MIDO Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961

By Tyler Frederick

Sixties Revival

I may not be a diver, but I love a dive watch. They’re the best choice for an everyday watch: casual, sporty and meant to take a beating on adventures. The watch I have on my desk today is one I’ve been looking forward to for a while: the MIDO Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961. While I’m not qualified or experienced to know exactly how to read the dial, I fell for the previous version, the Ocean Star Decompression World Timer, due to its vintage design and bright-coloured dial, so let’s get into it.

Key Features of the MIDO Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961

The previous model, the Ocean Star Decompression World Timer, featured a stainless steel case and a GMT complication. This time, the Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 is a limited edition three-hand/w date featuring an all-black PVD case and matching black bezel insert. The PVD black case and matching mesh bracelet, paired with the vibrant colours in the center of the black dial (the same colours found on the Ocean Star Decompression World Timer in Blue), create a fantastic contrast of stealth, fun, and function–a gorgeous representation of vintage MIDO tool/dive watches from the past, especially since the design of the modern version is practically identical to the vintage.

The watch is comfortable and looks great on the wrist. It has well-thought-out proportions, with a case diameter of 40.5mm, a lug-to-lug of 46.9mm, and a thickness of 13.4mm. The watch is thicker but doesn’t affect the overall wearing experience and feels relatively compact on the wrist. Accompanying the watch is a 21mm lug width, which is an odd size for a strap, considering most brands stay with 18mm or 20mm, but it suits the watch and adds a bit more stability and structure on the wrist.

The dial is definitely the talking point of this blacked-out limited edition, and a lot is going on. Vintage styling, bright colours and plenty of small details encapsulated in a beautifully domed sapphire crystal. I’ll be frank: I have 0 clue how to read the dial of the Decompression Timer from a functional perspective, but I can tell the time, and that’s all that matters, right? The functionality and its purpose could be a completely different article (Brent if you’re reading this :).

While busy, the dial is still highly legible. While I’m not usually the biggest fan of a date complication, the matching black date wheel is a nice touch.

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel /w PVD 30.5mm Diameter 46.9mm Lug to Lug 13.4mm Thick 21mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Case Back 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Crystal Black Dial w/ Colourful Decompression Timer Tables Super-LumiNova
Movement	MIDO Calibre 80 COSC Certified 25-Jewels 21,600 bph 80-hour Power Reserve
Strap	Black PVD Mesh

MIDO Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961

Quibbles

I enjoyed wearing and experiencing the Decompression Timer, but there were times while wearing it that I felt a level of unease and anxiety, primarily due to the gloss black PVD coating on the case. I don’t have much experience with PVD, but I’m a big fan when it’s matte. The lustre and glossiness of the PVD on the Decompression Timer didn’t sit well with me, and I feel it made the watch look a bit tacky. In addition, the 21mm lug width is a bit strange, and strap options are limited for those who enjoy regularly changing out straps, considering that 21mm straps are more challenging to find.

Final Thoughts

The Decompression Timer 1961 accurately captures a vintage MIDO classic and a beautiful limited edition. While glossy and jam-packed, it’s a great watch on the wrist and offers a fantastic combo of stealth and a pop of colourful fun. I recommend checking one out when possible because they’re a treat to experience and wear. The Decompression Timer 1961 is limited to 1961 pieces and retails for $1,480 USD ($1,775 CAD). Thanks, as always, to our friends at Gem Bijou for letting me borrow the watch for this review.

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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