Mondaine Essence Mocha Mousse comes in Pantone’s Color of the Year

It's made of castor oil and grapes. Yeah, really.

Nov 10, 2025

Mondaine has never been shy about sticking to a theme. The Essence line takes the Swiss Railway Clock and asks what it looks like in a lighter, more eco-minded form. The new Essence Mocha pushes that idea into 2025, tying it to Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, and a heavier focus on sustainable materials.

On the wrist, this is still very much a Mondaine. The 41 mm case wears flat and broad, only 8 mm thick, with the familiar round profile and short lugs. At 46 grams it is almost shockingly light. That comes from the case material, a castor oil compound rather than the usual steel. Mondaine says it blends castor oil from the “wonder tree” with glass fiber and a smaller share of fossil fuel oil and pigments. You feel that mix right away. The case has the solid shape of a normal Mondaine, but not the cold heft.

The dial is where they justify the Mocha part of the name. The color sits in that space between brown and taupe, rich without shouting. There is a wave texture across the surface that catches light and keeps it from looking flat. It is subtle enough that you still read it as a classic railway dial, but it gives more depth than the usual plain enamel look.

Legibility is what you expect from this brand. White baton hands, white markers, and that bright red seconds hand that everyone knows. Against the brown base they stand out cleanly. This is one of those quartz watches you can glance at from across a table and read without thinking. If you like Mondaine’s whole “station clock on the wrist” thing, this keeps it intact.

The strap choice is where the eco story returns. Instead of leather you get vegan grape leather in a matching mocha tone. It feels softer than some plant based straps, with a light grain and a padded profile that suits a 41 mm case. The buckle is a bio based polyamide, colored to blend with the strap. No steel clasp, no shiny hardware, just a quiet match with the rest of the watch. If you are used to calfskin you will feel the difference, but it avoids that cheap plastic feel some vegan straps have.

Inside is a Ronda 513 quartz movement. That is a simple three hand Swiss quartz, no date, with a quoted battery life of about 45 months on a 371 cell. This fits the whole concept. The Essence Mocha is not pretending to be a mechanical icon. It is a daily wear, grab and go watch in a design you already know.

There are a few clear limits. Water resistance is 30 meters, so this is hand washing and rain only. The crystal is hardened mineral rather than sapphire.

What makes this release interesting is the mix of mainstream and niche. On one side you have the standard Mondaine traits. Swiss Made, clean dial, quartz movement, modest size, easy strap swap with 20 mm lugs. On the other, you have a case built from plant oil and glass fiber, a grape based strap, and a very specific fashion tie in to Pantone’s Mocha Mousse. This is not a watch that tries to appeal to everyone. It aims at people who care about color trends, about material stories, and about keeping things light and low drama on the wrist.

The limited run of 300 pieces worldwide adds a little tension and at $345 the price is just right. Essence models are usually easy to find. This one will not be. That cut fits the idea of a color of the year release. It also keeps the brand from flooding the line with one more brown dial variant. If you like the look, you probably should not sit on it too long.