Photo by Minzoblate (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons · stand-in: Mido Commander II Chronometer M021.431, same Commander round case as catalog ref Commander Big Date M021.426
Commander
Mido’s monocoque-case dress-sport line, launched 1959 as the brand’s "everyday office watch", with a single-piece case the movement is fitted from the crystal side. The Commander Big Date and Commander Icône carry the modern reference design with the Caliber 80 movement.
References in this family
Which ref to buy
The Commander is Mido's heritage dress watch line, drawing from the 1959 Commander. The Big Date variant uses a large aperture date display at 12, a more complex calendar mechanism than a standard quick-set date.
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Commander Big Date -- heritage round dress watch, large date at 12, the Mido reference with the most character.
- The case for it:
- The big date display at 12 is a proper complication -- two apertures, two rotating discs -- that gives the Commander a distinctive dial identity. The round case with straight lugs is clean.
- Consider instead if:
- The Commander competes against the Tissot Gentleman and Le Locle in its own group, both of which have clearer identities. The big date is either appealing or not -- there is no half-measure.
Rankings last reviewed 2026-06-07. Editorial perspective only. Not financial advice.