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Tony C.
··Ωf Jury memberI have more than a few vintage Mido, and am a fan of the brand for a variety of reasons, not least of which being perhaps the highest quality to value ratio of any brand.
In my view, the main reason that so many vintage Mido fly under the radar is that they tend to be relatively small. A high percentage of those produced in the '40s and '50s were ~30-32mm, but a small percentage were larger, including the one that I am offering.
I have always had a soft spot for simple, understated designs, and this example fits that description perfectly. At the same time, though, there are also fine details that underscore the quality of the watches produced by Mido during this period. The watch is in very good to excellent overall condition.
There is a connection between my avatar and my admiration of vintage Mido watches. They were cased in Taubert cases, also known as "FB" cases. FB stands for Francois Borgel, a top-class case maker which was sold to Taubert & Fils in 1924. The latter made some improvements to some of the designs, and the cases were of such quality that they were used by a number of notable companies, including Patek Philippe! For those interested, the full story can be read here, thanks to David Boettcher's superior research:
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/taubert.php
So these Taubert cases were literally among the very best made during the early/mid-20th century, when Swiss watchmaking was at its peak. The cork crown sealing system, embraced by Mido, was especially impressive.
The case on this example measures 33.5mm excluding the crown, and wears a touch larger, thanks to the narrow bezel. It is in excellent, unpolished condition. There are some very light scratches on the back, which seen under magnification, and a couple of tiny nicks, but overall the case is very well preserved. As you can see in the photos, Mido employed a very attractive contrasting polish design, with the mid-case being vertically polished. Note that the inside is marked "VACUUM", which was a later designation used by Mido on their "FB" cases. Another cool detail is that between the lower lugs, there are four digits engraved. They should match the last four digits found inside the case back, as they do on the subject watch, confirming that they they were originally produced together.
The dial is in excellent condition, and shows a classic eggshell (i.e. off-white) color. Under magnification one can see small signs of corrosion on the hands and indices, but both present very well to the naked eye.
The cal. 1200 C manual-wind movement is also very well preserved. It shows Mido's version of côtes de Genêve finishing, underscoring that this was a higher-end model. I do not know the last date of service, and would, as always, recommend one for regular wear, and/or maximum accuracy.
European buyers preferred, as I would be able to ship EMS insured at my asking price of €385. Those outside the EU are welcome to contact me to discuss shipping options. Bank transfer or Paypal. Feel free to ask any questions!
In my view, the main reason that so many vintage Mido fly under the radar is that they tend to be relatively small. A high percentage of those produced in the '40s and '50s were ~30-32mm, but a small percentage were larger, including the one that I am offering.
I have always had a soft spot for simple, understated designs, and this example fits that description perfectly. At the same time, though, there are also fine details that underscore the quality of the watches produced by Mido during this period. The watch is in very good to excellent overall condition.
There is a connection between my avatar and my admiration of vintage Mido watches. They were cased in Taubert cases, also known as "FB" cases. FB stands for Francois Borgel, a top-class case maker which was sold to Taubert & Fils in 1924. The latter made some improvements to some of the designs, and the cases were of such quality that they were used by a number of notable companies, including Patek Philippe! For those interested, the full story can be read here, thanks to David Boettcher's superior research:
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/taubert.php
So these Taubert cases were literally among the very best made during the early/mid-20th century, when Swiss watchmaking was at its peak. The cork crown sealing system, embraced by Mido, was especially impressive.
The case on this example measures 33.5mm excluding the crown, and wears a touch larger, thanks to the narrow bezel. It is in excellent, unpolished condition. There are some very light scratches on the back, which seen under magnification, and a couple of tiny nicks, but overall the case is very well preserved. As you can see in the photos, Mido employed a very attractive contrasting polish design, with the mid-case being vertically polished. Note that the inside is marked "VACUUM", which was a later designation used by Mido on their "FB" cases. Another cool detail is that between the lower lugs, there are four digits engraved. They should match the last four digits found inside the case back, as they do on the subject watch, confirming that they they were originally produced together.
The dial is in excellent condition, and shows a classic eggshell (i.e. off-white) color. Under magnification one can see small signs of corrosion on the hands and indices, but both present very well to the naked eye.
The cal. 1200 C manual-wind movement is also very well preserved. It shows Mido's version of côtes de Genêve finishing, underscoring that this was a higher-end model. I do not know the last date of service, and would, as always, recommend one for regular wear, and/or maximum accuracy.
European buyers preferred, as I would be able to ship EMS insured at my asking price of €385. Those outside the EU are welcome to contact me to discuss shipping options. Bank transfer or Paypal. Feel free to ask any questions!
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