Tissot is one of the more recognized watch brands that I have personally enjoyed most. The details, the style, the features, the materials and the craft that has been put into producing a Tissot watch is all part of the reason why. The competitive price tag is another.
Tissot is a Swiss Made watch, but it is not handmade, although this is not obvious, at least not from a visual point of view.
Every detail stands out razor sharp, exactly as you would (and should) expect from a Swiss Made watch.
Today’s list consists of five excellent, very popular models and I will explain further down how the list was compiled, but first I’m going to address a common question about the Tissot brand.
Is Tissot a Luxury Brand?
One of the topics that occasionally pops up in various watch forums is the question of whether Tissot is a luxury watch brand or not.
Tissot claims that it is, but the question is whether perhaps that’s only partly true.
There is no official definition of what a luxury watch is, so it’s free for anyone to take the position they want.
Should I give my reasoning that Tissot does not make luxury watches, it would be partly because Tissot does not manufacture fully handmade watches. If they do, it’s very few.
Tissot produces about 3,5 million watches per year and this relatively high number means that none or very few of their watches are fully handmade.
In comparison, Rolex produces about 800,000 timepieces per year.
The price tag of a typical Tissot watch is another reason.
The Swiss Federation of Watch Manufacturers has in its reports divided watches into four categories:
- 0 – 200 CHF (fashion watches)
- 200 to 500 CHF (good watches)
- 500 – 3,000 CHF (affordable luxury watches)
- 3,000 – ? (luxury watches)
(1 CHF = 1 Swiss Franc = approx. 1,10 USD)
Most Tissot models fall into category 2 and the low end of category 3, so with that information in mind, it seems reasonable not to classify Tissot as a luxury brand.
Luxury or not, Tissot makes excellent watches and I say that from personal experience.
Although the price range of most Tissot models is between $200 and $600 and thus can be described as ‘affordable luxury watches’ at best, it’s clear that a Tissot watch is oozing with quality and style. I can absolutely confirm that.
And there’s one more thing I think is important to mention. The Tissot watches I bought decades ago are still going strong and they do not lose / win any differently than when the watches were brand new!
This may not always be the case, I can only speak for myself, but it has left me with the impression that Tissot watches are produced with care and does not disappoint, nor in the long run.
How Today’s List Was Compiled
Before we go to the list, I’d like to say a little about how today’s list was compiled and how we produce these ‘best’ lists in general.
Several factors are taken into account when we compile a ‘best’-list here on Great Wristwatches. Today’s list is no exception.
So just for the sake of clarity, let’s quickly run through the factors that contribute the most:
Popularity is based on the sales number of a specific model per year.
This number does not say much itself, but it serves as an indication of which models buyers are drawn most to.
It’s an important factor because when many people are attracted to a specific watch brand or model, it usually means that a high QPR value is involved.
QPR is explained further down.
This number indicates the users experience with their purchase and is an average number based on various sources.
QPR is an abbreviation of Quality-Price-Ratio and is a reflection of the price tag and how much you get for your money.
The number is relative and means that a watch that costs $50 may be a better buy than a watch that costs $100.
In short, QPR shows how much value you get per dollar.
We constantly make our own observations here on the site about which models are researched and bought the most.
These observations are also reflected in our ‘best’ lists.
Our own personal experience with a brand or a model.
The List
The first model on today’s list is an old acquaintance that we have reviewed earlier here at GW when we compared with its mechanical ‘twin brother’, the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80.
If you’ve read that article, one of the differences that you notice immediately is the beautiful strap which on this model is an embossed cow leather bracelet.
Related Article: Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 or Tissot Gentleman?
The leather strap is equipped with a butterfly clasp with push-buttons for maximum convenience and security.
Tissot Gentleman houses a Swiss quartz movement, which differs by -0.5 sec to +0.7 sec per day depending on temperature influence, so it’s a fairly accurate movement.
The crystal is made of synthetic sapphire which is one of the hardest and most scratch resistant materials available.
In addition, this watch is water resistant to 100 m, suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering.
FEATURES
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Clasp: Butterfly Clasp With Push-Buttons
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Band Material: Brown Leather
- Band Width: 16 mm
- Size: 40 mm x 8.5 mm
- Weight: 70 g
Price Range: $300 – $400
Buy on Amazon
Yet another Tissot Gentleman and a very popular model from Tissot, only this is the mechanical version, the Powermatic 80.
This model may be a more exciting watch to some as this is an automatic, but it is also almost twice as expensive.
Although the quartz version of Tissot Gentleman and the Powermatic 80 look so much alike, at least from a distance, they are in fact two very different watches.
And when you go closer, you discover several visual differences that leaves you with a clear impression that there has been put more effort into the details of the Powermatic 80, which is only reasonable considering the price difference.
(See a detailed comparison here)
The 316L stainless steel case houses a Swiss automatic movement and the watch is water resistant to 100 m.
Also worth mentioning is the sapphire crystal and of course the date feature.
All in all, you get the feeling that this is close to being the perfect dress watch for gentlemen.
FEATURES
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Clasp: Deployant Clasp With Push-Buttons
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Width: 21 mm
- Size: 40 mm x 11.5 mm
- Weight: 164 g
Price Range: $650 – $800
Buy on Amazon
The next model on the list shares several good features with the first two models shown, but also has an Arabic numeral dial, which some prefer.
The color of the dial is blue.
The watch’s case is a bit thicker than Tissot Gentleman – 8.9 mm thick to be exact – but must still be categorized as being a thin model and this is due to the Swiss quartz movement that takes up less space than a mechanical movement.
The watch also has a slightly larger diameter, 42 mm, which usually is a more popular size than 40 mm.
In addition it’s worth mentioning sapphire crystal, solid stainless steel case, stainless steel bracelet, date and water resistance to 100 m.
Another nice feature is the battery EOL indicator that informs you when the battery needs to be replaced. Then the second hand begins to jump by four-second increments.
FEATURES
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Clasp: Push Button Foldover Clasp With Safety
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Width: 22 mm
- Size: 42 mm x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 142 g
Price Range: $200 – $325
Buy on Amazon
A swift move to a completely different type of watches, yet very popular Tissot collection.
This is the Seastar series, a collection of excellent diving watches.
Seastar is available either as automatic with Powermatic 80 or in a quartz version.
If you choose quartz – which is cheaper – you also choose chronograph, because with the Seastar series those two features are closely linked.
This model is the mechanical version and is equipped with Powermatic 80 and has a Milanese bracelet in stainless steel.
The watch can easily be used as a dress watch, but since it’s designed as a diving watch, it is water resistant to 300 m and has a screw-down crown.
The model is also characterized by having a power reserve up to 80 hours.
FEATURES
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Clasp: Jewelry Clasp With Push Button
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Width: 21 mm
- Size: 43 mm x 12.7 mm
- Weight: 147 g
Price Range: $600 – $750
Buy on Amazon
We end the list with a classic, the Tissot PRX, first introduced in 1978, but now ‘reinvented’ here in 2021 with the latest technology available.
The case is ‘Tonneau’ shaped and made of 316L stainless steel, one of the best materials for watch cases, and the bracelet is also made of stainless steel.
Sapphire crystal seem to be standard with Tissot and of course this model is also water resistant to 100 m, which is basically the best protection you can expect from a watch that isn’t a diving watch.
This slim, elegant dress watch comes with a convenient battery EOL indicator (EOL = End-Of-Life) and the hands are coated with Super-Luminova.
FEATURES
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Clasp: Butterfly Clasp With Push Buttons
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Width: 21 mm
- Size: 40 mm x 10.4 mm
- Weight: 130 g
Price Range: $600 – $750
Buy on Amazon
Related Articles
Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 or Tissot Gentleman?
What Is a Milanese Watch Strap?
