Celebrate life with colorful skulls: Mido Commander Gradient Catrines Special Edition
Model: Día de Muertos Special Edition M021.407.11.411.04
The Commander series is an integral part of Mido's more than century-long history. The watches in this model family have been manufactured continuously since 1959, and the series has been able to constantly reinvent itself without straying from its original character.
The Commander Gradient is one of Mido's most spectacular innovations in recent years: the watch's partially transparent dial, with its darkening gradient from the center outwards, sets the tone for the watch's style. The dial offers a glimpse into the workings of the Caliber 80 automatic movement inside the case without compromising the watch's readability or functionality.
This exciting concept forms the basis for the Catrines special edition, which presents something completely new in its use of color tones, phosphorescent coatings, and surprising message. Unlike European customs, the Mexican Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) differs from European customs in that it draws on the beliefs of the pre-Columbian indigenous population and focuses on joyful, communal celebration. In the first days of November, locals seek contact with the spirits of their deceased loved ones and ancestors, who visit them at this time.
The holiday is characterized by gathering family photos, favorite foods, drinks, and flowers, with the aim of joyfully welcoming beloved souls. The holiday is identified with many symbols, one of the most prominent and also the inspiration for the watch being La Catrin and La Catrina, , an elegantly dressed pair of skeletons. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos is a colorful, festive, joyful event where death is seen as part of the cycle of life and remembrance plays a vital role.
The surface of the 40 mm stainless steel case is varied: alternating polished and satin-finished edges create a play of light. The dial, with its wide range of colors, is protected by a domed, faceted sapphire crystal. The back is also made of sapphire crystal, providing a glimpse into the workings of the watch. We can see the balance wheel, decorated with the Côtes de Genève surface decoration technique, as well as the gold-colored oscillating weight and the Nivachron hairspring hidden beneath it.
The diamond-cut hands are highlighted with black lacquer, but the watch's unique feature lies in the center of the dial. Various colors of Día de los Muertos motifs appear: the aforementioned skull, as well as floral designs referencing the holiday. The motifs are resplendent in light blue, purple, turquoise, orange, dark blue, lime green, white, and fuchsia, a kind of reddish-purple hue.
Among the flowers symbolizing the holiday, the date window at 3 o'clock and the corresponding date disc visible through the transparent dial fit well with the aesthetics of the Commander Gradient collection. The watch also has a trick up its sleeve that fits in with the cheerful festival atmosphere, namely that the Catrinas skull is coated with Super-LumiNova phosphorescent paint, which is one of the most daring interpretations of night lighting in traditional watchmaking, which clearly serves functional purposes. When the lights are off, the dial shows a completely different face...
The Caliber 80 automatic movement has a power reserve of up to 80 hours, providing ideal autonomy for everyday life and requiring no immediate intervention even after a weekend of relaxation. The Nivachron hairspring provides high resistance to everyday magnetic fields, temperature fluctuations, and shocks. The 50-meter water resistance and quick-change straps are features that Commander owners have come to love over the decades.
The watch comes with three types of straps: a stainless steel strap for durability, a black leather strap with blue stitching for uniqueness, or an orange rubber strap for a sporty look. All this comes in a unique gift box reminiscent of the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration.
We recommend this watch to those who want to wear the heritage of the Commander collection in an unconventional way, who appreciate the comfort of a long power reserve and the everyday stability provided by a high-quality mechanism. The Catrinas is also the perfect choice for those who appreciate the joyful outlook on life of Latin cultures and want to bring a little excitement to their everyday lives.
