At the beginning of 2024, Tissot introduced four watches under the name PR516. They were all chronographs, three with quartz movements and the last with a hand-wound mechanical caliber. Like the new Time & Date models we’re introducing, these are inspired by Tissot watches from the ’60s. However, these new Powermatic 80 versions are 38 mm smaller in diameter and have a different bracelet. Let’s take a closer look at the four variants of the new Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80.
Tissot PR 516 (circa 1965) — Image: Catawiki
Tissot PR 516 Chronograph (circa 1970) — Image: Oreficeria Lupetta
In his article about the Tissot PR516 chronograph, Thomas has already reflected on the history of these watches. An interesting fact is that the three-hand model dates back to 1965, and the chronograph was introduced three years later. In the case of these reprints, Tissot appears to have switched the order.
Thomas also mentioned another noteworthy point in his article. “The Tissot PR-516 (this time with a hyphen) had a special moment of glory on the silver screen in 1973. Roger Moore is seen wearing a version with a date and dive bezel.” Please let me die. This is believed to be James Bond’s personal watch from the time when he was not yet claimed by Omega. ” Well, that’s enough history lesson, let’s move on to today.
New Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80
The new Powermatic 80 version of Tissot’s PR516 is slightly larger than the James Bond model. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 38mm, a thickness of 11.2mm, and a lug-to-lug width of 45mm. Although the original PR 516 was not a diver’s watch, the case shape is reminiscent of classic skin divers. The rest of the case has a brushed finish, except for the polished bevels along each side. The fixed bezel has a steel outer ring and is either black or gold-plated, depending on the version. This surrounds an insert made of mineral crystal and has a 60 minute scale underneath.
A flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating covers a slightly domed matte dial. The minute track is concave and has 12 applied indexes. The one at 3 o’clock is slightly smaller to make room for the date window. Depending on the version, the date car will be black or white. This also applies to the dial printing, with the Tissot logo at 12 and the model name at 6 o’clock. As with the vintage PR-516 chronograph, the roots of the baton hour and minute hands are black, while the rest of the watch is finished in bare steel or gold color. The second hand on the two-tone model is black. On the other three models, either the red or yellow is a little more noticeable.
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A fairly large but well-proportioned push-pull crown allows the Powermatic 80 movement to be wound and set inside. The Swatch Group’s flagship automatic caliber is a modification of the ETA 2824 and operates at a frequency of 21,600 vph. It features 23 jewels and has a power reserve of 80 hours when fully wound. It is also equipped with a Nivachron hairspring, making it resistant to magnetic fields that may be encountered during the day. The basic finishing of the movement can be clearly seen through the sapphire crystal on the case back. The screw-down caseback also helps the PR516 Powermatic 80 to be water resistant to 100 meters.
4 versions to choose from
At launch, the Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80 is available in four colorways. The most noticeable one is the two-tone version. The Jubilee style bracelet’s polished center links are plated in yellow gold, as are the hands, hour markers, and bezel edge. The dial is a matte off-white color with black printing.
All-steel models all feature darker dials. There are two versions with matte black dials. One features a red second hand and a jubilee style bracelet. This bracelet is identical to the two-tone model (minus the gold plating), has a solid feel, and closes with a butterfly clasp. Fortunately, there is no overlap on either side, so you can close it any way you like. The clasp doesn’t have any fine-tuning features, but you can use the included half-links to find the right size.
Another matte black version has a perforated brown leather strap and a yellow seconds hand.
The final version features a matte blue dial and bezel insert, a red seconds hand and a perforated dark blue leather strap. It’s important to note here that the concave chapter ring has a brushed finish, making it a little more glossy than the rest of the dial.
first impression
In my short time with the Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80, I was very excited about this release. It may not be as iconic as the brand’s super popular model, the PRX, but it’s definitely on the same level when it comes to great proportions and an excellent level of finish. The 38mm diameter and 6mm mid-case thickness make it comfortable to wear while still giving it a very stylish look. Jubilee style bracelets are a little more elegant than the sporty three-row bracelets of chronographs. My favorite is the steel version with a matte black dial, red seconds hand, and Jubilee-style bracelet. I think it would also look great on a nice tropical style rubber strap.
What I don’t like is the glossy concave chapter ring. I think it should have been matte like the rest of the dial. Otherwise, the PR516 looks great, living up to its “especially resistant” name, with an anti-magnetic hairspring and waterproof case.
Like the popular Tissot PRX, they all come at a great price. The steel Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80 version costs 675 euros for the leather strap and 745 euros for the bracelet. The two-tone model on the bracelet is a little more expensive, costing 825 euros. For more information, please visit the Tissot official website.
What do you think about these 3-hand PR516 models? Do you prefer the chronograph version to the chronograph version or vice versa? Let us know in the comments section below.
