Our Watch of the Week is the Mondaine A990.CLOCK.17SBG. The classic
station clock appears in a new, modern look. In this article, learn more about the history of station clocks, Mondaine Swiss Watches, and of course our Watch of the Week.
The Swiss Station Clock
A station clock is a clock on railway property that sets the official time for train operations for passengers and railway staff. The Swiss station clock was designed in 1944 by Swiss engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). It is characterized by a very clear, pared-down design with black scale markings on a white background and black, bar-shaped hour and minute hands. There are no numerals. This layout, which is easy to read even from a greater distance, became the international model for
station clocks. Hilfiker later added a red seconds hand in collaboration with the manufacturer Mobatime, in the form of a thin rod with a round end disc, reminiscent of the stationmaster's command baton.
Technically, it is a minute impulse clock with an additional sweeping second hand. The second hand “brings calm to the last minute and makes punctual train dispatch easier.” It runs slightly too fast, so it pauses for about 1.5 seconds at the top of each minute to wait for the minute signal. Its minute-long stop is still replicated today as a distinctive feature of the Swiss station clock, even though the original technical limitations that led to this solution no longer apply today. The addition of the red seconds hand — sometimes also with a minute stop — was adopted by other railway companies.
Our Mondaine A990.CLOCK.17SBG
The Watch of the Week Mondaine A990.CLOCK.17SBG has a gold-colored matte aluminum case and a white dial. It features gold-colored hour markers and hands. The classic station clock design is given a fresh twist by the gold-colored details. However, the signature red seconds hand has also been retained in this modern wall clock. The movement is a quartz movement, and the clock is protected by mineral glass.
