Intro - Swiss Mondaine Manual

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Mondaine Official Swiss Railways Watch – the Swiss time icon
Mondaine Defined:
The simple design, the unmistakable easy-to-read face,
distinctive hands and the famous red seconds hand
have made Mondaine timepieces uniquely successful
the world over.
Ingenuity and simplicity are the combined elements
that distinguish and define a truly iconic design clas-
sic. The Mondaine Official Swiss Railways watches
embody these elements and proudly exemplify excel-
lent 20th century design.
In 1944, Hans Hilfiker, a Swiss Engineer and Designer
and employee of the Federal Swiss Railways, created
a clock, which has become known as the "Official Swiss Railways Clock". It is amazing just how long
this design has endured – a signature of design standards for 65 years. Now, this design holds a place
in the eternal hall of fame along side other well-known design icons such as the Coca-Cola bottle, the
Mercedes star, the Toblerone packaging, and the US dollar bill.
Easily recognizable as the clock seen on all Swiss railway platforms, responsible for the legendary punc-
tuality of the Swiss rail network, there are some 3000 of these clocks on station concourses and platforms
throughout Switzerland and even a selection in London's Design Museum where Sir Terence Conran
commissioned their installation as permanent, functional exhibits, yet today – 65 years after the clock's
creation.
In 1986, the Mondaine watch company, owned by the Bernheim family, was inspired by the blueprint
of the iconic-patented design of the Railways Clock, and turned it into a watch collection -- with offi-
cial license from the Federal Swiss Railways. These Mondaine Official Swiss Railways watches are the
famous clock in miniature, and carry the same Swiss reputation of excellent watchmaking, punctuality,
precision and uncomplicated, concise design.
Since the first collection launched in 1986, new lines have been introduced each year to ensure that the
Mondaine Official Swiss Railways Watch appeals to a wide consumer audience. The Mondaine Watch
collection enjoys special growth and popularity in Europe, the United States of America, and the Far
East. With a choice of movements from high automatics to a quartz chronograph with a Big Date and
slim quartz movement, the collection offers something for everyone but keeps true to the classic design
created over 65 years ago.
In fact, The Mondaine collection has become a highly respected design in its own right, offering strength
of character in each rendition. Today, it is widely considered to be one of the "10 Classic Swiss Watch
Designs."
www.mondaine.com
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