MIDO BUGATTI
An exceptional auction
The Mido watch personally owned by Ettore Bugatti has been sold by the Stanislas Machoïr auction house for 272'800 euros. Classic cars and classic watches featured in the catalogue for the sale held on April 17th, 2021 in Toulouse, France.
This unique Mido Bugatti watch illustrates the richness of the watchmaking expertise Mido has offered for the last century. Once again, the brand has made its mark at auction, with one of the most iconic and exclusive pieces from its watchmaking heritage.
A patented radiator grille shape
From 1926 to 1932, Ettore Bugatti ordered four exclusive series of manual winding "Radiator grille watches" from Mido in gold and in silver. The case echoed the shape of a Bugatti radiator – a completely new source of inspiration, then patented by Mido. The founder of the eponymous vehicle manufacturer gave them to friends and family, and to the most deserving drivers and mechanics. This special order of less than hundred pieces included a gold watch owned by Ettore Bugatti himself.
Illustrating this rich expertise, Mido watches from this period are highly sought-after by collectors, from the Mido Bugatti – often fetching five-figure sums at auction – to the iconic Ocean Star Decompression Timer from the 1960s.
Discover a selection of these exceptional watches here
Vintage inspiration, cutting-edge technology
Today, Mido continues to reinvigorate and redevelop its vintage flagship models, enhancing them with the latest materials and technologies. The brand has just released several new pieces with irresistible vintage charm, such as the refined Multifort Patrimony Chronograph, a reinterpretation of one of the brand's oldest and most iconic chronograph models: the Multifort Multichrono from 1937.
Discover the Multifort Patrimony Chronograph
Also surfing the vintage wave is the Ocean Star Tribute, which takes its inspiration from the aesthetic of divers' watches from the sixties, and pays tribute to the world of the sea, as well as Mido's expertise in water resistance, first demonstrated in the 1930s.
Discover the Ocean Star Tribute
THANKS TO THE EXPERTS:
Jean Christophe Guyon, Expert CEA independent in collector’s watches
Alexandre Léger, Expert CEA independent in Jewelry and collector’s watches
PHOTO CREDIT:
Mido Bugatti – EB model : ©vws.fr - Vintage Watch Story / Cité de l’Automobile - Collection Schlumpf
Other models : ©midowatches.com