Tissot is well-known for pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than with their PRX collection of watches. These watches have a power reserve of 80 hours – almost double the typical mechanical movement. If you only wear your watch a couple of times a week, that’s excellent news.
I recently obtained a Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 on the renowned integrated bracelet – specifically the blue dial version. I wanted to learn more about it than the power reserve, and get a sense for how it wears. Here’s what I found, along with some of my thoughts on this long-lasting timepiece.
A Broad Case
The PRX Powermatic 80 looks bigger than it actually is. That’s because the case has a broad tonneau shape, measuring 40mm wide and 39mm tall. The dial is circular, which leaves a lot of bare brushed steel. You’ll also notice that the lugs are unusually narrow, at only 12mm. This is a drawback if you want to use a third-party strap. But it’s a great benefit if you want to use other Tissot interchangeable straps.
The case is crafted from 316L stainless steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant. Despite the broad, tall profile, it doesn’t feel too oversized. That’s mostly because it measures just 10.9mm thick, including the bezel, which has a smooth surface and a semicircular cross-section.
The crown is located at 3 o’clock, and is knurled around the perimeter to make it easier to handle. At the tip, you’ll notice an engraved “T” for Tissot. The crown also screws down, which contributes to the watch’s 100-meter water-resistance rating.
The crystal has a slight bevel around the circumference; it doesn’t distort the dial, but it creates an attractive accent that catches the light in a different way. The surface is scratch-resistant, and is coated with an anti-reflective finish. Meanwhile, the display case back is manufactured from the same material. Around the case back, there are a number of details engraved, such as the model and water-resistance rating.
This watch is covered by Tissot’s two-year manufacturer’s warranty. If anything is defective, you’ll be protected.
A Minimalist Dial
As I said, I received the PRX Powermatic 80 with a blue dial. But it’s available in several colors, including black, white, green, and a striking gold version with an 18K gold bezel. On all versions except the gold, the surface of the dial has a textured finish, with raised squares laid out in pattern similar to what you’d find on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The words “Tissot 1853” are printed near 12 o’clock in fine silver letters, with “PRX Powermatic 80” near 6 o’clock.
Around the circumference of the dial, you’ll notice short, ultra-fine hashes at the individual minute marks. The hashes at the 5-minute marks are a bit fatter and significantly longer, with white stripes down the centers. A double hash accentuates the 12 o’clock position, while the 3 o’clock hash is somewhat abbreviated. It butts up to a date window with a matching silver border. The date window itself has black Arabic numerals on a plain white background.
The hour and minute hands are the same silver as the index, and are broad and blocky, with only the slightest taper at the tip. This makes room for wide white stripes down the centers. The second hand, meanwhile, is very narrow, barely wider than a sewing needle.
The stripes on the 5-minute hashes and hands have a Super LumiNova finish, which makes the watch easy to read at any time of day.
A High-Quality Swiss Movement
The thing that attracted me to this watch in the first place was the movement. The Powermatic 80.111 is made by Tissot, and not much is known about it. However, online sleuths have deduced that it’s based on the ETA C07.111, which is in turn based on the popular ETA 2824-2 movement. This modified movement sports 23 jewels, along with the impressive 80-hour power reserve I already discussed.
Another neat feature of the Powermatic 80.111 is the titanium-alloy balance spring. Standard ferrous metal springs can be affected by magnetic fields that throw off your watch’s accuracy. Titanium mostly ignores magnetic fields, allowing for a far more accurate timepiece.
A Unique Strap System
The watch I received came with an integrated bracelet. It has to be one of the best bracelets made at this price point, I absolutely love it.
That said, there are other options. Different colors will come with different colored leather. You can also order some colors with alternative straps. For example, the blue version is also available on an integrated leather band.
You can also swap in any of Tissot’s interchangeable straps. That way, you can mix and match colors or just use the incredible tri-link bracelet.
For more information visit the official Tissot website here.
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