I'm thinking of ordering an SBB clock as a memento for my SO of her time in Switzerland. However, I am concerned by the number of complaints online (particularly on Amazon) about the poor quality of the product, especially the inclusion of Chinese components. And it appears the "Swiss movement" sometimes advertised isn't in fact Swiss but German. I'd be ordering online for delivery in Canada so I'd like to get some sense of quality before I spend the money.

Thanks,
S

They're a bit like Apple, cheap components in fancy packaging, quite likely Chinese quartz movemenents at about Chf 5.-- or partly Chinese built with just sufficient done in Switzerland to achieve the "made in Switzerland" status. There's not too much that can go wrong with this tried and tested techknowledgy.

I got one in my office and one at home, apart from changing the battery, never had any problems

Over-priced, certainly but they are a good souvenir of Switerland, dare i say, iconic, very easy to see and read, even without glasses, if you wear glasses.

These clocks are absolute crap. I bought this one (which was fairly expensive) because I, too, wanted a nice memento of Switzerland.

https://www.mondaine.com/watches/off...ock-16sbb.html

The backing paper with the SBB likeness is nothing more than thin, cheap cardboard and the adjustment dials are made from very cheap plastic (mine don't work anymore). An IKEA clock of a similar style would be of much better value.

I believe that ONLY one model of WATCH has the actual pause movement at the 12 o'clock position.

Too bad that Mondaine bought the licencing for such a great Swiss icon only to offer such an inferior product.

Rather buy one of the watches which are much better quality. I exchanged my very expensive Zenith watch for one a number of years ago and have never looked back.

to be fair, the chinese quartz movements are likely to be more accurate and higher quality than any swiss movement you can get.

Would you know which model that might be? I originally wanted one as a wall clock but only if its second hand paused at the 12 o'clock position like the ones at the train stations do.

I believe that this is the only model that pauses at the 12 o'clock position (watch).

https://www.mondaine.com/watches/off...358-16sbb.html

All other Mondaine clocks and watches appear to be just knock offs with the licensed SBB logo.

it is called the stop2go and i think they retail for CHF650 or 595 if you go the Swiss Air Duty Free Route

I bought one of these clocks about 7 or 8 years ago. Expensive for what you get, but the design is clear and pleasing to the eye.

As to quality, it has the same basic cheap plastic quartz movement you get on any old clock these days, and mine needs adjusting monthly as it loses time more than any other clock I have ever had. That was a disappointment, but I adjusted...

But assuming a normal distribution of errors, yours might be fast, not slow, and on average, any of them will be mostly on time. Kind of like trains in other countries.

Where is the clock located. Quartz is sensitive to temperature.

Groovy.

Just on the wall in dining room. And there is no likely Interference from air con, draft, heater, electrics or direkt sunlight.

But I will keep a lookout to See if it is any better / worse during heatwaves or if windows left open on cold days.

The fault does seem intermittent and I hadnt considered temp

Thanks for all the replies. Disappointing to have concerns confirmed. SBB deserves better. Starting to wonder if my money is better spent on a fondue instead.

Don't let us dissuade you too much though. Its flawed but a great looking clock all the same. ...and you cant get one elsewhere easily.

I'd say get both, a fondue set and a clock. Plus a raclette set (voltage dependant). ;-) But if you get a fondue or raclette set, be sure to buy some raclette seasoning mix, as you wont find that easily elsewhere.

...if all fails, you could pick up that Swiss mountain panorama bread knife you see around

http://www.panoramaknife.ch/typo3tem...1397ba69fc.png

The lady in the Western Union office at Zürich HB (where they sell said products) said they have stopped making the one with the jump mechanism on the second hand. Apparently it led to reliability issues and complaints.

We have one in the kitchen. Had it for at least 10 years and never had any trouble with it.