The most iconic and legible watch I’ve ever worn.
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The Evo2 Big Date from Mondaine has an incredible visual appeal, and decent build quality, but in regards to specifications isn’t the best value on the market.
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What was 34?
I kind of like the Stop2Go version. The trick to the second hand as it reaches the top of the minute is pretty cool and mimics the actual Swiss railway clock. Do a quick search on YouTube to see how it works. I believe I saw a review of one from A Blog To Watch which intrigued me about the Stop2Go version.
I just ordered one, they said I should receive it on the 40th of March? lol
Visually speaking, their HELVETICA line has more interesting and varied design. The rest of their "collection" is basically just one watch. I would categorize their style as modern minimalistic, like Ikea furniture. That's a compliment as Ikea furniture has great design.
They should have skip the date, will be even more striking.
Too bad you didn't mention Stop2Go feature in some models. This is main cool thing about Mondaine. Not mentioning that doesn't give the brand full justice. A bit of lost opportunity. You could choose any watch from their catalogue and you did not get most interesting and closest to the original Swiss railway clock. However love your work and your channel. All best from Norway😎❤️
4* review + 1* for the nosy kid.
You did a great job in selling the company. It's a quirky looking watch with some character but before the review I would never pay the RRP for this watch. Still a bit expensive for what it is in my eyes, but I think that you will have swayed a few people that were on the fence😊👍
I have a watch with a big date complication, and it resets after the 31st. This one is a little strange and quirky. I don't know that I would be satisfied with it running all the way to 39. I do like the look of this watch, but I definitely think they are overpriced for what they are, especially the automatic.
All quartz watches hack matey, don't give up the day job yet.
Very nice watch!
The YouTube algorithm fed this to me, so I'm passing it along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNFU-ToUh1U
I do like that, I may get the black dial version sometime.😎
I found the same design in Spiedel watches for about $60. Only difference is the second hand lollipop thing.
Everybody saying the Stop2Go is better; it's a much more expensive and arguably overpriced watch. Quartz watches with unique movements aren't renowned for their longevity either.
My Cons – 30 m WR, day goes all the way to 40 (what's that for?) and as a result it came with 34 day on a calendar, seconds hand does not quite line up with minute markers, which makes a huge difference in comparison to a railway clock where the seconds hand glides very smoothly.
A few good specs. Horrible and goofy looking. Looks like a blast from the 90’s. Would look perfect with Vuarnet sunglasses, kangol hat and white linen pants with a mint green shirt
i got the elegant version with nice leather strap. 6.5mm thick
Without a doubt an iconic design….it's a very clean and legible….but I still think it's heart over head….cracking well rounded review brother…. thoroughly enjoyed it….🏴⌚🏴⌚
It is iconic design but that alone doesn’t justify the cost. Also, I suspect horological engineering may have adequately addressed date complications, my ten pound quartz watch knows there isn’t a 34th day of any month particularly if the argument is about accuracy for train timetables (no trains on the 34th either)
Stop2Go … the way to go ! 🙂
I've thought about getting the auto version but they are expensive!
Is it just me or the second hand doesn't hit the indices?
Since when do you have 34 days per month. This is what cheap Chinese watches were like years ago. Cheers, Jack
That date change was interesting lol.
I'm Swiss. These are for the tourists and are sold in pretty much every souvenir shop but I've never seen it on a wrist ever here. The design is nice but when you see these watches daily in the train stations, you kind of want something else to look at on your own wrist.
I enjoyed that review Dave. I would say that it is fashionable rather than a fashion watch. I don't think that it's a fashion brand. However it does put seem to put style over substance in that its kind of simple and minimalistic so I think that you would be paying for that kind of exclusivity in design rather than the construction and whatever bells and whistles it has. I'd really like one but I don't think that I could justify that kind of price for me. I'd be expecting more. I did check out the Berny homage on AliExpress. It looks nice but lacks the lollipop second hand and for me that's the deal breaker in the negative sense and why I don't think that I will buy one. It's only 22 GBP for the quartz though. There is also less heft to the markers and hands. They seem slimmer somehow. It was nice to see the small child's face and the hymn book too. 👍⌚🙏
quartz trash for $275 lol, just lol
Well Dave, as an update I took a risk on an eBay quartz model for sale at just under 45GBP. The photographs showed a watch in quite poor condition in need of some love. Anyway it turned out to be a mid size 35mm Evo 30300. It wasn't in very poor condition it just needed a clean, a polish and a battery. I did this and put on a new carbon fiber strap. Now it looks perfect except the mineral glass needs a polish to remove a scuff that isn't immediately obvious. I like that feeling when the ball is in the back of the net and you feel like you've scored the winner (except every vintage Favre Leuba I get is an own goal!). So that's the Mondaine checked off the list of wants.
really like the big date feature.(old eyes here)
Why 40 days??! It's 31 days, or 28 days in each month. Why 40… lololol
Reviewer doesn't even know or care to just check the sponsored watch website to know the packaging for the Evo2 is a regular consumer set? 🤔🤭 Too many YT reviewers and influencers have become so casual and lazy about preparing key background information to package the video better. Ultimately we just get a sort of generalist overview and not an objective review… 'I'm not really sure…' doesn't cut it. Oh well. Whatever. How would this even make anyone think this is a brand worth exploring? 😬🤦🏻♂️
Beautiful watch and one which is on my wish list to add to my collection
I don't think it's quite fair to characterize the Mondaine watches as a pure tourist play.
Mondaine evo 2 are currently sale of the day (October 14, 2021) on Galaxus – Switzerland's biggest online retailer. Like a lot of Swiss (male) folks of my generation, I check Galaxus and Digitec for the sale of the day almost every night when I get up for a potty break – and Mondaine watches pop up there pretty regularly (say, about once per year?) That's usually a sign that the product in question is popular here in Helvetia with the home-field market – Galaxus uses their sales-of-the-day to generate interest, not to offload merch they can't sell.
Sure, people who are actually into their watches would be utterly uninterested – if you discretely tuck a Patek, a TAG or whatever under your shirt cuff, this is a toy. But for Swiss folks who don't collect and just need a dependable watch with a clean look, it looks like an attractive package. (At least: to me, and the guy I asked at Crossfit … )
BTW, I'm HERE because I'm trying to decide whether to buy one after going naked wrist for 7-8 years. At about 185 USD for the non-date version of the evo 2, I'm quite tempted.
How does it say 34 for the day of the month?
Hey, nice to see your channel developing. I remember when you were just starting. I like your style, I think editing department expnded in the right direction and I find your videos much more refined.
Good luck!
They may be quartz but they are jewelled quartz movements from ETA. They are servicable and repairable and will last a lifetime.
Great review, Dave! 👏 As a big railway and trains nerd since childhood, I of course also became a fan of Mondaine timepieces – but only once I've discovered them which was unfortunately as late as 2019 🤨 However, I do now already own one of their wall clocks and three watches, one of which is precisely the model you reviewed here (MSE.40210), only that mine is on leather strap. I dream of course of getting the automatic and Stop2Go versions someday but I doubt I'll be able to, due to their (too) high prices. 😒 It would however be great if you ever reviewed another Mondaine; as a budget watch channel, I think their environment-friendly line Essence would be right up your alley. 😉
I wanted the automatic version but it is too expensive. I finally got one pre-owned exactly like the watch in the video but with mineral cristal ($100 USD). Enough for me.
Love the legibility; but, I always found the crown to be slippery, difficult to grip. Fantastic time keeping, beating my non-Swiss quartz watches.
Grabbed one of these to day for 57 euro in an 80 percent off sale. Love it
The RONDA movement is a bottom of the range, one jewel piece of Meh, so $20 worth. A significant proportion of the Mondaine range is glass not saphire and only a questinable 30m depth, which is basically splash proof. At least on the Giant and a few others they have lume on the back of the hands which is a nice touch. They should be considered a novelty dress watch only. Not worth the money, but nice on the wrist. The battery may outlast the movement, and the date is prone to being off-centre or just not working. Date needs adjustment every month. The Mondaine stop2go range are a different watch all together.
Just recently found your channel. I just received my first Mondaine 40mm, Black grape band with white face, no logo to closer replicate the train station look. Most of my retired day is spent at computer distance without my contacts in, so this face is easy to read and as a plus, goes well with my G scale outdoor Swiss modeled railroad layout! Mondaine, USA did give me a customer service discount because when I ordered the watch, they were out of stock, so this came in at a wonderful price!