Mondaine creates a solar watch that doesn't look like an eyesore
Mondaine has added a pair of new watches to its Doppio collection, and this time the Swiss company is letting us see some of what is going on underneath the dial.
The new Mondaine Doppio Solar Skeleton Edition is a 41mm solar-powered watch with a large circular section cut from the center of the dial. Instead of exposing gears and bridges, as you would expect from a mechanical skeleton watch, the opening reveals the solar plate that powers the movement.
It’s an interesting approach to the skeleton concept, particularly since solar watches usually go out of their way to hide their photovoltaic hardware.
The outer portion of the black dial remains intact, leaving plenty of room for Mondaine’s double-line indexes. Those are matched by the Doppio’s distinctive double-line hands, while the company logo and solar markings are laser etched onto the dial.
The whole thing sits underneath a double-domed sapphire crystal, which should add even more depth to the already layered dial.
Solar Power, Swiss Movement
Inside is a Swiss Ronda solar movement with time and date functions.
The system collects both natural and artificial light through solar cells beneath the dial and stores the resulting energy in a rechargeable battery. That means there are no regular battery changes to worry about.
Mondaine says a fully charged watch can run for as long as eight months in complete darkness. If you somehow manage to run it completely flat, a few minutes in sunlight should be enough to get the movement going again.
That’s one of the things I like about solar watches. They’re quartz watches without much of the usual quartz maintenance. Put one on, expose it to light occasionally, and there’s very little else to think about.
The movement also includes protection against overcharging and deep discharge, which should help preserve the rechargeable cell over time.
Two Versions
Mondaine is launching the Doppio Solar Skeleton in two configurations.
The first has a polished silver 316L stainless steel case and a vegan grape leather strap. The second gets a polished black stainless steel case and matching Milanaise mesh bracelet.
Both measure 41mm across and use 20mm straps.
There’s also a date window tucked into the dial. Normally I’d question putting a date complication on a watch with this much happening up front, but Mondaine has kept it relatively restrained.
Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM. That’s enough for ordinary daily wear, although this clearly isn’t intended to be a sports or diving watch.
A Different Kind of Skeleton
Calling this a skeleton watch is slightly unusual. There isn’t a mechanical movement to admire through the opening, and you’re not going to spend your afternoon watching a balance wheel tick away.
Instead, Mondaine is showing off the part of a solar watch that manufacturers normally conceal.
I think that makes the Doppio more interesting.
Solar technology has been around for decades, but it is usually treated as something purely practical. Mondaine has made the solar plate part of the appearance of the watch rather than hiding it behind an opaque dial.
It also works nicely with the existing Doppio design. The concentric opening, concave dial, double indexes, and domed crystal give the face several layers without making the watch difficult to read.
And unlike a lot of watches that use an open dial simply because they can, there’s actually something relevant being shown through the hole.
The Mondaine Doppio Solar Skeleton Edition will be available beginning August 17 through Mondaine and selected retailers. The silver model with vegan grape leather strap starts at $465, while the collection tops out at $495.
At under $500, you’re getting Swiss production, sapphire crystal, a Ronda solar movement, eight months of power reserve, and a design that is a little stranger than the typical Swiss quartz watch.
That’s not a bad combination.