Mido
Le Locle, Switzerland · Est. 1918
Founded by Georges Schaeren
Mido is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1918 by Georges Schaeren in Le Locle, Switzerland. Known for watches inspired by architectural masterpieces — such as the Baroncelli, Commander, and Multifort collections — Mido sits within the Swatch Group and produces accessible automatic watches with a design-led identity.
- Founded
- 1918
- Headquarters
- Le Locle, Switzerland
- Group
- Swatch Group
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Baroncelli — An elegant dress-watch collection from Mido with classical proportions and refined dial layouts, positioned as a polished, versatile expression of the brand’s Swiss-made design language.
- Multifort — Mido’s long-running sports-oriented collection, rooted in the brand’s robust early tool-watch heritage and now spanning contemporary mechanical models with versatile, performance-driven styling.
- Commander — A retro-leaning Mido collection that draws on the brand’s mid-century heritage, typically pairing a clean, vintage-inspired profile with modern Swiss watchmaking and practical daily wearability.
- Ocean Star — Mido’s dive-watch family, built around underwater-ready specifications and straightforward legibility, positioned as a durable sports collection for everyday use and maritime-inspired adventures.
Timeline
- 1918 — Georges Schaeren founds Mido in Le Locle, Switzerland. The name derives from the Spanish 'Yo mido' meaning 'I measure.'
- 1934 — Launch of the Multifort, one of the first automatic, water-resistant, anti-magnetic watches — a technical milestone for the era.
- 1959 — Introduction of the Ocean Star, establishing Mido's presence in professional dive watches.
- 1983 — Mido joins what would become the Swatch Group, securing its long-term production capabilities.
- 2018 — Mido celebrates its centenary with special editions across the Baroncelli and Multifort lines.
- 2025 — Launches the Ocean Star 600 Chronometer COSC-certified diver and refreshed Multifort TV Big Date models. Strengthens its mid-range Swatch Group position with strong presence in Asian markets.
- 2026 — Presents new Baroncelli Heritage slim-dress models and an Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 reissue at Watches & Wonders 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mido
- What does the name Mido mean?
- Mido comes from the Spanish 'Yo mido,' meaning 'I measure.' Founder Georges Schaeren chose it to reflect precision and universality.
- Where does Mido sit in the Swatch Group hierarchy?
- Mido occupies the upper range of the mid-tier segment, positioned above Tissot and Hamilton but below Longines, offering genuine Swiss automatic movements at accessible prices.