Gold case, white Roman numeral dial, brown leather strap: the Mido Baroncelli M8600.2.26.8 (M86002268) is the archetypal gentleman's dress watch, the kind your grandfather might have worn to a wedding, rebuilt with modern Swiss engineering.

Baroncelli has been Mido's classic collection since 1976, and its softly rounded case takes inspiration from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. At 38mm and about 9.1mm thick, this model sits in the sweet spot for dress watches: present enough to notice, slim enough to glide under a shirt cuff. The glossy white dial uses Roman numerals and dauphine hands, and a date window adds daily usefulness. Its Swiss automatic movement is on view through a sapphire display back.

The PVD gold-tone coating gives the steel case a warm glow without the price of solid gold, and the brown leather strap with pin buckle keeps the look traditional. Wear it with tweed, navy or a dark suit and it always looks right.

Baroncelli 38mm gold PVD (M8600.2.26.8 / M86002268)

• Case: 38mm steel with gold-tone PVD, about 9.1mm thick
• Dial: white, Roman numerals, dauphine hands, date
• Movement: Swiss automatic, ETA-based
• Crystal: sapphire
• Caseback: sapphire display back
• Water resistance: 50 meters
• Strap: brown leather, pin buckle, 20mm lug width

An heirloom-style dress watch at an everyday price point, with a genuine mechanical heart.