Mondaine: overlooked "entry level" Swiss?

[MDTerps]

It seems like the Swiss Army/Swiss Military brands dominate the lower end of the Swiss watch price spectrum but I recently came across a few very nice looking Mondaine watches (at the Museum of Modern Art store, of all places). I searched the forums and there has been very little talk about Mondaine, but it seems like they are well-respected and have good movements all at very reasonable prices.

To be honest, though, I tried on a quartz Evo and it felt light. Although that could just be because I haven't worn a non-Eco-Drive quartz watch in years and years.

I also looked it up on the Web and found very little info about the company. Does anyone know more about them than just "they're the Swiss railways watch"? Does anyone own a Mondaine? How does it stack up against Victorinox/Wenger/Hanowa?

[T-Time]

Does anybody know/can someone explain to me what the criteria are for manufacturers putting "swiss made" on their watches? I know there has been debate and discussion about what exactly is made in Switzerland, and I don't want to go down that route!

What I am getting at is - do manufacturers have to meet certain standards in order to qualify to put "Swiss made" on their watches? Is there anything to stop a company setting up in Geneva and turning out some genuinley horrible, cheap watches, with "Swiss made" quite rightly displayed on the dial?
To put it another way - is the "swiss made" mark on a watch any guarantee of quality?

[ulackfocus]

I also have heard very little about the brand. Hopefully somebody will be able to shed some light on their watches.

To put it another way - is the "swiss made" mark on a watch any guarantee of quality?

I've never heard of a standard for minimum quality, just that a minimum percentage of the watch needs to be made in Switzerland. I guess a company could start making schlocky Swiss made watches. The Swiss might run them out of the country though because it seems they have a kind of unwritten law for basic minimum guidelines.

[Clifford Moore]

I had a Mondaine auto during college, unfortunately I ran over it with my Lancia... long story. Anyway, it was one of my favorites, and I've been waiting for a nice one to come along again. It wasn't particularly note worthy, but just fit me well, a real classy workhorse, the sort of watch you don't much notice, but just feels "right". I find watches like that get the lion's share of my wrist time. I'm wearing a nice midsized (SS about 37mm with a deep brown dial) Zodiac at the moment that falls into that category, it's not flashy at all, but it has a clean elegance and an understated quality that I find very compelling. IMO Mondaine watches are the type that grow on you, I suspect they have a strong, if small, following.

[ka-boom]

I think they look real sharp. Ive been eyeing up a couple for a few months now.
They make quartz, and an automatic version.

Borrow pics.

[MR.MOSS]

I think they look real sharp. Ive been eyeing up a couple for a few months now.
They make quartz, and an automatic version.

Borrow pics.

The first and last pictures look like watches that could find their way onto my wrist.

[Mr Horology]

Ka-Boom, I love the chronograph model.

[Watchbreath]

:cool: The Uno was a cool looking timepiece, but it's history.

[ka-boom]

Those are not my pics, but rather from a google image search.
Just giving an idea of what Mondaine is for those not aware.

[jpv]

Those look nice but, as I understand it, their watches have only mineral crystals (like the modern Zodiacs, which kills me because I love their looks). I'd never spend more than $150 on a watch without sapphire (or possilbe hardlex)--too many past scratches!