Red dials are rare on dive watches, which is exactly why the Mido Ocean Star Tribute Gradient in red stands out. It is a confident, warm alternative to the usual blue and black, and its smoky gradient keeps it from looking loud.

The dial starts as a rich red at the center and darkens toward the edge, almost as if it had been burnt, creating a vignette that frames the white block indexes and hash markers. A black unidirectional bezel with 60 clicks grounds the color, and the polished 40.5mm case with straight lugs carries the vintage spirit of Mido’s 1960s divers. The box-shaped sapphire crystal adds a retro dome. Under it all is the Caliber 80 automatic, based on the ETA C07.621, with up to 80 hours of autonomy and a day-date display. The case is water-resistant to 20 bar (200 meters).

A retro-looking black perforated rubber strap with a signed tang buckle makes it as comfortable at the pool as it is distinctive at dinner.

Ocean Star Tribute Gradient Red: M026.830.17.421.00 Specifications

• 40.5mm high-polish 316L steel case, 13.4mm thick
• Red gradient dial with Super-LumiNova indexes and hands
• Day and date display
• Black unidirectional diving bezel
• Swiss Caliber 80 automatic, ETA C07.621 base
• About 80 hours of power reserve
• Glass-box sapphire crystal
• Black perforated rubber strap, 21mm, signed buckle

For anyone who thinks a dive watch should have a little fire in it.