Introduced in 1941, the Multi-Centerchrono is the flagship chronograph offered by Mido during the 1940s and 1950s – and what a chronograph it is! Its principle is as simple as it is brilliant: all four hands (hours, minutes, chronograph seconds, and chronograph minutes) are central. No sub-dials, no clutter. The result is a chronograph that, when at rest, resembles an elegant three-hand watch – as summarized by the advertising slogan of the time: "The only chronograph that actually looks like a handsome watch." When the chronograph is activated, the visual effect is striking: the two superimposed central hands evoke a rattrapante/split-seconds mechanism.
The manual winding Mido 1300 column wheel caliber is a modification of the famous Valjoux VZ – a prestigious ébauche that also served as the basis for Audemars Piguet's VZSS calibers, as well as certain observatory competition movements and complicated watches from Patek Philippe. Equipped with 17 jewels and offering a power reserve of approximately 48 hours, the 1300 centralizes the chronograph functions on a single axis.
The vast majority of Multi-Centerchronos produced were made in stainless steel, or with yellow or rose gold-plated cases. The example we are pleased to offer is of an entirely different nature: its case is made of solid 14-carat yellow gold (0.585), as evidenced by the hallmarks stamped inside the case back and between the crown and the pusher at 4 o'clock, all perfectly clear. In the world of Multi-Centerchrono collectors, solid gold examples are of absolute rarity – to our knowledge, only 4 examples have been identified by specialists over the decades, including at least 2 in 18-carat gold.
The water-resistant case with a decagonal screw-down back is thus the work of Taubert et Fils, successors to the legendary François Borgel. Connoisseurs will immediately recognize the oversized "sunray" pushers and the fluted crown: these are the same components as those of the Patek Philippe Ref. 1463, the first water-resistant chronograph from the Geneva house – the famous "Tasti Tondi" which today fetch considerable sums at auction. Inside the case, an anti-magnetic cage consisting of a ring surrounding the movement and a dust cover protects the caliber. The inside of the case back reveals all of the brand markings, the case number, the British patent number for this waterproof case, a 14-carat / 585‰ gold marking, the Swiss 14-carat gold hallmark (squirrel and G for the Geneva customs office), and the Geneva key No. 11 for the manufacturer Taubert Frères. In addition, the last 4 digits of the case number are further engraved between the lugs, at 6 o'clock – and remain extremely deep.
The example we are pleased to offer also features a silver/champagne dial bearing the "Mido / MULTI-CENTERCHRONO" signature as well as a double tachymetric (Base 1000) and telemetric scale in blue. The painted Arabic numerals and hands retain their original luminescent material (radium base), unrestored, having developed a warm patina testifying to the authenticity of the whole. The red hand of the chronograph minute totalizer harmoniously completes this composition. The dial shows a general patina and slight scratches – marks of time consistent with the age of the piece and its authenticity.
The mechanical hand-wound movement has undergone a complete overhaul. The chronograph starts, stops, and resets flawlessly.
Fresh to the market, acquired from a French family in which it had resided for many decades, this solid gold Multi-Centerchrono represents a remarkable discovery for discerning collectors – a variant that most enthusiasts of the model have simply never had the opportunity to see.
