Fashionable watches
Mondaine has made a name for itself as a watch brand with watches inspired by the clocks in train stations. In 1986, Mondaine introduced the first timepieces inspired by Swiss station clocks. This has brought the brand to iconic heights. The watches are still appreciated by enthusiasts to this day. Before you view our extensive collection of Mondaine watches, we would like to tell you more about the history of this beautiful brand.
History of Mondaine watches
The company's origins date back to 1951, when former tailor Erwin Bernheim founded the company in Switzerland. At that time, Mondaine became very popular for the wristwatches it produced. Not only did they produce high quality watches, but these timepieces were also quite easy and cheap to repair.
With Mondaine's success in the watch industry, Bernheim took the company's creations to the next level. Bernheim wasn't just someone who financed a company. He was a creative genius himself who came up with some of the company's most innovative models. One of Mondaine's most popular timepieces ever is an LCD watch. Bernheim designed and invented Mondaine's first LCD watch. At the time, this was one of the first few timepieces in the industry to feature a digital layout. He created this timepiece in collaboration with American business magnate and engineer Howard Hughes.
This LCD timepiece ultimately became another milestone for the brand. Mondaine was met with much fanfare upon the release of this watch, but they shelved it fifteen years later so the company could focus on other innovations. Although Mondaine first made a name for itself with this LCD watch, subsequent designs really left their mark on the company.
Swiss Railway Watches
Today, Mondaine watches are synonymous with Swiss railway clocks. To understand this we have to go back to 1944, when Swiss engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker designed a clock for the Swiss railways. At that time, Hilfiker was also an employee of the Swiss Federal Railways. He designed the official Swiss railway clock. This timepiece used a synchronized beat for departure and arrival in the main station of the Swiss railways.
The official Swiss railway clock has an electric motor that controls the rotation of the clock. Instead of the full sixty seconds, this clock completes one minute of revolution in just 58.5 seconds. The clock also has a distinctive red hand with a ball tip that pauses for a second and a half and then jumps forward to catch up with the minute hand. This mechanism synchronizes all official Swiss railway clocks with a master clock in a signal box.
Erwin Bernheim's sons, Andre and Ronnie, took this Swiss railway clock as inspiration and applied it to the Mondaine watches. The Swiss watch industry is saturated with brands that all want to distinguish themselves. With this in mind, the brand took the official design of the Swiss railway clock and used it to take Mondaine's watches to the next level. This became the very first collection of wristwatches inspired by railway clocks.
So in 1986, Mondaine launched its first watch collection, carefully licensed by the Swiss Federal Railways.
As part of the iconic design, all Mondaine watches have the red pointer with ball tip. This design was borrowed from the train conductors at Swiss Railways stations who held up red signs indicating whether a train was leaving or arriving at a station. We will delve deeper into Mondaine watches and their designs in a moment.
Fashionable watch collections
Fashionable watches are perfect for everyday use. The watch has all the functions needed for a working or weekend day. You can even take them to more formal events or, better yet, to a weekend getaway. Even with this versatility, Mondaine watches embrace the idea of utilitarian design. These watches are a feast for the eyes and, as far as possible, simple and uncomplicated.
The Mondaine collection is divided into different collections.
Mundane Classic Collection
The Classic Collection from Mondaine is a true work of art. The design is what really put Mondaine on the map as a top watch manufacturer. The timepieces in this collection all carry the classic official Swiss Railways look we all know and love, in sizes ranging from 30mm to 40mm. The straps used for this watch also vary widely from a simple black leather strap to other colorful variants that were later made available for people to choose from.
Essence collection
Mondaine attaches great importance to sustainability. In 2020, the company even declared itself 100 percent carbon neutral. Some of the efforts that have led to this include switching production to solar energy. Moreover, the company also launched the Essence collection to support green initiatives. The Essence collection consists of unique and environmentally friendly watches from Mondaine, which take sustainability to a higher level.
In this collection, natural materials are used in the watch cases. The cases of the Essence watches consist of seventy percent natural materials such as castor oil and glass powder. Moreover, the straps of these watches are made of castor oil. If you want, you can also buy these watches with straps made from recycled PET bottles with a cork lining. To go one step further, the packaging of the Essence watches is also made from recycled PET bottles.
Simply Elegant collection
This collection is exactly what it sounds like. The Simply Elegant line offers understated elegance in real life. Inspired by the brand's Classic collection, it bears the iconic Mondaine design with the red second hand with ball tip. The watch cases in the Elegant collection are the thinnest of all the Mondaine collections and all watches are supplied with scratch-free sapphire glass.
Stop2Go collection
The original movement used by Mondaine watches stopped production sometime in 2001. However, in 2013, Mondaine relaunched the timepiece with a new design under the Stop2Go collection.
Fashionable watches in the Stop2Go collection still have the famous red seconds hand with ball tip. According to the brand, the Stop2Go watches embody the philosophy behind the stuttering red seconds hand, which can be found in many Mondaine watches.
As mentioned, this red second hand in Mondaine watches completes a rotation every 58 seconds and then waits at twelve o'clock for the minute hand to catch up. Only then does the red hand begin a new revolution. These two seconds prove to be a fascinating unique feature for Mondaine watches.
Introduction to the Mondaine company
Mondaine's head office is located in Switzerland. This is where the company is currently based and where its facilities are located. It should be clear to you now that Mondaine is not a luxury watch brand like Rolex and Omega. It is an everyday watch brand, but the pricing remains true to the Swiss character. Watches vary between 190 and 750 euros.
Mondaine watches are high-quality timepieces. They have superior accuracy and readability necessary for worry-free everyday use. Due to its timeless design, a Mondaine watch is not sensitive to trends.
People looking for a nice Swiss watch should take a look at Mondaine. It is not as expensive as brands like Omega or Rolex, but it offers reliable watches that will last just as long. If you are looking for a beautiful Swiss watch for your collection, Mondaine is certainly an option.
Fashionable watches at the Jeweler of Zeeland
Are you looking for a specific Mondaine model and don't see it in our webshop? No problem, because Van der Kooij Edelsmeden is an official dealer of Mondaine watches and can supply almost all models to you without any problems. Please contact us for this. We can then order the model for you free of charge, so that you can try it on in our jewelry store in Vlissingen.
Warranty and service with a Mondaine watch
When you decide to buy a Mondaine watch from Van der Kooij Edelsmeden, you are automatically assured of lifelong service and expert advice.
Mondaine's two-year manufacturer's warranty entitles you to free repairs of any problems with the movement, case or metal strap. We take care of the handling with Mondaine, so you don't have to worry about anything.