Hands-On Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 stop2go Review

Stop2go

About a year ago, Gerard Nijenbrinks wrote a review on the Mondaine stop2go watch. Just a small recap of the stop2go movement before we head over to the Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 stop2go review:

The stop2go system is powered by the Swiss made caliber cal 58-02. This movement ensures that the watch runs exactly like the official Swiss railway station clocks. The second hand rotates the dial in 58 seconds, so a bit quicker than normal. Once at 12 o’clock, it stops for 2 seconds and advances again. In these two seconds, you also see the minute hand increasing exactly one minute marker. It is exactly the same movement as in the earlier Mondaine stop2go review we did.

So what is new?

Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016

Well, this Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 celebrates the famous Gotthard Base Tunnel with only 2016 pieces. How? Well, Mondaine takes it a step further by including a homage to the ‘Old Lady’ locomotive.

Ae6/6

This locomotive, officially referred to as Ae6/6, was commissioned in 1952. No less then 120 of these Ae6/6 locomotives were used by the Swiss railways. This year, the Old Lady’s task is done as the new Gotthard Base Tunnel has been opened. For fun sake, I put in some pictures of my own Fleischmann H0 train that I played with as a kid. It might be a bit dusty therefore. I didn’t have a Ae6/6 miniature, so I hope this “Schwarze Anna” will do.

Bezel

Mondaine pays hommage by using a special and unique bezel on all of these 2016 Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 pieces. The bezel has been crafted from the driver’s cab door of the Old Lady. Each of them look different, due to the wear and tear of the train’s door since 1952.

Case

The case of the Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 is similar to the other stop2go models. A solid and round stainless steel case with a diameter of 41mm. The crown is a bit odd looking, but works like a charm. The caseback shows a red painted circle with the Gottardo2016 logo painted on it. It is beautifully done. The caseback shows the unique number of the watch and the total number of watches (2016) produced.

Dial

The dial (and case) of the Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 is just classic. Anyone will recognize the design, including those who don’t care much about watches in general. This design has been there since 1944, when Hans Hilfiker – a Swiss Federal Railways employee – created the famous Official Swiss Railways Clock. In 1986, Mondaine took that exact same design and turned it into a wristwatch. The white dial, large black stick markers, thick large hour and minute hands and of course the red second hand with a round ‘lollipop’ at the end. It is all there. With the stop2go movement, that simulates the 2 seconds (it is officially 1.5 seconds for the railroad clocks) stop at 12 o’clock, it is spot on.

Strap and Buckle

Mondaine delivers this SBB Gottardo2016 watch on a thick calf leather strap. Since the watch isn’t very small, or thin, the watch can handle the thick strap perfectly. It is a bit stiff at first, but will get more supple after wearing it. The stainless steel buckle is signed Mondaine and has a brushed finish, like the caseband of the watch.

Price

The Mondaine SBB Gottardo2016 stop2go is limited and can be ordered on-line via the Mondaine website. A retail price of 750 Swiss Francs (including VAT) is perhaps not what you’re used to from Mondaine, but given the fact that has the stop2go movement (normal Mondaine stop2go watch retails for a bit under €600 Euro) I guess it is fair. The bezel is unique and has a nice story to it. Taken into account that the overall quality of the watch is good makes it a nice purchase. It is a fun watch, wears easily and might be an awesome gift to someone who loves watches and trains as well.

More information and ordering via the official Mondaine website.