Most automatic watches leave you guessing how much energy is left in the mainspring. The Mido Multifort Power Reserve M005.424.36.052.22 tells you outright, with a dedicated hand on the dial, and it does so in a stealthy all-black package that looks as purposeful as it is.

The Multifort name goes back to the 1930s, when Mido released one of the first watches to combine anti-magnetism, shock protection, water resistance and self-winding. This modern take wraps a 42mm steel case in black PVD, a hard-wearing vapor-deposited coating, and pairs it with a black dial carrying printed Arabic numerals for strong legibility. The Swiss ETA 2897 automatic caliber drives the time, a date window and the power reserve indicator.

At 10.5mm thick it is slimmer than its tool-watch looks suggest, and the black leather strap keeps the whole design cohesive and comfortable.

Multifort Power Reserve M005.424.36.052.22 Specs

• Case: 42mm stainless steel with black PVD coating, 10.5mm thick
• Dial: black with Arabic numerals
• Movement: Swiss automatic ETA 2897, 21 jewels
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve indicator
• Crystal: sapphire with anti-glare treatment
• Caseback: display window
• Water resistance: 100 m / 10 atm
• Strap: black leather

A useful complication in a dark, modern case: practical watchmaking with attitude.