That’s the iconic motion that Mondaine Watches recreated with their Mondaine Cal. 58-02 movement to bring the Swiss Railways Watch to life. Yes – the watches are designated as “Swiss Made” (also Mondaine was founded in Switzerland in the 1950s). Mondaine Stop2Go Specs Case: While some elements of the dial are slightly evocative of architectural design, the Mondaine Stop2Go case is heavily leaning in that direction. Of course, the slimness also provides the obvious benefit of being lighter. Its 1.27 oz (~36g) weight is definitely a plus, and if you’re used to chunky divers or even field watches, you’ll notice a big difference here.

Solidifying further this “function first” type of design language is the crown. It basically looks almost like a device switch or possibly like some sort of analog dial. Turning the crown while it isn’t pulled out doesn’t do anything. But once the crown’s been activated, this flat switch-like design allows it to be very comfortable to operate. The Cal. 58-02 is unique in that it has two individual motors within it (as opposed to one, which is common among quartz movements). One motor controls the seconds hand and then other motor controls the hour and minute hand.a b c Köbi Gantenbein, ed. (2013). Die Bahnhofsuhr– Ein Mythos des Designs aus der Schweiz (in German). Zurich, Switzerland: Edition Hochparterre. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014 . Retrieved 19 October 2014. I’m also a big fan of the cherry-colored seconds hand and the way it pops against the monochromatic dial. Despite its relative brightness, it doesn’t get in the way of reading the time.

The crystal is a synthetic sapphire crystal, and the band is a plain genuine leather strap that matches the watch nicely. Mondaine Simply Elegant Watch Review What an awesome watch – I can’t really sum things up anymore succinctly than that. It’s as complex or simple as you want it to be. Whether you’re looking for something high-design or just a timepiece with a bit of novelty factor, the Mondaine Stop2Go has you covered. The really iconic feature was added in 1953. Although the addition of a second hand does not sound impressive, this one really changed the time – a minute became 58.5 seconds. The second hand makes this slightly faster rotation and then pauses for 1.5 seconds at the top of the minute. This allows the trains to leave the station promptly at the right minute. Hilfiker designed the second hand red with a circular end, evoking the look of the platform train despatcher’s baton. Adrian Sulc (11 November 2012). "Der Streit mit Apple schwemmt Millionen in die SBB-Kasse". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Zurich, Switzerland: TA Media AG . Retrieved 11 December 2014. The 36mm size really complements the design. Even though the watch wears a little larger due to the lugs, it’s still a great size that will benefit the slender-wristed.Also worth noting is that there have been instances of Mondaine Stop2Go owners citing accuracy issues over time with the movement. It’s possible that due to the unique programming of running 2 seconds fast per rotation, overtime accuracy may end up taking a hit since rotations won’t line up. However, accuracy is potentially one of those items to overlook if you’re really focused on the Stop2Go for its novelty and charm factor. Clean, and Instantly Recognizable Dial Hilfiker gave this explanation for his technical solution: “The second hand provides reassurance at the last minute and makes it easier to dispatch trains on time.”