The Classic Collection dates to 1986 when MONDAINE launched their first collection that made the design of the Swiss Railways clock available as a wristwatch.
The Swiss Railways clock was originally developed in 1944 by Hans Hilfiker, an engineer for the Swiss Federal Railways. His design marked a significant shift away from the elaborate clock faces of the Art Nouveau era to a minimalist approach of a white background, hour and minute markers represented by simple black rectangles, geometric hands, and finally, a prominent red second hand with a red disc. This disc, inspired by the trowel of the dispatchers who handled trains at railway stations, allowed the clock to be read precisely to the second, even from a distance.
It was most likely the unrivalled simplicity and high legibility that turned the clock face of the Swiss Railways clock into an iconic design. MONDAINE’s Classic Collection first made this design available for all to wear as a wristwatch and has continued to follow the principle of keeping to clear, minimalist aesthetics. The Classic Collection has been extended and reinterpreted in many different colours and materials and remains to be one of the most popular MONDAINE Collections to date.