The Mido Multi-Centerchrono is, in my opinion, one of the most unique chronographs ever produced. The combination of details that I’ll mention shortly adds up to create a beautiful and quintessentially mid-century-styled wristwatch.
Produced in the 1940s, the Mido Multi-Centerchrono was remarkable in several ways, most notably for its unique centralized layout. While traditional chronographs typically have a sub-dial to count the minutes, this Mido features a central minute totalizer. This means the fourth central hand on the dial actually tracks the minutes when the chronograph is active. This innovation was made possible by adapting the base Valjoux ZN movement—the predecessor to the Valjoux Cal. 23—into what Mido refers to as the Cal. 1300. Not only is the design and functionality unconventional, but it also visually mimics a split-seconds chronograph—how cool is that?
Additionally, the case of the Multi-Centerchrono, featuring sharply angled lugs and sunburst-engraved pushers, was crafted by Taubert & Fils, successors to François Borgel, the renowned case maker who famously produced cases for Patek Philippe. If these Midos look familiar, it is because the same pushers were also used on Patek Philippe’s first waterproof chronograph, the Ref. 1463. These pushers were also featured on the Movado M90 and M95 models. Furthermore, the case was designed to be anti-magnetic, incorporating an inner cage made up of the dial, a ring surrounding the movement, and a dust cap.
What all of this translates to is an incredibly beautiful, high-quality, and complicated watch at a very accessible price point.
