Inspired by a model from the 1930s, the Mido Multifort was one of Mido’s oldest foundational collections. With its over 80 year history, its re-introduction as the Multifort Escape continues the historical legacy of its founder George G. Schaeren. Derived from the Spanish phrase Yo Mido, translated: I measure, the new Mido Multifort Escape goes beyond its raison d’etre of time measurement but also serves as a cultural reminder on architectural accomplishments as a measure of civil accomplishments.
How so? Two years before the Multifort was first launched, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a feat of man’s engineering prowess of the era came to embody the stage in production techniques that made our largely agrarian lifestyles before our industrial revolution seem completely antiquated.
At the time, the Mido Multifort was designed to embody the essence of that highly technical, highly advanced mechanised future – the first to use a self-winding automatic movement, a mere three years after another Bienne manufacturer would invent a perpetual self-winding movement, the heritage Multifort was also shock resistant, anti magnetic and water resistant; a rarity for the period. Mido took great efforts to convey its arrival as a wristwatch born of the modern 20th century, Mido equipped the Multifort with a new fangled alloy unbreakable mainspring, a rarity at the time.
Today, the newly relaunched Mido Multifort Escape plays on that mechanical ideal, a foot in history, riding on the shared heritage of that mechanically assisted “brave new world” while keeping its eyes forward with a solidly constructed, graphically clear, 44mm timepiece with large Super-LumiNova filled Arabic numerals and hands.
The stainless steel, sandblasted, PVD gunmetal coating is simultaneously both emblematic of the contemporary material techniques while vintage in visual appearance. The dials of the Mido Multifort Escape itself play with another heritage decorative process – Geneva striping, but executed in a way that makes viewing the face of the Multifort Escape an interesting experience – looking straight on, the new Multifort Escape appears to be equipped with a solid dial, void of decoration. Yet, cast the watch slightly askew on wrist and ambient lighting plays upon the Geneva stripes, elevating what otherwise might be a strong, competent, pilot’s inspired too watch into something dressier. On some models, the vintage-look is further enhanced with the faux luminous patina and skeletonised sword hands.
Within the weathered-look case of the Multifort Escape beats the heart of the Calibre 80, an Elabore grade modified ETA 2824 adjusted to three positions and equipped with Nivaflex mainspring, Elinchron balance spring and almost 4 days of power reserve, a nod to the days of highly robust vintage ancestor. When paired with Horween leather, the Mido Multifort Escape becomes a value proposition that few mechanical watches can equal.
The brown Essex strap is aged and weathered much like the gunmetal case of the new Multifort Escape through a Horween shell cordovan tanning technique which will guarantee it ages naturally and beautifully over time while the second strap of black textured football leather, plays up its tool watch patrimony, making the new Mido Multifort Escape one of the most compelling entry-level propositions to date.
New Mido Multifort Escape Price and Specs
Case 44mm stainless steel case with PVD treatment with 100m water resistance
Movement Automatic Caliber 80 (ETA C07.611 base) with 80 hour power reserve
Strap Essex strap made using Horween shell cordovan tanning technique
Price 950 Euros