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Mondaine Men’s Night Vision Tritium Sport Watch Review

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:04:31 +0000

Maybe one of the most interesting Mondaine watches I have worn lately - this "Night Vision" version of their famous Swiss Railways watch comes with tritium gas tubes as well as a big date indicator. Still, it retains that classic look one seeks when wearing a watch like this.

You really need to travel in Switzerland a bit (at least by train) to fully understand that this indeed is the look of the clocks in the train stations around Switzerland. The national railway logo in red and white accompanied by SBB CFF FFS is right there on the dial as well. I still have no idea what those nine letters stand for by the way. They seem a bit excessive if you ask me. Oh well, that is Swiss tradition for you.

I would never consider a standard Mondaine watch a sport watch. It is much more a simple casual watch in my opinion. Though Mondaine brands this one as a sport piece. It's full name is the Mondaine Men's Night Vision Tritium Sport (ref. A669.30308.14SBB). Is the sport name because of the tritium gas tubes? Sort of, but I don't think that should automatically make it, or any other watch that you can see in the dark more easily a sport watch. Tritium gas tubes are small tubes filled with a mild (and safe) radioactive compound that glows naturally for about 20-25 years. These tubes are placed in the watch hour and minute hands, as well as near each hour marker. This allows for rather easy viewing of the time in the dark.

Aside from the tubes in the hands, you really can't see the other tubes unless you are in the dark. They are integrated into the flange ring and seen through the 12 little angular holes. The standard applied hour markers in white are what are more visible in normal light. What I believe Mondaine was going for here was to retain the core look of the watch but also add the functionality of the gas tubes.

The watch comes in both black and white dial versions. The white dialed version has black hands and hour indicators. Both are highly legible. On the dial is also the big-date indicator which is part of the Swiss quartz movement (from Ronda I believe). The dial is covered with a domed mineral crystal - which is acceptable for the price. The crystal is very clear with almost no dial distortion.

On the wrist this model is 41mm wide in a brushed steel case. I love the inset red lacquer in the crown where the "M" logo is. That is a nice stylized touch. The watch case is water resistant to 30 meters. A bit low for a watch with "sport" in the name. Adding a screw down crown could easily have increase that to 50-100 meters I believe. The watch actually wears smaller than 41mm because the widest part of the case is in the middle. You'll notice that the bezel rounds in a bit, helping to create the illusion that the watch wears smaller than it is.

Attached to the case is a nice rugged feeling leather strap in black with white contrast stitching. There is a Mondaine signed buckle on it. Wearing comfort for the watch is what you'd come to expect from this watch size and shape. It will become increasingly comfortable as the strap rounds to your particular wrist. For a convenient and slightly avant garde conservative watch with some added functionality, the Mondaine Big Date NIght Vision Swiss Railways watch is an easy choice. Price is $325.

Thanks to Mondaine for the review unit. Opinions are 100% independent.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Mondaine Railway Giant Watch Review

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:03:19 +0000

This is a new way of enjoying something old. Since the 1980's the classic Mondaine Official Swiss Railways watch design has been a staple of affordable good design. That it was easy to read, was merely a significant plus. The look has been adapted in a million ways, with each still feeling relatively fresh. Here is the Mondaine Railway Giant watch - a contemporary interpretation on a minimalist look, that is surprisingly more minimalist. To be honest, I don't quite get the "Giant" part of the name. This isn't a giant watch. Although it wears large due to the thin bezel. The case is polished steel and 42mm wide.

What can I say about the dial that you don't already know? This is the classic look - made simple. No date, just the time, and that classic red ball tipped seconds hand you've become familiar with over the years. Ease of reading, even at distances was the original purpose of the design. One thing that the watch doesn't have, but it doesn't really need is a 12 o'clock hour indicator that is a bit different. Though the look has always seemed to work without it. You'll notice that the hour markers are raised a bit, and painted black on the top.

Lugless in design, the leather strap (available in at least two colors I think) fits directly into the back of the case. The strap is relatively thick, and makes for a comfortable fit on the wrist. Water resistant to 30 meters, the case has a mineral crystal and is a bit barrel shaped in design. It makes for a good look, and the domed crystal is nice. I would have preferred sapphire, but at this low cost that wouldn't be a reasonable request.

Swiss in design and movement, the watch houses a Ronda 512.S quartz movement that does the job just fine. I appreciate the colorful touch of the red enamel crown which Mondaine "M" logo. Is it just me or is the crown a bit smaller than you want it to me? Not that you need to wind the watch or anything, but I find that slightly larger crowns give watches a more substantial, masculine look. Actually, while perfect suited to be worn on the male wrist, the Railway Giant is easily considered a unisex watch (as most Mondaine Swiss Railway watches are). I have seen women wear it, and it looks good on their wrist as well. At just under $200, but Mondaine Railway Giant is a big value, and a satisfying look for those craving a new way to enjoy an old favorite.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Select Mondaine Watches From JCK That I Liked

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:33:26 +0000

I thought it was really ironic to learn that Mondaine's US operation was located near where I live in the San Francisco Bay area. What are the odds? When I met with their people at the JCK show in Las Vegas a few months ago, I got to check out some of their new timepieces, and caught a few on camera. Sorry about any blurriness, but it adds to the candid nature of the shots right? Mondaine is a popular Swiss watch company that is best known for their official Swiss Railways watch. Aside from that, they have a multitude of nice offerings at reasonable prices. Part of this has to do with their high volume production that helps them keep prices down.

Two of the best things that Mondaine does are its cases and the dials. You really get impressed but the quality of these parts in relation to the price. I did a full review on one of my favorite watches of theirs, which was the Mondaine Railway Chrono Sport II, which you can read here. Actually, I've seen a few names for the same watch, but you get the idea. I love that timepiece!

Mondaine has aÂ truly dizzying array of watches. So many to choose from. Good news is that they have a relatively useful watch finder on their website that you can check out here. I really dig the Sports II collection of watches. Just great looking timepieces, and they have textured dials with tritium gas tubes in the hands. They also have some automatic versions of their watches, and the lady's timepieces are pretty nice as well. You can tell that the last two images are of women's watches.

Mondaine is obviously type cast a bit with the Swiss Railways watch, and it shows in all of their timepieces. It is going to be a while until you see a lot of totally original watches, but that is ok, because the look they have going for them works, and they are among the most affordable Swiss watches out there next to brands like Swatch. Mondaine timepieces are even mostly less expensive than Tissot timepieces. You also have to agree that Mondaine watches are world's easier to read than any most most Swatch or Tissot watches (not all, but most).

Looking at their collection, you can see classy dress watches, handsome casual watches, rugged sport watches, and almost every iteration and size you can think of based on the original classic look from the 1980s. Certainly a must have timepiece for most any well-rounded watch collection.

See Mondaine watches on eBay here.

See Mondaine watches on Amazon here.

Mondaine Watch Band One Piece 24mm Wide Red Leather Loop Thru Strap w Logo Bkle

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Orig 12mm Red Ladies Leather Nurses Strap w White Cross

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 16mm Black Long Leathr Strap w Logo Buckle Pins

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Orig 18mm Blk Mns Leather doctors Strap w Deployment Bkle

US $36.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 12mm Blk Lds Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

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Mondaine Watch Band Original 18mm Red Mns Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

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Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Mondaine Railway Sport Chrono II Ref. A690.30338.11SBM Watch Review

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:54:32 +0000

This is probably the coolest Mondaine watch I have ever seen and I am real happy about having one. That isn't to say that other Mondaine watches aren't cool, but they certainly don't have the masculine yet designer looks that this bad boy has, along with a good feature set. For those of you who have never been interested in a Swiss Mondaine watch, this Railway Sport Chrono II watch might change your mind. The best way to know the watch is by the reference number which is A690.30338.11SBM, but that is no fun to say. So I will stick with Sport Chrono II. Let's survey the features of this watch first and notice a correction below that I misstated in the review video.

In addition to the time, the quartz Ronda 5040.B movement has some cool features. First is the big date complication that places the date on two discs (one that is 0-3, and the other that is 0-9). This is placed at 12 o'clock. Then you have the chronograph that sort of has two modes. The chronograph will measure times with 1/1o of a second accuracy, up until about 30 minutes of timing. If what you are timing is longer than 30 minutes, then you no longer get 1/10 of a second accuracy (only to the second accuracy), but you can measure up to 10 hours. So once again, shorter time measuring with the chronograph allows you to achieve 1/10 of a second accuracy. Measuring longer periods of time is up to the second accuracy, but you can measure up to 10 hours. In the video, I neglected to mention that you could measure up to 10 hours, and instead focused on the shorter timing capabilities of the watch up to 30 minutes.

To measure 1/10 of a second accuracy, you simply need start the chronograph and pay attention to the subdial at 6 o'clock. For the first 30 seconds it will spin quickly, and then stop. No worries when it stops, because when you stop the chronograph, the hand will move to one of the positions (1-10). Read that number and you get the fractional measurement. For example, if the large red seconds hand is at "15" seconds on the main dial, and the dial at 6 o'clock is pointing at "4," you've just measured 15.4 seconds. Cool right? Now if you measure times longer than 30 minutes, the subdial at 6 o'clock that once told you the fractional part of the seconds, is not used to measure the hours (up to 10). Make sense? It is just that simple, and I think it clever that the Ronda movement have this dual role for the subdial at 6 o'clock.

Reading the chronograph is pretty easy as well because Mondaine kept the chronograph used hands all red, while the time hands are all black. The seconds for the watch is at the subsidiary dial at 3 o'clock. You know how most Mondaine watches to have a seconds hand with a large red tip? Here they sort of did the opposite with the chronograph seconds hand. They moved the red orb that would normally be the tip to the end of the hand making it the counterweight. This makes more sense, and I like how they kept the "spirit" of the original Swiss Railways watch in this timepiece. Another "improvement" over other Mondaine watches is the addition of tritium gas tubes in the hour and minute hand. These tubes light up in the dark with out needing to be "charged" with light. Mondaine is sort of connected to Luminox, which prides themselves on basically always using tritium gas tubes. Having the gas tubes in the hands adds another layer of smart functionality to the watch that is very nice to have. While it would have been interesting to have each of the hour markers use tritium gas tubes as well (as there is clearly space) it is not a detriment that they are simple applied black markers.

This is actually another very well done aspect of the watch - the chapter ring that is "cut" by the hour markers. The result is a hip looking three dimensional look right away when looking at the rich deep dial. Smaller minute markers on the chapter ring create a high level of legibility when reading theÂ time. The dial of the watch is in a metallic silver tone with a slight brushed sun ray finish. Then you have the three symmetrical subdials with broad hands and textured and decorated interiors. This is probably the most "designer" influence aspect of the watch with each subdial enjoying a different, but attractive style. I really like how this is done and feels like a perfect middle ground between fashionable and functional. The crystal on the watch is sapphire just ever so slightly domed and AR coated.

Basic screws are inserted into the IP black bezel. The bezel could have been finished a tiny bit better, but is totally still good looking and solid feeling. I would have liked for the bezel to be PVD as opposed to IP (ion plated), but it is not a big deal. Plus, it would have been interesting for Mondaine to use hex screws or otherwise, but the look is still really nice with most everyone liking the look. The deep black bezel matches the hands and hour indicators of the watch well. The thick steel case (about 42-43mm wide) is of the best I've felt from Mondaine. It is a newer look for them, and I think their designers are enjoying the more masculine styling. The watch also fits very comfortably and securely on your wrist as the lugs are angled downwards. The case is also done in a brushed finish all around that gives it a nice utility look and helps with Mondaine's modern design feel. Adding a splash of color to the case along with the black bezel is rich red inlay in the crown that reveals a handsome "M" for Mondaine in Steel. The case has a screw down caseback as is water resistant to 100 meters, even without a screw-down crown.

Equally nice to the watch case and dial is the thick steel bracelet. At 22mm wide it actually looks wider than it is having a five link design. The links are held in with really thick pins, and the watch was really easy to size. The bracelet also features a welcome micro adjust feature on the deployment - which is a total must for having a precise fit. The deployment clasp is particularly handsome with a nice double locking clasp with a engraved Mondaine signature. The action ofÂ the clasps reminds me of Tag Heuer bracelets - being as well refined with a smooth silent action that has no movement "ambiguities." The bracelet of this watch would be acceptable on a watch costing two or three times as much, if not more. Though on a $1000 plus watch the bracelet should have screws instead of pins. There is a very minor oddity in terms of how the end-links of the bracelet attach to the case. The end-links are a bit longer than the lugs on the case. Meaning that they stick out a bit when attached and you can see an exposed link hole on each side. Wear the watch, and it feel natural. In fact, I promise that if I didn't point it out, at least 85% of you would never notice it was there for the lifetime of your Mondaine Sport Chrono II watch. I wouldn't know exactly how to fix this. The lugs can't be extended without looking funny, and a totally new bracelet would need to be fashions in order to have shorter end-links. Think of it as part of the character that this watch has that makes it that much more interesting to own.

No man, woman, or child that I showed this new Mondaine watch too did not like it. The typical reaction was either, "now that is a nice watch," or, "oh, I really like that." This is exactly how I feel. The first things that I thought about the timepiece was exactly what I first wrote in this review. "I've never seen a Mondaine watch like that." This is still true and just as I was instantly drawn to the watch from the beginning, I am still drawn to it now - with it being of the favorite quartz movement based watches in my collection. Retail price for this Mondaine Ref. A690.30338.11SBM watch is $595, and a bit less via online stores. It should be stated that there are different versions of the watch - with leather straps, and black faces. Some have different functionality as well (such as an alarm), though this is still my favorite. I certainly recommend it for the price, functionality, and easy to love style. For those reasons it gets my aBlogtoRead.com Seal of Approval award.

Mondaine A6693030814SBB Night Vision Sport Mens Watch MSRP $325 On Sale NOW

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Mondaine A6693030816SBB Night Vision Sport Mens Watch MSRP $325 On Sale NOW

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Mondaine Sport EVO Gentlemans Black Chronograph Alarm Watch A6923033814SBB

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Mondaine A6923033811SBB Sport II Chrono Alarm Mens Watch MSRP $675 On Sale NOW

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Mondaine A6903033811sbm Sport 2 Mens Watch NEW IN BOX W WRAPPERS

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Mondaine A6903033811SBB Sport II Chronograph Mens Watch MSRP $495 On Sale NOW

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Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

My Mondaine Official Swiss Railways Evolution Watch Article On AskMen.com

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:52:29 +0000

Click on the screen shot image above to read my take on the new Mondaine Official Swiss Railways Evolution watch written for AskMen.com.

Mondaine Watch Band One Piece 24mm Wide Red Leather Loop Thru Strap w Logo Bkle

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Mondaine Watch Band Orig 12mm Red Ladies Leather Nurses Strap w White Cross

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 16mm Black Long Leathr Strap w Logo Buckle Pins

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Orig 18mm Blk Mns Leather doctors Strap w Deployment Bkle

US $36.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 12mm Blk Lds Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 18mm Red Mns Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

US $34.99

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Mondaine Sportline Alarm Watch Quick Review: Easy Time Reminder

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:31:15 +0000

I picked up a Mondaine Sportline Alarm watch in black recently. I'd known about the "Swiss Railways" watch company before, but never took the opportunity to own one. They have an appearance similar to Xemex watches, which I tend to really like (I do own a Xemex Offroad with Arabic numerals). Both watches have what they like to think of as being minimalist designs focusing on legibility and what I see as friendliness. Enjoying my Xemex, I thought I would finally try out a Mondaine. I picked up a Sportline Alarm with the black face (Model # 94205). I'd not owned too many analog alarm watches, and this one appeared very simple to use.

The Sportline Alarm is a medium size watch in my opinion at 41mm, but feels right on my wrist. I'd never posit that it is a large watch, but it is well noticed on my arm, and I can always see it. The face is pinnacle of clarity honestly. the hour and minute hands are very legible and feel sized just right. This is an issue actually as I feel that many watches come with hands which are too short. This frustrates me, but not on this watch. One of the best features of the face is the amount of luminant, at least on the black faced version with the white hands. The hand and indexes really glow well. I am not totally convinced about the seconds hand with the red ball at the end. It is a Mondaine icon, and it does not detract from the watch, but I think it looks better than it is functional (I sometimes think the seconds hand is placed on backwards when I look at it), just a thought.

Being an alarm watch, I needed to test this function out a few times. You'll notice on the watch a smaller outline of a hand with a red tip. This is the alarm hand. You basically have 12 hours to work with, or the alarm will go off twice a day. Pull out the upper crown and you activate the alarm and listen to a little charming alert. The lower crown (in addition to setting the time and date) adjusts the alarm hand but unfortunately only moves in one direction. You can't set it with to the minute accuracy, but it serves most purposes. If you keep the upper crown pulled out, the alarm is "on," otherwise the alarm won't sound. The alarm noise itself is a charming little jingle that is better than just a few beeps. I'd become so accustomed to the typical beeping alarm from being around Casio watches so much, that I was surprised to hear a different type of alarm. The volume of the alarm is not very high. If you are outside in a crowd or in the car, you might not hear it, though the alarm last for at least a few seconds. I think the idea was not to annoy the wearer with an alarm noise that quickly became abrasive.

The Mondaine Sportline series has always been very inexpensive for a Swiss watch. They are all $200 or under, and represent an excellent value for the money. The case is well made and solid using thick steel. You can tell that the case is made up from 3 pieces with a screw down back. I am not too happy that the crystal is mineral glass. I obviously prefer the durability and scratch resistance of sapphire crystals, but those are more expensive. As the Mondaine Sportline Alarm is going for about $150 many places, there really isn't that much for me to complain about.

Overall you get a nicely made and designed watch for the money. The design is symmetrical, and inside a Swiss ETA quartz. You aren't going to get a decent mechanical movement based watch for this price. I have been happy with this Mondaine and would likely be happy with others. I suggest that if you like the looks of the watch (as I do) you should have no qualms about getting one.

See Mondaine watches on eBay here.

See Mondaine watches on Amazon here.

Mondaine Watch Band One Piece 24mm Wide Red Leather Loop Thru Strap w Logo Bkle

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Orig 12mm Red Ladies Leather Nurses Strap w White Cross

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 16mm Black Long Leathr Strap w Logo Buckle Pins

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Orig 18mm Blk Mns Leather doctors Strap w Deployment Bkle

US $36.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 12mm Blk Lds Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

US $34.99

Mondaine Watch Band Original 18mm Red Mns Leather Strap w Logo Buckle and Pins

US $34.99

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.