Mondaine: history, models and value

Founded

1951

Founder(s)

Erwin Bernheim

Headquarters

Pfäffikon (Schwyz)

Owner / group

Independent, family-owned (Bernheim family)

Mondaine: origins and founding

Erwin Bernheim founded Mondaine in Solothurn in 1951, taking over the older firm Neuchatel Watch, which dated from 1928. For decades the company was mainly a watch producer and supplier rather than a household name. That changed in 1986, when Mondaine obtained the licence to use the clock face of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) on wristwatches.

Founders and family

Mondaine is still owned by the Bernheim family. Erwin Bernheim's sons, André and Ronnie Bernheim, are co-owners and sit on the board.

Mondaine history and milestones

• 1944: Engineer Hans Hilfiker designs the official SBB station clock. The red second hand, inspired by the signal used by railway dispatchers, follows in 1953.
• 1951: Erwin Bernheim founds Mondaine.
• 1986: The licence from SBB; the Classic railway wristwatch is launched.
• 2001: The watch dial changes to standard 60-second markings.
• 2009: A new factory opens in Biberist, canton of Solothurn.
• 2013: The stop2go, which copies the real station clock: the second hand pauses at 12 before the minute hand jumps.
• 2021: The essence collection, made with bio-based and recycled materials, wins a sustainability award from Marie Claire.

Famous Mondaine models

• Classic (Official Swiss Railways Watch): the white dial, black bars and red second hand; by far the most common Mondaine.
• evo2: a slimmer, more modern take on the railway design.
• stop2go: the model with the pausing second hand.
• essence, Simply Elegant and Doppio: other everyday lines.

Movements and technique

Most Mondaine watches use quartz movements. Watches are assembled in the company's own factory in Biberist. The brand puts much of its technical effort into the railway look and into sustainability: it says it runs carbon-neutral since 2020 and offers straps made from cork, cotton and recycled plastic.

Mondaine today

The Mondaine Group is based in the canton of Schwyz, with production in Biberist and almost 130 employees. The group also includes Luminox and M-WATCH. Mondaine sits in the entry price segment of Swiss watches, aimed at design and everyday wear rather than collecting.

Mondaine prices on the pre-owned market

Mondaine watches are produced in large numbers and are easy to buy new, so second-hand prices are low and usually well below retail. The Classic is the easiest to sell. Watches with the original box, papers and strap, a working battery and an unscratched crystal sell better. Special editions can attract some extra interest, but Mondaine watches are bought to wear rather than as collector pieces.

How to recognise a genuine Mondaine

The railway clock design is widely copied. A genuine Mondaine shows the Mondaine name on the dial, a model number on the caseback, and clean, precise printing of the bars. Cheap copies often have uneven markers, a lighter case and no Swiss Made marking. More tips: how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Mondaine worth?

Take a few photos and try our free watch value estimate. If a Mondaine is part of a larger estate or insurance claim, a written watch appraisal covers the whole collection.

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