Swiss Simplicity by Mondaine

There’s no shortage of great watch porn out there.  But while I enjoy looking at pictures of vintage Pateks and limited edition masterpieces from Lange, it’s nice to know there are some well-designed affordable watches out there as well.  Automatic, complication-ridden wonder the Mondaine is not, but it’s one hell of a pretty little workhorse.

Men get very few opportunities to buy and wear jewelry.  Cufflinks, a ring, maybe bracelets or a necklace, and the trusty wristwatch are about it.  So we’ve got to make our choices count.  The wristwatch is a perfect mix of form and function, and a great watch is a beauty to behold.  Anyone who owns or has worn a truly magnificent “timepiece” knows what I’m talking about.

While I’ve had the chance to sport watches such as the IWC Portuguese and Cartier Tank due to the benevolence of more well-appointed friends, my everyday companion is the Mondaine Swiss Railway Watch.  It’s a humble friend, coming in under $200, which in the world of Swiss watches often gets you a plastic mess.

The Mondaine has a solid-feeling stainless steel case, soft black leather strap, and is water resistant.  Now I haven’t jumped in a pool with it, but doing the dishes certainly hasn’t hurt it my over four years of wearing it.  But for me the biggest aesthetic difference is the depth of the dial.  Most cheaper watches lack a certain depth, which makes them look, well, cheap.  The Mondaine has applied hour markers and the dial is set back nicely in the case.  Just like a great suit or great tie is a three-dimensional object, so should be the face of your watch.

And an added bonus, the thing comes with some history behind it.  In 1944 Hans Hilfiker designed the dial for the Swiss Railway, and the design is still used in both its original and modified forms in train stations all over Europe.  If you’ve traveled, you’ve seen it.  Mondaine has gone and tried to make some Bauhaus-minimalist chronographs to compliment the more basic offerings, but something just looks off to me.

So if you’ve got the cash for a “serious” watch, go for it.  Really, I can’t think of a reason why not to.  But if you’re on a tighter budget, check out the Mondaine and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.