In the world of vintage watches, there are brands that everyone knows, and then there are the brands that the collectors know. Mido, without question, falls into that second category. For decades, they were one of the most innovative and forward-thinking manufactures in Switzerland, and their legendary Multifort line is, in our opinion, one of the most important and robust watch families of the 20th century.
Launched way back in 1934, the Multifort was a trailblazer, one of the first watches to combine the four key attributes of a modern timepiece: an automatic movement, water resistance, anti-magnetism, and shock resistance. But Mido never stopped innovating. This particular “Grand Luxe” model dates to 1954, a pivotal year that saw the introduction of their revolutionary “Powerwind” system. Indicated by the subtle, stylized ‘P’ on the dial, this new automatic caliber was a masterpiece of engineering simplification, reducing the winding components from 16 to just 7. This created a movement that was more reliable, more robust, and easier to service—a massive leap forward.
This Multifort Grand Luxe is a time capsule from that landmark year, and it is an absolute knockout. The inky black gloss dial is in simply breathtaking, near-perfect condition. The warm, gilt printing of the “Mido Multifort Grand Luxe” script seems to float on the surface, perfectly complemented by the sharp, applied arrowhead hour markers and elegant dauphine handset. Housed in a handsome 14-karat gold-capped case with long, sweeping lugs, the “Grand Luxe” designation is well-earned; this watch is pure, uncut mid-century elegance. The screw-down caseback bears a crisp, period engraving, “A.M.S. 1954,” which not only provides a tantalizing hint of its original owner but also perfectly dates this historically significant piece.