Matte, moody and slightly mysterious, the gray gradient Mido Ocean Star Tribute is the Tribute for people who find blue too cheerful and black too plain. Its dial fades from mid-gray to almost black at the edge, giving a smoky depth that shifts with the light.

Bold white indices, elongated minute markings and truncated fencepost hands sit on the completely matte surface, and the lollipop seconds hand adds a touch of color. The case is classic Tribute: 40.5mm of polished steel with small chamfers, short squared-off lugs and sharp crown guards around the screw-down crown. The steel bezel ratchets firmly, its aluminum insert marked with a luminous pip at 12, and the domed box sapphire crystal adds a vintage glint. Inside, Mido’s Caliber 80, based on the ETA C07.621, provides an 80-hour reserve and day-date display. The screw-down back shows a polished starfish on a bead-blasted ground.

A black rubber strap with large pin holes gives it a tropic-strap feel that suits the 1960s design, and it is ready for the water.

Ocean Star Tribute Gradient Gray (M026.830.17.081.00)

• Polished steel case, 40.5mm across, about 46.8mm lug to lug
• Matte gray-to-black gradient dial, day and date
• Unidirectional bezel with black aluminum insert
• Caliber 80 automatic, 21,600 vph, ETA C07.621 base
• 80-hour power reserve
• Domed box sapphire crystal
• 200m water resistance
• Black rubber strap, 21mm lugs, pin buckle

Smoky, vintage and versatile: gray turns out to be the most interesting color in the Tribute range.