The Tissot Classic collection is home to numerous classic and sporty timepieces for men and women. You can choose between models with quartz movements and automatic calibers. All Classic variants are made of stainless steel, which is either brushed or polished, depending on the exact watch. You will also find black and gold-plated timepieces as well as two-tone watches in this collection. All models have a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protecting the dial, while many automatic versions let you peek at the movement through their display case back. The more popular lines within the Classic collection are the Le Locle, Gentleman, and PRX series.
Tissot PRX: Revived in 2021
The current Tissot PRX collection is an ode to the PRX 40 205 from 1978. The P stands for precision, R for reliability, and the X is the Roman numeral for 10, representing the watches' water rating to 10 bar. With this model, the watchmaker introduced a watch that, like the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, has a barrel-shaped stainless steel case with an integrated bracelet.
Stand-out features include the emphatically thin 40-mm case, occasional dials with waffle patterns, and narrow indices and hands. The technology, craftsmanship, and stainless steel bracelet – which features a quick-change system – are considerably more modern than they were back in the 1970s. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal rounds off the Tissot PRX.
The PRX collection comprises several versions that you can buy with a quartz movement or with the modern Powermatic 80. The latter is an automatic caliber that can be found in the ref. T137.407.11.041.00, among others. This watch has a blue dial with a waffle motif, which is reserved for the automatic PRX models. The movement offers a power reserve of 80 hours and is equipped with a Nivachron hairspring.
You can buy one of these timepieces in mint condition on Chrono24 for around 570 USD. The black dial version costs the same. If you are interested in the ref. T931.407.41.291.00, a two-tone model with a rose gold bezel, prices will jump to around 1,600 USD.
Tissot added the PRX Chronograph Valjoux to their lineup in 2022. As the name gives away, this 42-mm watch is powered by a Valjoux-based chronograph caliber. The A05.H31 has three subdials and offers a healthy power reserve of 60 hours. As for the design, you can opt for either black subdials on a gray background or white subdials on a blue dial. Tissot lists this model for 1,750 USD – quite a good deal for an automatic chronograph.
If you love the look of the PRX but are looking to spend a little less, check out the ref. T137.410.11.041.00. This timepiece has a blue sunburst dial and is powered by the F06.115, a quartz caliber from ETA. This watch's special feature is its EOL indicator. This "end of life" complication tells you when you need to replace the battery.
There are very few watches that can compete with both the functionality and affordability of the quartz-powered PRX; new models cost around the 300 USD mark. Just like the automatic version, you can choose between a black dial version and a two-tone edition.
Le Locle: Decisively Elegant
The Le Locle line from Tissot caters to those who prefer watches with a strong, classic design. The classic element is underscored by the fact that all Le Locle models are only available with an automatic movement. The series consists almost exclusively of three-hand watches with narrow leaf (or "feuille") hands.
The ref. T006.407.11.053.00 features a black dial with guilloché detailing and silver, applied Roman numerals. The stainless steel case is 39.3 mm in diameter, meaning it also cuts a fine figure on slender wrists. Inside the case, you'll find the Powermatic 80 which has an 80-hour power reserve. The watch is paired with a seven-piece link bracelet with a butterfly clasp and costs around 430 USD new on Chrono24.
The case, hands, and hour markers of the ref. T006.407.36.053.00 are coated in rose gold. This reference comes on a black cowhide strap fashioned to look like alligator leather with a butterfly clasp. Plan to spend around 490 USD on a new example.
If you can imagine strapping a two-tone watch with rose gold accents to your wrist, then take a look at the ref. T006.407.22.036.01. The dial of this model exudes opulence: the indices are applied Top Wesselton diamonds weighing 0.06 karats. The middle links of the bracelet – like the bezel, crown, and set of hands – are coated in rose gold. You can buy this Tissot watch for roughly 620 USD.
The women's watches in the Le Locle series measure 25.3 mm across. The ETA caliber 2671 ticks away inside the case, which has a power reserve of 38 hours. Both the case and bracelet of the ref. T41.1.183.16 are made of stainless steel. The dial is white and features applied Roman numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. The remaining hours are punctuated with Top Wesselton diamonds, which have a total weight of 0.014 karats. This watch costs around 490 USD new.
Of course, Tissot also offers two-tone women's watches in their Le Locle collection. One example is the stainless steel and yellow gold ref. T41.2.183.34. The white dial boasts golden, applied bar indices, which make space for Roman numerals at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions. You can expect this reference to set you back around 570 USD.
Gentlemen Collection: Elegance With a Sporty Flair
Tissot introduced the sporty yet elegant Gentleman collection in 2020. You will find a wide selection of stainless steel and two-tone watches with three hands and a date display. There are also different dial colors with applied hour markers and bands to choose from. The 40-mm timepieces house either a quartz caliber or the Powermatic 80 automatic movement. Other universal features include a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and water resistance to 100 meters (10 bar, 328 ft). If you decide on a model with an automatic movement, you'll be able to see the watch at work through the display case back.
The ref. T127.407.11.051.00 is one of the watches in the Tissot Gentleman series with an unquestionably classic design language. The automatic timepiece features a black sunburst dial and comes on a stainless steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp. You'll need to have around 660 USD on hand to call one of these references your own.
You will also find a quartz-powered model under the reference number T127.410.11.051.00. This watch owes its high reliability to the ETA F06.115, which will also let you know when you need to replace the battery. New examples sell for around 310 USD. The silver and blue dial versions demand similar prices.
If you're in the market for a Tissot Gentleman in a two-tone design on a leather strap, look no further than the ref. T927.407.46.291.00. Its bezel and hands are crafted from 18-karat rose gold, which harmonize beautifully with the brown dial and brown leather strap. This Gentleman costs around 1,000 USD. Fans of two-tone or yellow gold watches on a stainless steel bracelet should take a look at the ref. T927.407.41.031.01. These timepieces cost around 1,200 USD in mint condition.