Sometimes you want something excessive and sporty; or perhaps something stunning and formal. Other times however you really want just something simple, elegant, and useful; but that doesnt look like a drugstore Timex (shudder). For those times there is the new Mido Jubilee. A nicely designed watch without a hint of pretention, that will never let you down.
Mido has a ton of history, and is now part of the Swatch Group. The brand is more popular in Asia, but can be found in the states as well. One of the brands most popular watches is the Mido Commander series, which has an incredibly 1950's look that is somewhere between classy and avant-garde.
Other than the somewhat confusing name "Jubilee," this watch is nicely done. The large open face is done in a cream color with an IWC-like font for the Arabic numerals. The thin bezel adds to the elegance and appearance of size, while the star of the dial is really the crisp dagger hands. The case itself is 42mm wide with 5 bars water resistance.
The date window is diagonally placed which adds an element of style. Another welcome element is the five link steel bracelet. Such bracelets are often quite smooth on the wrist and further add notice to the watch. On the caseback you'll see a window looking into the Chronometer certified ETA 2836-2 movement. This is not a typical movement that is used in chronometer class watches, and I am interested to know why Mido chose it. Regardless, the certification does imply a high level of accuracy for this watch.
The best part about the Mido Jubilee is the pricing. WIth an MSRP of about $1,200 (depending on whether you opt for the leather strap of steel bracelet), the street price is likely to be sub $1,000 for a nicely made, and competent watch. You'd be surprised the amount of people that are looking for simplicity and legibility in a watch, but not something ugly. The Mido Jubilee certainly fits this role.
See Mido watches on eBay here.
See Mido watches on Amazon here.
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