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Generally speaking, Tissot is not a brand that takes a lot of risks. With the exception of PRX, which introduced the integrated bracelet look to the masses a few years ago, Swatch-owned Swiss brands rarely make much of a splash. In return, the company fulfills its civic duty as a company that offers quality Swiss watches at affordable prices across a wide variety of attractive designs. It has thus become one of the most popular entry-level luxury brands in the world, making it the perfect brand for everyone from university graduates to the British Prime Minister. There are some great releases, especially in 2024, and these are our favorites.
Tissot PRX UFO Robot Grendizer
It would be easy to argue that the PRX is Tissot’s current flagship model. As a result, there are too many references such as dial color, case size, movement, etc. to keep track of. But the PRX UFO Robot Grendizer definitely stands out because of the Grendizer on the dial. While referencing anime in watchmaking is becoming more and more common, this particular series from the 1970s remains an incredibly niche choice for a watch dial, and we’re curious to see how much of it it is. I love being geeky. We hosted a launch party for this watch at a backstreet bar in Melbourne, complete with an ultraviolet light show to showcase Grendizer’s neon-adoring luminous display. Apart from the dial, the 40mm case houses another reliable Powermatic 80 movement with (you guessed it) automatic winding and an 80-hour power reserve. Price: $825
Tissot Heritage 1938 Automatic COSC
Tissot has long championed the affordable segment of the market, offering great value and handsome design. The Heritage 1938 is one of the best examples, which includes a curious but COSC-certified ETA 2824 in place of the brand’s usual Powermatic 80, and costs well over $1,000. is below. Although it’s a new color, this blue-on-silver model is particularly beautiful, and while the hand-wound movement would be more in keeping with the times, I don’t think many will complain about the 39mm x 11mm case and 50 meter water resistance. I think so. resistance. Price: $875
Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Skeleton
Skeletonization has garnered negative reactions from most watch enthusiasts, with some appreciating the technique and others feeling that it cheapens the overall look of the watch. Like anything else, it depends on your actual implementation and may ring true for more affordable skeletonized options. Thankfully, there’s nothing lazy or gimmicky about the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Skeleton. The three color schemes offer vastly different personalities, but it’s impossible to top the black PVD reference with a smoky brown dial. As if assembled by an alley watchmaker in a dystopian night market, this watch seamlessly blends its industrial appeal with the brushed sector’s classic approach, with dauphine hands and applied indexes. .
The sizing, with a diameter of 39 mm and lug-to-lug length of 44 mm, hits a similar sweet spot with the overall design, and the Powermatic 80 movement continues to please. Price: $930, blue dial available at T+T Shop
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Forged Carbon
The carbon craze hasn’t caught on as well as other alternative case materials such as titanium, but it’s slowly starting to appear in catalogs at almost every price point. Forged carbon has far surpassed traditional carbon fiber textiles as a watchmaking material because it can be more easily molded into 3D shapes and its marbling appears less abrasive than the rough lines of woven textiles. On the PRX Powermatic 80 Forged Carbon, the black case, bezel, and dial give the watch a modern, tactical look, while the lightweight nature of the case and bracelet makes it comfortable to wear on your wrist.
The bright indexes provide strong contrast for easy legibility, and of course the Powermatic 80 is a fan-favorite automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve. Price: $995, wide range of PRX models available from the Time+Tide shop
Tissot PR516 Chronograph
Tissot doesn’t rely solely on its vintage back catalog for new watch releases, but the brand also excels at reissuing old favorites. There’s never a bad time to introduce a 1960s racing chronograph. The Tissot PR516 chronograph lives up to all of these classic expectations without feeling derivative. The tachymeter bezel has a white part in the first quarter, which can actually be used as a pulsometer to measure heart rate. This is legitimately useful in the fitness world and is far more likely to be used than the tachymeter itself. The blocky hands on the dial evoke the quirky feel of the late 60s and early 70s, and the contrast between the black dial and silver is very modern.
At 41mm in diameter and 13.7mm thick, this is a fairly modest size for a chronograph. The movement is the Valjoux A05.291, which shares lineage with the 7753 and has a long history of reliability, serviceability, and excellent performance. The exhibition caseback is a nice touch, and the fact that it’s hand-wound for a 60-hour power reserve gives the wearer a more personal connection with the movement on a daily basis. Price: $1,850, available from T+T Shop
