Mondaine Swiss railroad watch

We've been thinking about carrying a watch for about five years, but suffered from choice paralysis until December 28. The winner comes from Switzerland, never a bad thing in watches.

It is NOT one of the four-  to five-figure watches you see advertised in the NY Times, and won't impress a watch nut.

It costs $150, and is a better value than all of those. In fact, when good looks aligns with Swissness and basicality and a watch you can wear outside or inside anywhere from now until the cows come home, this is the watch to beat.

It is made by Mondaine, who makes the official Swiss railway clock, the ones in the Swiss train stations. The Mondaine watch is just a wrist-sized version of that clock.

It is a look that's only Mondaine's, and it's a crispy clear look that tells you the time right away, without any numbers, but without any doubt. The best part may be the red second hand with the big ball on the end. It's what you want to be looking at when you're counting seconds, and the red-black-and-white combo enhances the clarity.

Unfortunately, there are too many Mondaine models with this same fantastic Mondaine face. That's their  problem,. They come in different sizes, from 26mm to 42mm, and with black or the traditional white face; automatic or quartz, glow-in-the-dark or not, date or none, chronometers or none, square or round, black or red leather or metal bands, and even pocket watches. After all the multiplication is done, there are 50 Mondaine watches, all of them mini-me versions of the Swiss Railroad clock.

We aren't immune to choice paralysis ourselves, and I/Grant couldn't decide between the classic white (like the clocks) or the black (darker). Both watches have a 35mm disc (face plus frame). That's big enough to read, small enough to disappear, and big enough to not be mistaken for a women's watch. Both have a black band. Watch bands are like bar tape ----- swap it out if you want something else. Neither tells you the date, and therefore will never tell you it's the ninth on the tenth, because you forgot to reset it at the end of a 30-day month.

The Mondaine is Swiss, and has a Swiss (Eta or Ronda) metal movement. The glass is crystal, not sapphire. It's plenty scratch-resistant without being uppity. It's water-proof to 30 meters, but not a dive watch, and we recommend you take if off when you shower. Other than that, don't worry about it.

The MSRP is $175. We sell it for $150. You can find it cheaper on the internet, from watch-giants to whom this watch is one of seven hundred they stock; but if you follow the rule (not the law) of patronizing your introducer, then you'll buy from us. If you're a member, you'll pay no freight AND get a 5 percent credit rebate (-$7.50) at on the January 2 following the year of purchase.

Quartz, battery. Mondaine also makes, and we can get you one in a day, a self-winding mechanical watch, for $500. Up to you, but this model we stock is perfect as is: A truly fine Swiss watch with a classic face, and only $150.