7 Best Railroad Inspired Watches You Can Buy Today
Much like aviation and motorsports, the railroads are another industry that is heavily dependent on accurate and reliable timekeeping. Today, we take the gartgantuan task of keeping trains running on time for granted because it’s all controlled electronically. But, in the golden age of rail, engineers and controllers could not do their jobs without a trusty timepiece. Since then, clocks and watches have played a more symbolic yet important role in the railroads as essential features in may stations across the globe, keeping passengers and staff on time. ‘But, why are we talking about railways and watches all of a sudden’ I hear you ask. Well, Omega recently reissued their iconic Railmaster, more on that later, and it got us thinking. In this guide, we’ve compiled the best railroad watches from across all price points for you to check out. Let’s dive right in…
Omega Railmaster 2025 Reissue
Omega have really treated us with this release. Since it was pulled from their catalog, collectors have been clamouring for the return of the third pillar of Omega’s collections. A slightly more obscure and niche choice for many, especially in the shaodw of the Seamaster and Speedmaster, the Railmaster is Omega’s watch designed for engineers: a Milgauss-esque Aqua Terra if you will. The 38mm case definitely confirms that. Moving away from the previous generation’s brushed denim style dial, the team have settled with two very tendance gradient dials: the first, in a crisp and modern gray with sharp indices, and the second, in a charming beige to brown with beautfiully dosed touches of faux-tina. Inside the watch, we find two iterations of the 8800 series calibre: a powerfully capable and accurate machine. The vintage styled variant comes with a small seconds dial, something we don’t really see all too often from Omega: it’s going to popular. Both watches come on either the Aqua Terra micro-adjust bracelet or, if you’re really going to lean into the vintage side of the piece, a leather strap. I think that both of these pieces are fantastic releases: the vintage-inspired one pays tribute to the original 1957 design, whilst the modern gray variant is much more future focused and a great alternative for collectors who aren’t keen on faux-tina. The Omega Railmaster 2025 Reissue watches start from $6,000 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
Mondaine Stop2Go 41mm
When it comes to railroad watches, Mondaine is the household name. Founded in 1951, the brand has been producing clocks and watches for the Swiss Federal Railway company since it’s inception. The design, originally drawn in 1944 by Hans Hilfiker, is an icon, a term I do not use loosely here, in railroad, watchmaking, and design circles: it is impeccable distinct and instantly recognisable. Mondaine have really embraced this notoriety and their whole collection revolves around it. They make wall clocks, table clocks, dress watches, divers, and automatics, but the watch that I think truly embraces the spirit of the swiss railways is the Stop2Go model. It is probably the closest you can get to wearing a proper station clock. The crownless design means that the piece is perfectly round and comfortable to wear. To make up for the lack of crown, there is a small pusher that helps adjust the time. And that’s not the coolest feature. The ‘Stop2Go’ quartz movement is a fantastic piece of watchmaking technology. The seconds hand marks a 2 second pause at the 12 o’clock position. This feature, present on all the Mondaine railway clocks, was designed to allow all the clocks to synchronize with one another in the name of supreme accuracy. Obviously, the Stop2Go feature in this watch doesn’t synchronize it with other watches, but it is a fabulous tribute to the real thing. If you want to get your hands on this really cool watch, you can find them at retail for $870 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
Bodet B480.2
Much like Mondaine, Bodet are a brand that are intrinsically linked to the modern railroads of Europe. If any of you have taken a train in France and looked up to catch a glimpse of the time, it was certainly a Bodet Profil TGV that you were looking at: another instantly recognisable design. Whilst it has been made into a watch format, they are incredibly hard to find, but, Bodet has released a some slightly different designs that still have that railroad feel about them: the B480. This square piece reincarnates the unmissably and crystal clear time telling. The case is probably my favourite feature. AT 40x38mm it is almost perfectly square and has no lugs, giving it great legibility without increasing the real size. The bracelet seamlessly integrates into the case, tying it together nicely. The aperture in the dial shows the Miyota calibre’s beating heart, reminding us of Bodet’s heritage as a watchmaker. Limited to just 150 pieces, you can pick up this watch at retail for €860 (approximately $1,000 USD at the time of writing).
Find out more about this watch here.
Perseo Railking Classic
This is the last European railway watch I promise: the Swiss made Perseo Railking. Perseo have been supplying watches and clocks to the Italian railways since 1927. Unlike the two previous pieces, the Railking is not the watch form of a sation clock. Instead, it is a fitting tribute to almost a century of collaboration. The piece exhibits the clarity and legibility you would expect from a station clock. The case and crown have a vintage feel that hark back to the roaring twenties and the start of this partnership. To reinforce the italian spirit, there is an offset red and green ring that circles the dial, tying the design togther nicely. The Perseo Railking Classic is available online from Perseo for €670 (approximately $770 USD at the time of writing).
Find out more about this watch here.
Cornell Watch Company 1870 CE
We’re flying back over the Atlantic with the Cornell Watch Company 1870 CE. Founded during the golden era of the American railroads and American watchmaking, around the same time as many European manufacturers, Chicago-based Cornell made its name with almost unrivalled railroad pocketwatches: the backbone of an industry. I won’t go into Cornell’s history in depth, but I will say that it was at the heart of major changes to watchmaking across the world, even triggering a revolution in Japanese horology. Since 1880, Cornell went a bit quiet until recently when they were revived by John Warren. The result of this rebirth is the 1870 Classic Enamel (CE), a 39mm dress watch that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of their 1870s pocketwatches. It is powered by a micro-rotor calibre from Schwarz-Etienne that has been beautifully decorated. It is visible through the display caseback. The dial is by far the best element: the Grand Feu enamel dial is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship that was required to make the railroad pocketwatches. Cornell Watches Company is committed to reviving American watchmaking and all the associated professions. Fittingly, their beautiful leather strap is crafted in Minneapolis by Velle Alexander. This is, by a longshot, my favourite piece in this guide. It blends indpendent watchmaking, with craftsmanship and rich heritage: the watch tells a thousand stories. If you want to get your hands on a Cornell Watch Company 1870 CE, they start at $11,950 USD for the white dial variant.
Find out more about this watch here.
Ball Trainmaster Standard Time GMT
Few watches and watch companies can claim to find their origins in a deadly railroad accident, but Ball can. Ball can also claim that they made the railroads safe and efficient. No other brand can make that claim either. The Kipton rail disaster of 1891 prompted a nationwide investigation into timekeeping on American railroads. The investigation was led by Webb C. Ball, whose dedication to precise and accurate timekeeping kept America safely on the rails. Aside from pioneering timing standards, Ball have been very innovative with in-house calibres and gas filled indices to name just a few. The Trainmaster Standard Time GMT is fabulous distillation of all of their capacities and heritage. The blend of modern watchmaking techniques with classic railroad pocketwatch aesthetics is tasteful and well executed. The 40mm case and steel bracelet are of Ball’s high quality standard, designed to perform perfectly in any conditions. The chronometer certified in-house movement is the standout feature and a fitting legacy for Webb C. Ball. Limited to 999 pieces, the Trainmaster Standard Time GMT brilliantly pays homage to its heritage whilst staying anchored to modern technology and innovation. It retails for $3,099 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
Hamilton Classic RailRoad Automatic
Much like Cornell and Ball, Hamilton’s roots are firmly planted in the golden age of America’s railroads. Building their company through railroad pocketwatches, Hamilton has become known for its accesible and high-quality time pieces designed to withstand any challenge thrown at them. The Khaki Field is by far their most iconic piece, but this Classic RailRoad Automatic discreetly pays homage to the manufacture’s humble railroad origins. On paper, this is a very punchy piece, with its in-house automatic calibre with 80-hours of power-reserve, steel bracelet, and a unique aesthetics. The dial combines the utilitarian and functional nature that we commonly see across most of Hamilton’s watches, all whilst bringing a classic railroad twist. If you’re looking for a watch that has the railroad pedigree and versatile design/specsheet, this is the watch for you. And it doesn’t break the bank either, at $1,095 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
