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The Mondaine History: A Brand Inspired by The Swiss Railways Clock
The first Mondaine watch collection may have seen the light of the day in 1986, but its roots go back to 1944 when Swiss engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker created the “Official Swiss Railways Clock.” Mondaine has, since then, launched a slew of elegant and chic timepieces that display a clever integration of contemporary features while keeping true to the iconic design of the Railways Clock.
Since the launch of the maiden collection in 1986, Mondaine has ensured that each new watch line appeals to a broader audience. The first women’s watch collection came out in 1988, followed by the miniature clock desk accessory, an embodiment of precision, punctuality, and compact design. The subsequent years witnessed even more innovations with the Evo watch line, the self-powered illumination system, the Vintage Handwinder, the red second-hand featuring Stop2Go, the Helvetica 1 smartwatch, and the latest, eco-friendly Sustainable Collection.
Mondaine watches is a part of the Mondaine Group Ltd., founded by Erwin Bernheim in 1951. The eminent Swiss watch manufacturer is a notable player in the industry and is currently managed by Bernheim’s sons André and Ronnie Bernheim.
The Mondaine Timeline: Innovation Through The Years
Mondaine’s watchmaking legacy began in 1986 with the launch of the “Classic” watch collection. Its easy-to-read face and distinctive hands were inspired by the patented design of the Swiss Railways Clock. In 1989, the brand introduced miniature desk clocks, an authentic representation of the age-old Swiss watchmaking tradition. 2001 witnessed an elegant blend of design and functionality when Mondaine watches gave to the world the Evo watch line with a slightly domed and magnifying mineral crystal. Come 2005, the revolutionary Mondaine self-powered illumination system made the headlines with its exceptional ability to provide constant glow and steady readability for years.
Fast forward to 2012, Mondaine launched the Vintage watch, a timeless piece with the aesthetics of retro features and mechanical hand-wound movement. In the next two years, Mondaine introduced the Stop2Go watch featuring the ingenious design of the Swiss Railway Clock and the Helvetica No. 1 watch collection inspired by the Helvetica font while retaining the quintessential Swiss values and sophistication.
However, the impressive trend of Mondaine watchmaking did not stop at merely creating traditional designs. In 2015, Mondaine launched the Helvetica smartwatch, the first of its kind with a clever blend of traditional features and modern technological elements. The innovation continued into 2016 when Mondaine redefined Swiss-made wearable technology by integrating watches with the Mondaine PayChipTM technology - a convenient and efficient feature for contactless transactions. In 2017, Mondaine took its first step towards a sustainable mission with the launch of the eco-friendly Essence Collection - a representation of the harmonious blend of innovation and sustainability.
The latest in the line of innovations came in 2019 with the release of two special edition versions of the Classic to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Swiss Railway Clock. With a wide range of collections, Mondaine offers timepieces under Backlight, Classics, Essence, Evo, Simply Elegant, and Stop2Go collections.
Mondaine Watch Collections: The Brand’s Most Desirable Timepieces
The Classics
Every Mondaine watch is hand-crafted with utmost dedication and expertise to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality timepieces. The Classics collection with the Swiss Railway Clocks-inspired series of designs with a penchant for simplicity is definitely the brand icon. Then there’s the Evo collection, a rendition of the timeless Classics with a subtle touch of modernity. Incorporating contemporary innovation, the Backlight collection with the Mondaine BackLight Technology allows strong hand-visibility at night without compromising on design.
The Essence
Stylish and environment-conscious pieces crafted from sustainable materials are a speciality of the Essence collection. The Classics collection further inspires the Simply Elegant series showcasing the slimmest of all Mondaine timepieces. The Stop2Go collection flaunting the uniqueness of the railway clocks features the red second hand that “stands still” before the minute hand starts its next rotation. In addition, Mondaine has a classy range of Wall Clocks in metallic monochrome and minimalist design.
The innovative spirit of Mondaine has shaped the brand’s identity from the elegant and classic Railways Clock-inspired timepieces to the recent Mondaine PaychipTM technology and Sustainable Collection. Delivering the finest, hand-crafted watches with unwavering attention to detail, precision, and ecological impact, Mondaine stays true to its values.