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Whereas most watches in the SBB range come in at 40mm or 41mm, the Simply Elegant has a decidedly more petite 36mm stainless steel case. However, its lug-to-lug measurement is about 41 mm, so it looks a little larger on the wrist. Another nice touch is the red crown with an etched M that reveals the chrome beneath. It’s not something you’ll see often, but it’s impressive that Mondaine went to the effort to make even the smallest details count. All of these factors make the Mondaine Simply Elegant one of the more unique watches in my collection, and it’s already gotten many hours of wear. Its timeless design and stylistic flexibility make it a good go-to option. Final Thoughts: It’s Worth the Price
The boldness and clarity of the original are just as prevalent here, and it’s easy to tell the time with nothing more than a passing glance. Initially, I thought its slender profile looked weird. After wearing it for a while, however, the weirdness dissipated. It does have a tendency to look fairly two-dimensional on the wrist, but this probably isn’t something you’ll notice unless you’re looking for it. The Swiss Railway dial as we know it today was developed by Hans Hilfiker (1901-1993) in 1944, as an attempt to meet the diverse needs of the modern railway station. Perhaps he was destined to create what would become the icon of the Swiss Railway, being born just months before the country’s railway system formally became a federal institution on January 1, 1902. I’ve found that the Simply Elegant pairs well with most of my wardrobe. While I wouldn’t categorize this as a dress watch, I do think it’s on the dressier side. If you usually dress smart casual (or even business casual), the Mondaine will fit right into your wardrobe.
It’s not too obstructive, but I have found myself noticing it on a handful of occasions. That said, Mondaine does offer railway watches with matte bezels. 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. 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 entire case features a matte finishing which adds to the overall “function first” aesthetic of the watch. The main portion of the case is created by the joining of the bezel and lower portion of the watch. The bezel has a slightly smaller diameter than the rest of the watch, but it’s also very tall in and of itself. This again evokes that firm but subtle design experience we’ve seen elsewhere on the watch.
It’s understated yet attractive, and it provides a nice balance of form and function that results in a solid value for the money. While some elements of the dial are slightly evocative of architectural design, the Mondaine Stop2Go case is heavily leaning in that direction.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. That’s the iconic motion that Mondaine Watches recreated with their Mondaine Cal. 58-02 movement to bring the Swiss Railways Watch to life. 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.
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