Tissot is a Swiss watchmaker founded in 1853 in Le Locle, in the Jura Mountains of the Canton of Neuchâtel. It was founded by a father and son: Charles-Félicien Tissot as the case maker and Charles-Émile Tissot as the watchmaker. The brand grew through selling pocket watches to the Russian Empire, and later became known as the official timekeeper for various sports, including MotoGP, cycling, fencing, and ice hockey. Tissot is now part of the Swatch Group and is sold in around 160 countries. Swatch classes it as a mid-range watch, with the slogan "Innovators by Tradition". For buyers of secondhand watches, the range of models is wide: from the currently popular PRX series to Tissot-Omega era watches that collectors look for.
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Tissot began in a family home in Le Locle. Charles-Félicien Tissot made the cases, his son Charles-Émile made the watches, and together they turned their home into a small factory in 1853. In 1858 Charles-Émile left for Russia and succeeded in selling savonnette pocket watches across the Russian Empire. That market became Tissot's largest, and its watches were even known in the circles around the Tsar's court. In 1885 Charles Tissot, Charles-Émile's son, moved to Moscow to run the branch his father had opened.
The global financial crisis of 1929 brought the watch industry almost entirely to a halt. In that situation Omega and Tissot joined forces under Paul Tissot-Daguette, who was trained at Tissot and became Omega's managing director in 1930. The result was SSIH. Tissot-Omega watches from this period up to the present are sought after by collectors. In the period from 1929 to 1930 Tissot is also said to have introduced the first anti-magnetic watch. In sport, its first official duty as a timekeeper came in 1938, for a series of ski races in Villars-sur-Ollon. Tissot was later used for the Davis Cup in 1957.
Tissot also likes to experiment with materials. It claims to be the first to make watches from plastic (Idea 2001, 1971), Alpine granite (RockWatch, 1985), mother-of-pearl (Pearl, 1987), and wood (Wood, 1988). In 1999 the T-Touch touch-screen watch arrived, with a touch-sensitive sapphire crystal. The first PRX model came out in 1978, was discontinued in the 1980s, then was re-released in 2021 and became one of the best-selling watches of this decade.
- PRX: A stainless steel watch with an integrated bracelet, first released in 1978 and re-released in 2021 with many dial colour options.
- T-Touch: A line of touch watches since 1999, with a touch-sensitive sapphire crystal for a compass, barometer, altimeter, and thermometer.
- Idea 2001: A plastic watch from 1971 that is described as the first plastic watch.
- RockWatch: A watch made of Alpine granite, from 1985.
- PR 516: A watch with a rally-style steel bracelet that can be seen worn in the film Shaft.
What we check before listing
We match the style of the case, dial, and bracelet to the model being claimed, including whether the original bracelet is still fitted. On the PRX, look at the integrated bracelet: the join to the case should be tight, and scratches should be reasonable for steel. For the T-Touch, we test whether the crystal responds to touch and whether functions such as the compass and thermometer still work. We look at the condition of the crown, case back, and gasket, because water resistance can decline with age. On vintage or Tissot-Omega era watches, we check whether the dial and hands are still original and not replacements.
Caring for it
Clean the case and steel bracelet with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry them. Keep leather straps away from water and excess sweat. Quartz or solar watches need a battery replacement or a regular check by a watchmaker. After the battery is replaced or the case back is opened, ask for the gasket to be checked so that water resistance is kept up.
FAQ
What class of watch is Tissot?
Tissot is part of the Swatch Group, which classes it as a mid-market product. Its official slogan is "Innovators by Tradition".
Is Tissot the same as Mathey-Tissot?
No. According to our sources, Tissot is not related to Mathey-Tissot, which is a different Swiss watch company.
What makes the PRX so sought after?
The PRX first came out in 1978, was discontinued in the 1980s, then was re-released in 2021. Its dial colour options, affordable price, versatile function, and durability have made it popular.
What should be checked on a secondhand Tissot T-Touch?
Make sure the sapphire crystal responds to touch and that functions such as the compass, barometer, altimeter, and thermometer work. Also check the battery, or the solar panel on solar versions.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).