the strap buckle. It's a half-butterfly folding clasp, and is adjusted to the bracelet holes spaced 5mm apart. This forces me to choose a setting between too tight and too loose. But even in the floating setting, the very angular buckle digs into the skin and leaves its mark, which isn't very comfortable. In addition, the half-butterfly barely leaves enough room for your hand to pass through when it's deployed.
In the end, I'm satisfied with this purchase. This watch occupies an important place in my collection, accompanying me with casual and even sporty outfits.

Alpina Alpiner Extreme California, team sport ou team chic ?

Here's my choice as a first-time buyer of a watch from a watch brand. It's a difficult choice until you've taken the plunge, where I change my mind every day, even on the style of watch I'm looking for (field, diver, aviator?). This 40mm Oris Big Crown Pointer Date with a bronze bezel won out because it ticks many of the boxes that appealed to me:
1. the very beautiful cathedral hands;
2. the contrasting dial with the deep midnight blue and white Arabic numerals: surely one of the most contrasting on this model;
3. the gilt dial gives a very dressy look with the gold hands, and the matching logo and railway track;
4. the bronze bezel, matching the gilt, makes the watch even dressier;
5. the fourth hand pointer date function adds to its originality;
6. finally, this model was unanimously approved when I asked my family for their opinion.

After a few months on my wrist, I'm still very satisfied with this choice. The watch is comfortable and very attractive to me. I changed the strap for a black leather Oris model with a folding clasp, which is more practical and attractive.
Its 40 mm size fits my 17 cm wrist well.
I also appreciate the precision of this watch, with a deviation of < 5 seconds per day.
Finally, since it's a gender-neutral color that my wife also liked, I found her the same model in size 36, just to match... and to relieve her guilt.

What I like less is the lack of contrast on the gold-colored date numerals against a dark blue background, which makes it difficult to read the date.
I also don't like letting the bronze bezel oxidize, as I don't find it compatible with the dressy look. I reactivate its shine every month with lemon juice on a cotton swab.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date, my first

Serica had already caught my eye when I was looking for my first watch. Initially interested in the diver's watch, the small dial opening of the 5303 put me off. I was taking a step back to better convince myself that the white 6190 would be the right one. That said, you shouldn't hesitate too long with Serica. Even though they have permanent collections, this model was sold out from December 2024 to June 2025. I regularly checked their website. I finally acquired it in June as soon as the next batch arrived. Note: I'm writing this review in August and I see that it's sold out again.
It's been long-awaited, but it's well worth it. As mentioned, the dial color has gone from polar white on the first models to ivory white today. I love this hint of cream, which better highlights the whiter indexes. I'm a fan of the circled applied indexes on the enamel dial. Complete with a case that alternates between brushed and mirror-polished, and masterfully chamfered, you truly feel like you're wearing a luxury watch. But without any claims on the dial, the mystery is complete.
In terms of diameter, I was more of a fan of the 40 mm. It took me a little time to get used to the almost 38 mm here.
Receiving it in June was a good time to make it my ideal summer watch: small in diameter, lightweight, and not affected by the heat.
Two other surprises are revealed by this watch upon first try. First, its weight: 79 g on my scale!! You can't feel it on your wrist. The second is the good clip. This strap is a revelation. It combines lightness, flexibility, ventilation, and micro-adjustability. It's true that it gives the watch a rather retro and rugged look, whereas it could look very dressy with another strap choice that I haven't yet explored. And I can confirm its habit of sometimes opening by itself. But there's little risk of it falling out, however, since it would still have to slide along the hand.
My new favorite watch will remain in my collection for a long time.

A watch that knows how to make itself desired, but it's well worth it

This acquisition was not premeditated. But the price segment practiced by Mido allows this kind of impulsive purchase. Whether on the technical or aesthetic side, this Mido Ocean Star has all the characteristics of a diver who takes care of its look: water resistant to 200 m - unidirectional rotating bezel in blue ceramic with the most beautiful effect - blue textured dial with wave pattern - day date indicator - brushed stainless steel case with mirror-polished micro-chamfer - thickness 12.3 mm - flat anti-reflective sapphire crystal - decorated solid case back - 3-link stainless steel bracelet with alternating brushed and mirror-polished - folding clasp with micro-adjustment on the fly - Swiss made Mido 80 mechanism with 80 hours of power reserve! - The 42.5 mm diameter fits very well on my standard 17 cm wrist. I don't know if it's related to its membership in the Swatch Group, but
the aesthetics and font of the bezel, as well as the vague pattern of the dial, strongly remind me of a certain Omega Seamaster Diver.
I don't regret this purchase, which completes my modest collection and makes me yearn for the deep sea.

She has everything a great one has

Mido is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1918 in Biel/Bienne by Georges G. Schaeren; now part of Swatch Group and based in Le Locle, it built a reputation on practical, durable watchmaking (water-resistance, shock and magnetic protection) established as early as the interwar years, then on staple lines&mdash;Multifort, Commander, Ocean Star and Baroncelli&mdash;that still anchor the contemporary range.
<h3>Multifort 1934, Aquadura 1930: tool-watch thinking before it had a name</h3>
In the 1930s Mido developed a treated-cork crown-stem seal&mdash;later dubbed Aquadura&mdash;that protected the winding system, a rare solution at the time aimed at un-fussy daily use, and this practical innovation became a cornerstone of the brand&rsquo;s toughness narrative.
In 1934 the Multifort line brought together automatic winding, water-resistance, shock protection and anti-magnetism in a single watch, placing Mido on a pragmatic, use-first path, and this &ldquo;all-terrain&rdquo; synthesis became the company&rsquo;s best-seller from the 1930s into the 1950s.&nbsp;Independent American testing in the 1930s further underpinned this stance, with communications that favoured proof in use over hyperbole, and that culture of trial and endurance still colours how the Multifort name is read today.
<h3>Commander 1959, Ocean Star and monocoque construction</h3>
Launched in 1959, the Mido Commander features a monocoque case with an integrated Milanese bracelet and period logo, a set of hallmarks for a model produced without interruption since inception, and this unusual continuity makes it a quiet Swiss staple.
In the same spirit of simple robustness, the Ocean Star family&mdash;whose historic pieces leverage one-piece cases and in-house sealing&mdash;anchors Mido&rsquo;s maritime identity, and the brand updates that chapter today with divers rated up to 600 m and GMT variants.&nbsp;
The modern Ocean Star 600 Chronometer adds a helium valve, technical bezel and, depending on versions, chronometer certification, showing the historic DNA translated into credible specifications, and this coherence strengthens the range&rsquo;s appeal for frequent waterside wear.&nbsp;
<h3>Baroncelli and &ldquo;Inspired by Architecture&rdquo;: classicism and emblematic places</h3>
Since 2002 Mido has embraced an explicit architecture link&mdash;kicked off by the All Dial line inspired by Rome&rsquo;s Colosseum&mdash;that guides design beyond mere d&eacute;cor, and this approach has spawned anniversary series across several core families.
The Mido Baroncelli, introduced in 1976, embodies the brand&rsquo;s dress side, with editions that dialog with the Rennes Opera House among other cues, and these balanced proportions pair well with modern movements for everyday formality.
The &ldquo;architecture&rdquo; thread also reads as a language of calm lines, understated dials and contained volumes echoed by Commander, All Dial, Multifort and Ocean Star, and this disciplined drawing avoids short-lived trends in favour of a readable identity
<h3>Modern mechanics: Caliber 80, silicon and chronometer certification</h3>
At the core of recent collections, Caliber 80 delivers roughly 80 hours of power reserve and, in its Chronometer Silicon guise, a silicon balance spring with anti-magnetic properties, with COSC-certified variants by model, and the result signals a clear focus on stability and accuracy in use.
This architecture serves both sport and dress lines (Ocean Star, Multifort, Baroncelli, Commander), with water-resistance and regulation tuned to each scenario, and the net effect is a more legible line-up for buyers cross-shopping families.
Select references add useful complications&mdash;local-jumping GMT, chronometer timing, decompression bezel&mdash;without bloat, and this functional restraint stays true to Mido&rsquo;s historic tool-watch culture.
<h3>Today&rsquo;s families and quick orientation</h3>
To navigate the catalogue, start with each lineage&rsquo;s signature and two or three concrete use points, and the short list below gathers distinctive landmarks for an efficient first pass.
<ul>
<li>Mido Multifort &mdash; heir to the 1934 &ldquo;all-terrain&rdquo; watch; versatile sport, shock/magnetic resistance, long-reserve automatics (Caliber 80).</li>
<li>Mido Commander 1959 &mdash; monocoque case, integrated Milanese bracelet, unbroken production since 1959; readable, relaxed-dress.</li>
<li>Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer &mdash; 600 m, helium valve, serious dive spec; intensive water/sport use.</li>
<li>Mido Ocean Star GMT &mdash; Caliber 80 C07.661 with local-jump hour, 80 h, clear 24-hour read; travel and multi-time work.</li>
<li>Mido Baroncelli Chronometer Silicon &mdash; classic dress, silicon balance, COSC variants and extended warranty; office and formal wear.</li>
<li>Mido All Dial &mdash; born 2002, Colosseum-inspired; layered &ldquo;bezel-less&rdquo; dial architecture with a distinct stance.</li>
<li>Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 &mdash; reissue of a historic rainbow decompression dial; leisure diving and heritage.</li>
</ul>
This overview doesn&rsquo;t exhaust the range, but it lets you oppose &ldquo;water-sport,&rdquo; &ldquo;urban-sport,&rdquo; and &ldquo;dress&rdquo; at a glance, and this framework helps you prioritise criteria before trying pieces on.
<h3>Positioning, indicative prices and distribution</h3>
Mido sits in Swatch Group&rsquo;s Swiss mid-core, with public prices that, depending on family and market, roughly span &euro;800 to &euro;1,600 (e.g., Commander 1959 around $860 in the U.S.; Ocean Star GMT listed between ~CHF 1,190 and ~CHF 1,400), and this middle ground targets serious, durable watches without prestige bloat.
Distribution blends the official e-shop, authorised retailers and the group&rsquo;s global network, alongside structured after-sales and long-term parts support, and this footprint reassures buyers about maintenance well into the second decade.&nbsp;Annual production volumes are not disclosed, but the depth of the line and worldwide presence imply steady output paced by launches, and the addressable audience spans first-time buyers and seasoned wearers alike.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Mido suits those after durable, legible, properly engineered watches, with clearly drawn families and pertinent tech choices (historic Aquadura, monocoque cases, Caliber 80, silicon balances). Identify your dominant use to oppose Ocean Star (water/travel), Multifort/Commander (urban-sport) and Baroncelli (dress), then tune size and strap. The brand&rsquo;s &ldquo;function over fuss&rdquo; ethos makes it recognisable without theatrics. To align your pick with lived ownership, a helpful compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.
Mido is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">ranking of the most popular Swiss watch brands</a>.
(Updated August 2025)

La marque&nbsp;Serica a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2019 par J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget et 3 amis &agrave; Paris, en France. Le nom Serica vient d'une r&eacute;gion perdue au bout de l'Extr&ecirc;me-Orient que les Grecs et les Romains avaient baptis&eacute;e ainsi. Ce lieu fait &eacute;cho &agrave; la gen&egrave;se de la marque, qui vise &agrave; concevoir des montres m&eacute;caniques de qualit&eacute; au style n&eacute;or&eacute;tro, pr&ecirc;tes &agrave; vous suivre aux confins du monde.
La gamme comprend des montres telles que la <a title="Page Serica 4512" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, la <a title="Page Serica 5303" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> et la <a title="Page Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. L'une des particularit&eacute;s de cette marque est que son nom n'appara&icirc;t nulle part sur le cadran, afin de pousser le passionn&eacute; &agrave; acheter un design, des finitions et des proportions, et pas seulement un nom. En juillet 2023, Serica a lanc&eacute; la Serica 5303 COSC une version chronom&egrave;tre certifi&eacute;e par le Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres.
Leur avant-dernier mod&egrave;le est la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfant sur les bases de la 1&egrave;re r&eacute;f&eacute;rence de la marque, la Serica 4512. Cette 6190 &eacute;pouse les codes stylistiques de la marque, des anses lyres, un choix de cadrans diff&eacute;rents et la possibilit&eacute; de choisir la position de la couronne &agrave; 3 heures ou en mode "Destro" &agrave; 9 heures. Cette Serica 6190 est &eacute;quip&eacute; du calibre Soprod M100 certifi&eacute; COSC (Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres) &agrave; l'intar des productions actuelles des autres mod&egrave;les 5303 et 8315.&nbsp;
Depuis le 21 novembre 2024, Serica propose une nouvelle collection tr&egrave;s audacieuse...&nbsp;Une montre habill&eacute;e sortant des sentiers battus nomm&eacute;e "Parade" sous la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence 1174. Ces 4 chiffres, comme toutes les autres r&eacute;f&eacute;rences Serica, propose une symbolique issue du nombre d'or ou divines proportions dont le ratio entre la longeur et la largeur sont de 1,174... Une nouveaut&eacute; propos&eacute;e en pr&eacute;-commande &agrave; 1,490 &euro; pour une livraison pr&eacute;vue en Mars 2025...
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Serica ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Serica &eacute;voluent et diff&eacute;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 990 &euro; et 1,890 &euro; selon les mod&egrave;les et finitions. Le mod&egrave;le GMT de la marque, Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre co&ucirc;te 1,890 &euro; tandis que le dernier mod&egrave;le lanc&eacute; par Serica, la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">6190</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 990 &euro;.
Serica est ind&eacute;pendante et produit environ 5,000 montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Serica fait partie du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Top 10 des marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises les plus populaires</a>, ainsi que du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_micro_marques_de_montres">Classement des meilleures micro-marques de montres</a>. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Serica qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une ressource essentielle pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)

The brand Serica was created in 2019 by J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget and 3 friends in Paris, France. The name Serica comes from a lost region at the end of the Far East that the Greeks and Romans named it like this. This place echoes the genesis of the brand, which aims to design quality mechanical watches in a neo-retro style, ready to follow you to the ends of the world.
The range includes watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. One of the particularities of this brand is that its name does not appear anywhere on the dial, in order to encourage the enthusiast to buy a design, finishes and proportions, and not just a name. In July 2023, Serica launched the Serica 5303 COSC, a chronometer version certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfing on the bases of the brand's first reference, the Serica 4512. This 6190 follows the stylistic codes of the brand, lyre lugs, a choice of different dials and the possibility of choosing the position of the crown at 3 o'clock or at &ldquo;Destro&rdquo; mode at 9 o&rsquo;clock. This Serica 6190 is powered with the Soprod M100 caliber COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Certification) certified, like the current productions of the other 5303 and 8315 models.&nbsp;
Since November 21, 2024, Serica has been offering a very daring new collection... A dress watch off the beaten track called &ldquo;Parade&rdquo; under the reference 1174. These 4 figures, like all other Serica references, offer a symbolism derived from the golden number or divine proportions whose ratio between length and width is 1.174... A novelty offered for pre-order at &euro; 1,490 for one delivery planned for March 2025...
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Serica watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Serica watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 990 and &euro; 1,890 depending on the models and finishes. The brand's GMT model, Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer costs &euro; 1,890 while the latest model launched by Serica, the reference&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">6190</a> is offered to &euro; 990.
Serica is independent and produces around 5,000 watches per year, all models combined. Serica is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Top 10 most popular French watch brands</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_micro_watch_brands">ranking the best micro watch brands</a>. To choose the Serica model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190 reviews</a> or <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315 reviews</a> are an #1 resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2025)

Mido Ocean Star 200C Owner Review : Efficient, convicing and inspired

She has everything a great one has

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Mido Ocean Star 200C Owner Review : Efficient, convicing and inspired

She has everything a great one has

Where to buy your Mido?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by outatime

Yonger & Bresson

AlpinaAlpiner Extreme

OrisBig Crown Pointer Date

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Customize your Mido with our selection of accessories:

Iconic Switzerland

ABP Concept

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Alpina
Alpiner Extreme

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Big Crown Pointer Date

Serica
6190
MSL Polar White