Swiss luxury watchmaker Tissot could be one that you’ve possibly overlooked. However, the company, founded by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son, Charles-Émile 1853 in Le Locle, a Swiss in the Neuchâtel area of the Jura Mountains, has a rich heritage and is responsible for some pioneering firsts within the watch industry.
The company set the ball rolling within its first year, launching the world’s first mass-produced pocket watch, which also happened to be the first pocket watch to display the time in two time zones, all from a single movement. Charles left for Russia in 1858 to sell the pocket watches to the Russian Empire, a mission which he achieved with aplomb.
Several years later, in 1930, Tissot merged with Swiss watchmaking giant OMEGA, before being acquired by Swatch Group in 1983.
Tissot has a longstanding association with sport, having been the official timekeeper for many events, including the MotoGP and various other world championship events such as skiing, basketball and fencing. The company also has a number of high-profile names on its list of ambassadors, including former San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker and world champion MotoGP rider Marc Márquez.
So, with the history lesson out of the way, now let us show you some of the very best Tissot watches you can score right now.
Gentleman Powermatic 80
Reference Number: T127.407.11.041.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Size: 40mm
Price: AU$1,250
Effortlessly bridging the gap between sports and dress watch is this Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium. An unfussy dial – finished in an awesome blue colour – is attached to a stainless steel case and bracelet. The Powermatic 80.811 movement inside offers a power reserve of a mammoth 80 hours, with the addition of a silicon balance spring providing a longer and more accurate lifespan.
T-Complication Squelette
Reference Number: T070.405.16.411.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Size: 43mm
Price: AU$2,875
For those who wish to see just how intricate the inner workings of their Tissot watch are, this T-Complication Squelette provides just the view. The skeletal dial gives a perfect glimpse at the ETA 6497 movement within; the same movement is also used as a base in some Panerai and Hamilton watches. As skeletal dials go, it’s particularly handsome, sitting within a 43mm case and being fitted with blue hands and hour markers.
Tradition Powermatic 80
Reference Number: T063.907.36.068.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel/Rose Gold PVD Coating
Size: 40mm
Price: AU$1,175
The Tradition Powermatic 80 also benefits from an 80-hour power reserve from the Powermatic 80.601 movement, but in comparison to the Tissot Gentleman edition, the Tradition is much more vintage in its design approach. A singular set of Roman numerals at 12 o’clock is followed by baton-style hour markers, but this watch is also given the designation ‘Open Heart’ due to the small peep-through window offering a glimpse of the movement within. To see the movement in full, simply flip the watch over and view it through the open caseback.
Seastar 1000 Chronograph
Reference Number: T120.417.11.051.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Size: 46
Price: $875
If a watch that is right at home in the water is something of great importance to you, then the Seastar 1000 Chronograph should fit the bill. As the name suggests, this watch can be submerged up to 1000ft/300m, while the chronograph sub-dials – runnings seconds; 30-minute and 12-hour – are powered by a quartz movement. So, unfortunately, no automatic movement here, but for increased reliability and accuracy – and the fact it’s Swiss-made – you’re not exactly missing out. Other dive watch features to make an appearance include a screw-down crown, unidirectional bezel and highly luminescent material: perfect for plunging to great depths.
Chrono XL Classic
Reference Number: T116.617.16.047.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Size: 45mm
Price: AU$550
Tissot has taken its older Chrono XL and given it a refreshed design, including the application of Arabic numerals for all hour markers, to give it a decidedly more traditional look. It’s large, make no mistake, at 45mm, but manages to sit well on the wrist thanks to a relatively thin case depth. Quartz power is onboard here, giving you a 1/10th second counter, and it can be had in a wide range of dial and strap colours to suit all tastes.
T-Touch Solar Quartz Tactile
Reference Number: T091.420.44.051.00
Case Material: Antimagnetic Titanium with Black PVD Coating
Size: 45mm
Price: AU$1,775
Tissot was the first watchmaker to launch a watch with a touchscreen in 1999 – providing further proof of its pioneering credentials – which combined an altimeter, barometer and a compass into the timepiece with a digital display. This T-Touch Expert Solar is one of the latest reincarnations of that watch, which adds support for solar power (and negating the need to change a battery). You still get the same altimeter, compass and weather functions, as well as quick access to alarms and chronograph counters.
T-Race Swissmatic
Reference Number: T115.407.37.051.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel with Rose Gold PVD Coating
Size: 45mm
Price: AU$1,225
The T-Race line of Tissot watches is to be worn to make a statement. Taking design cues from motorcycles – the dial is said to be reminiscent of a brake disc while the legs and strap attachments are meant to mimic suspension (we also catch glimpses of the Nautilus and Submersible) – the T-Race is certainly a watch for the urban explorer. The series has been previously available with quartz movement and chronograph functions, but both of those are omitted here in favour of the company’s Swissmatic automatic movement, which offers a solid entry-point into the world of Swiss-made automatic timekeeping.
Tradition Perpetual Calendar
Reference Number: T063.637.16.037.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Size: 42mm
Price: AU$650
A watch with a perpetual calendar for what can be considered incredibly affordable money? Yep, that’s what you get with this quartz-powered Tissot Tradition Perpetual Calendar. The ETA caliber G15.561 (used only by Tissot) allows for counters displaying the day, date and month along with a running seconds counter at 6 o’clock. The watch itself is elegant in its design and is available in this stainless steel with white dial or black dial, or alternatively, a white dial with rose gold PVD casing.
Le Locle Powermatic 80
Reference Number: T006.407.22.033.00
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel with Rose Gold PVD Coating
Size: 39mm
Price: AU$1,125
Named after its hometown, this Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 is another piece to benefit from the company’s 80-hour automatic movement. Elegant and refined in every way, the Le Locle, in whichever colour finish you choose, sports guilloche decoration on the dial and engraved see-through caseback that makes multiple references to its 1853 year of founding. This stainless steel and rose gold model we’ve picked out is attached to a Jubilee-style bracelet, which coupled with the smaller 39mm size, makes it the ideal dress piece.