Mido has given the Multifort TV Big Date one of its warmest and most assertive makeovers yet. Reference M049.526.33.041.00 combines a deep blue dial with a rose-gold-colour case and bracelet, turning the familiar television-shaped sports watch into something considerably dressier without sacrificing its everyday specifications. It is not a limited edition, but it is a distinctive new option for anyone who likes the proportions and large date of the modern Multifort TV and wants more visual impact than the steel and rubber versions.
A 1970s Shape, Reworked for 2026
The Multifort name reaches back to 1934, but the shape that matters here appeared in 1973, when Mido introduced its first watch with a television-style case. The company revived that idea for the modern Multifort TV Big Date in 2023. Its rounded-square outline, broad bezel and integrated-looking bracelet architecture immediately separate it from the endless supply of conventional round sports watches.
This version does not change the successful formula. Instead, Mido uses colour and finishing to shift its personality. The 316L stainless-steel case receives a rose-gold-colour PVD coating, as does the matching steel bracelet. It is important to be clear that this is coated steel rather than solid gold, which keeps the price and practicality within the usual Multifort territory. Brushed surfaces control the shine, while polished facets catch the light around the bezel, case flanks and bracelet.
Case and Bracelet Proportions
The case measures 39.2mm by 40mm and is 11.5mm thick. Those figures sound moderate, although a TV-shaped watch presents more dial and case area than a round watch of similar width, so it should have a reassuring amount of wrist presence. The complete watch weighs 155 grams, making this very much a substantial bracelet watch rather than a lightweight dress piece.
The bracelet is 22mm wide where it meets the case and closes with a butterfly clasp operated by two pushers. Its broad centre elements continue the horizontal geometry of the case and make the watch feel visually complete. This is also the detail that most clearly distinguishes the new model from the earlier rose-gold PVD version supplied on a rubber strap.
Midnight Blue and a Proper Big Date
The dial is the star of this reference. Its blue surface darkens toward the perimeter and carries fine horizontal brushing, a pattern that echoes the watch’s 1970s inspiration. Rose-gold-colour hands and applied hour markers link it to the case, while white luminous inserts preserve contrast. A black minute track frames the display and prevents the warm exterior from making the design feel overly formal.
At 12 o’clock sits the feature that gives the watch its name. Instead of squeezing two digits onto one small date disc, the mechanism uses separate rotating discs for the tens and units. Mido says the resulting numerals are almost three times larger than those in a conventional date window. The display is genuinely useful, easy to read and neatly balanced by the broad marker at six o’clock.
Caliber 80 and Everyday Specifications
Inside is Mido’s automatic Caliber 80, an ETA-built movement from the wider C07 family. Its main advantage is an 80-hour power reserve, enough for the watch to be taken off on Friday evening and still be running on Monday morning. It operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and uses a Nivachron balance spring, a titanium-based component designed to improve resistance to magnetism, temperature changes and shocks.
The movement is visible through the transparent caseback, including a decorated rotor with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo. This reference is not advertised as COSC certified, but the Caliber 80 is a practical modern automatic movement. It has a long power reserve, is based on a proven ETA design and should be easier to service than a rare in-house movement.
A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides covers the dial. The crown screws down and the case is water-resistant to 100 metres, specifications that make the watch suitable for normal daily use rather than restricting it to carefully managed occasions. That practical foundation is important because the rose-gold colour may look luxurious, but this remains a steel sports watch underneath.
Price and Availability
The Mido Multifort TV Big Date M049.526.33.041.00 is priced at approximately $1,590 in the United States, €1,450 in Europe and £1,180 in the United Kingdom. Availability currently varies by market: it can already be ordered in some European countries, while other regional stores are showing a notification or out-of-stock option. Unlike several colour-led launches in the watch industry, production is not limited to a numbered run.
Conclusion
I already own the Mido Commander II COSC Automatic Chronograph M016.415.11.261.00, a limited edition of only 999 pieces, and I have been genuinely impressed by its quality. The solidity of the case and bracelet, the finishing and the overall sense of refinement have given me considerable confidence in what Mido delivers for the money.
That experience makes this Multifort TV Big Date especially easy for me to recommend on paper. It offers a distinctive design, excellent practical specifications and an established long-power-reserve movement without losing the character that makes the collection recognisable. Rose-gold-colour PVD will not suit every wrist, but the midnight-blue dial keeps it controlled and versatile. For someone who wants a Swiss automatic sports watch that does not look like everything else in the display case, this is a compelling and very complete package.
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