What is the official Swiss Railway clock?

 

What is the official Swiss Railway clock? In 1944 the Swiss Federal Railway made the decision to standardise and modernise the railway platform clock. Prior to then, every station had its own clock, often in its unique, local style. To add to that, only a few of those electric clocks were synchronised to central time. The first official clock was designed by engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1945. Hilfiker’s last and final version dates from 1955. Since then the official railway clock remains unchanged.

No numbers? Hilfiker was Swiss German and designed the clock dial in an industrial Bauhaus style. The core principle: minimalist but highly legible. Seventy years later, the clock dial design still remains as fresh as ever. Actually, the clock dial is now regarded as one of the 20 most iconic watch faces of all time, on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Arts in New York.  What is the deal with red 'dot' seconds hand? The seconds hand symbolises the red train master’s paddle. It is synonymous with punctuality and accuracy. A clock like no other? Indeed. The official railway clock features a unique function know as the 'stop to go'. That famous red seconds hand completes a full rotation in 58 seconds, and then pauses at the 12 o’clock mark for two seconds while the black minute hand jumps forward - starting its next rotation. Back in the 1950s the two second ‘pause’ was required to re-synchronise the network of over 3000 clocks run all over Switzerland. Today it is an iconic feature associated with what we call ‘Swissness’. SBBCFFFFSWTF? The letters on the dial are acronyms for 'Swiss Federal Railways' in German, French, and Italian: SBB CFF FFS 'Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, Ferrovie Federali Svizzere' Who is Mondaine? In 1986, the Mondaine watch company, owned by the Bernheim family, obtained the license from the Federal Swiss Railway to make timepieces featuring the Official Swiss Railway clock design. Mondaine makes wrist and pocket watches, as well as clocks. Who wears Mondaine timepieces? Watch enthusiasts who are fussed about minimalistic design, architects and graphic designers, those who have an ‘artistic flair’, or those who are simply concerned with the environment. But above all: people who value punctuality. The challenge The main challenge for Mondaine is to remain relevant while remaining ‘true’ to probably the most stringent design requirement: the watch dial. The fundamental premise is that dial design must remain unchanged to the last iota of shape, font, and style. This is an extremely difficult task for any watch brand. Mondaine keeps pushing the borders with technical innovations, variation of mechanisms, strap colours and environmentally friendly materials incorporated in the never-changing watch style. Actually, the very fact that the next Mondaine watch will look like the one from 1986 is the reason for the loyal support of hardcore brand followers. Mondaine is a club. The Mondaine project is timeless, and it’s here to stay.

We are pleased to offer you a range of the official 'Swiss Federal Railway’ Mondaine timepieces Buying a watch from a watchmaker makes a lots of sense. In all fairness - why would you shop anywhere else? Like any other watch, Mondaine watches are repairable as long as the spare parts are made available to the watchmaker, and as you are fully aware, we are passionate about watchmaking. Meaning: we will be on Mondaine’s back on your behalf, for as long as possible. In addition, we offer 5 years battery replacement free of charge on all Mondaine watches. A battery replacement is easy and could be done on the spot, while you wait. Does Mondaine make mechanical automatic watches too? Yes. We have the 41.5mm steel auto in stock. See below.  What is the “Original Mondaine”? The original is the purest white dial design watch which comes in 3 sizes: 30, 36, and 40mm and bears no other markings on the dial except ‘swiss made’. Battery operated.

A sophisticated present - to yourself I cannot think of a more sophisticated present than the official Swiss Federal Railway designed clock. Silver, black, or red, varying in size, built to last, and priced correctly. My personal pick: the largest of them all - the 40cm monster in brushed aluminium. An absolutely stunning clock; the kind of clock which would fit perfectly well in a harbourside mansion, busy city office, or a summer house cottage somewhere in the Snowy mountains. The smaller 25cm clock is just adorable. I am looking for a specific Mondaine timepiece…? If it is available in the current catalogue, then we can get it for you. Price match? You bet.

Long Now: monthly dose of 'staying focused'

Signing up for a Long Now membership was worth every cent. The monthly newsletter is priceless: it keeps us focused on 'thinking long' about our own project. Setting up a watchmaking facility in a country with no horological manufacturing history is as planning long term as it gets and we are not talking years or decades- but generations. This month the focus is on counterbalancing forces which actively work against long term thinking: immediacy, ephemerality, and myopia. Immediacy is 'the quality of bringing one into direct and instant involvement with something, giving rise to a sense of urgency or excitement'. Of course is nothing wrong with excitement about a project, but the urge to act urgently and make a quick decision could be fatal. Ephemerality is 'the property of lasting for a very short time; an impermanence that suggests the inevitability of ending or dying'. Indeed, human life is short;  'Man, born of a woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble' proclaimed the prophet. But when Hans Wilsdorf started Rolex with borrowed money in his tiny office, he wasn't worried much about mortality. Neither did the builders of the pyramids or those who built the Harbour bridge. Myopia is a vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. While we are yet to lay down the first brick in Mittagong, I can clearly see the finished building, every room, every window, bench, tools and watchmakers and machinists working together making Australian watches. Strangely to some, this future reality is as real today as it will be in years to come.