Mondaine Stop2Go
Last Seen: $650 (Check latest pricing and availability)

In 1944, the Swiss Railway company also known as SBB organized a contest between the employees in order to find the best design for the dial of their clocks at the train.

Inspired by the red paddle used to indicate to the train conductor and passengers that the train is about to depart, Hans Hilfiker (an engineer and employee) incorporate the paddle in the design of the watch as the second hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually he won the contest and this has become the unique design of Mondaine watches today.

In the original railway clock, two seconds is needed in order to synchronize the main clock which is commanding the rest of the almost 3000 clocks in all the train station.

 

So it takes 58 seconds for the second hand to complete a full cycle and as it reaches the top of the dial (12 o’clock position), it pauses and hold while the minute hand moves to the next minute. It is quite a horological feat for clock making and the best part about the Mondaine watches is they have managed to reproduce the same effect with their watches specifically on the Stop2Go model.

 

Stop2Go emulates how the original Railway clock works. The second hand makes a full rotation in only 58 seconds, pauses and let the minute hand moves. Hence the name, stop for two seconds and go!

Most interesting is the unique crown design. Rather than a standard cylindrical shape, this is more of a paddle or a switch. But, this is not just for the sake of being different, rather it has a specific function when setting the time or calibrating the seconds hand. When the crown is pulled out, you don’t turn it like you typically would, rather you tilt the switch in impulses, which jumps the minute hand back or forwards. If the seconds hand is not stopping at 12, which can happen if the battery runs out, etc. You push the switch in for 3 seconds, at which point the second hand travels to where it thinks 12 is. You can then adjust it by tilting the switch, small impulses move the hand less than a second, while longer holds will have it glide around. It’s actually a very cool and effective mechanism when you are using it.

This Mondaine Stop2Go collection is a unique and interesting time piece and a must have for all watch enthusiast!

Model number	A512.30358.16SBB
Function	stop2go
Movement (manufacture. Ref.)	MONDAINE stop2go cal. 58-02
Movement (type)	Quartz
Case size/diameter (mm)	41.00
Case material	Stainless Steel brushed
Case back	Caseback with Screws
Crown	Regular Gasket
Crystal/Glass material	Sapphire anti-reflective coated
Water resistance (m/ft/atm)	30 / 100 / 3
Strap/Bracelet material	Genuine Leather
Strap/Bracelet finishing	Brushed
Strap width at lug (mm)	20.00
Origin	Swiss Made