The famous watch that adorns Swiss train stations celebrates its anniversary in 2024. But since its creation in 1944, there is a problem that still persists today.
The story of the very iconic CFF clock began in the 1930s, in Argentina. Sometimes advisor to the telecommunications troops of the Argentine army, builder of telephone centers or trainer of military personnel, Hans Hilfiker, Swiss engineer and designer, is about to return to his country of origin after the failure of several projects started on the other side of the globe.
Shortly after his return to Swiss soil, in 1932 he joined the works division of the SBB as an engineer. Around ten years passed before he was promoted to the position of division manager and propelled to the head of a project that was ambitious to say the least: create a robust, reliable clock that gives precise time for Swiss train stations. Ah, and if possible, that the object becomes a constituent element of the country's identity. The challenge is accepted.
Global inspiration
In the middle of a Europe at war, in 1944, Hans Hilfiker imagines for the first time a watch that will indeed become a Swiss symboland whose fame will extend beyond the borders of the country. It was officially launched three years later and its unique style would mark the history of modern design.
The SBB watch celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2024.Image: KEYSTONE
All over Europe, stations – the Deutsch Bahn for example – will be inspired by the sobriety and minimalism of the CFF clock, which contrasts with the very ornate dials that we are used to seeing during this period. The background is white, there are no numbers, only black bars to indicate the hours and minutes. The seconds hand is red, in reference to the station master's baton. In short, we no longer present it to you.
It is exhibited at the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York and the most passionate fans have been able to wear it on their wrist since 1996. Or even buy a version, such as an alarm clock or a wall clock. . The price? Between 200 and 700 francs depending on the model.
Its iconic look will even catch Apple's eye. As a reminder, in 2012, the American giant took inspiration from the watch for one of its alarm clocks available on iPad. Although flattered, the CFF still have it in their throats, because no authorization was requested. The replica will eventually be removed and, according to the Swiss National Museum, a fine of around 20 million francs was paid by the apple brand for non-compliance with intellectual property rights.
Seconds of pause
Besides the design, another feature of the clock also makes it famous. And it doesn't concern its visual aspect. You may have noticed it by glancing at the time on a station platform. No? The detail is subtle, but many Swiss travelers probably have it in mind: the seconds hand remains stuck for a short time on the 12 and only leaves when the minutes have made their little leap forward. It therefore only runs for 58.5 seconds.
To understand this curiosity, we must go back to the creation of the object in the 1940s, when it was still impossible to synchronize the mechanisms to the nearest second. So how can we ensure that the country's trains leave right on time? The revolutionary solution found at the time ensured that the master clock, located in Zurich, sent one pulse per minute to all its colleagues, thus also triggering the seconds hand. To ensure that everyone left together the next minute, they took a barely visible micropause which allowed them to adjust.
Obviously, precise synchronization could have been done since then. But marking this pause has become symbolic of a national emblem.
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