• Website: midowatches.com
• Founded: 1918, Solothurn, Switzerland
• Founder: Georges Schaeren
• Owned By: Swatch Group
• Known For: Multifort, Ocean Star, Commander, Baroncelli, Architectural-Inspired Design
• Category Focus: Swiss Mechanical Watches, Dive Watches, Dress Watches, Everyday Luxury Watches
Mido is one of Switzerland's most respected watchmakers, renowned for its timeless architecture-inspired design, dependable Swiss engineering, and exceptional value. Founded in 1918 by Georges Schaeren in Solothurn, Switzerland, the brand has built its reputation on combining innovation, reliability, and elegant aesthetics that transcend short-lived trends. Today, Mido is recognized for producing mechanically sophisticated Swiss watches that appeal to both first-time buyers and experienced collectors.
Known for combining robust construction, modern automatic movements, architectural inspiration, and everyday versatility, Mido has created iconic collections including the Multifort, Ocean Star, Commander, Baroncelli, Multifort TV, Multifort 8, Ocean Star GMT, and Commander Gradient. The brand is especially admired for integrating advanced movement technology while maintaining accessible luxury pricing.
Today, Mido is part of the Swatch Group, manufacturing Swiss-made timepieces that continue reflecting its philosophy of creating watches designed to stand the test of time.
Multifort TV Big Date
Ocean Star
Commander
Baroncelli
Multifort 8
Ocean Star GMT
Commander Gradient
Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer
Mido was founded in 1918 by Georges Schaeren, whose vision was to create watches combining technical innovation with enduring design. The company's name comes from the Spanish phrase "Yo mido," meaning "I measure." Throughout the twentieth century, Mido became known for pioneering water resistance, automatic movements, and robust everyday watches built for longevity rather than fashion trends.
A major milestone arrived in 1934 with the launch of the Multifort, one of the first watches to combine automatic winding, shock resistance, anti-magnetism, and water resistance in a single timepiece. The Ocean Star, introduced in 1959, further strengthened the brand's reputation for durable sports watches through its innovative Aquadura cork-sealing system. Today, Mido continues balancing technical innovation with architecture-inspired design across its collections.
Key Milestones:
• 1918: Georges Schaeren founds Mido in Solothurn, Switzerland.
• 1934: Launch of the groundbreaking Multifort collection.
• 1959: Introduction of the Ocean Star dive watch collection.
• 1976: Launch of the Commander, which becomes one of Mido's longest-running collections.
• 1983: Mido joins the Swatch Group.
• 2026: Mido expands the Multifort TV, introduces new Ocean Star 200 and Ocean Star 39 models, and unveils additional Commander Datoday references.
Mido continues demonstrating that timeless Swiss watchmaking can combine reliability, technical performance, and outstanding value.
“Mido combines timeless Swiss design with dependable engineering, delivering exceptional mechanical watches that consistently outperform their price point.”
Mido matters because it consistently delivers Swiss mechanical watchmaking with exceptional value.
Its influence can be seen across:
• Swiss Mechanical Watches
• Dive Watches
• Everyday Luxury
• Architecture-Inspired Design
By combining more than a century of heritage, dependable engineering, and timeless aesthetics, Mido continues producing some of the strongest value propositions in Swiss watchmaking.
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