A few months ago, we introduced a rather handsome and well-made Tissot watch: the PRX. At that time, our only slight doubt was that this watch was equipped with a quartz movement. Now, our prayers seem to be answered by the god of clocks.
Since its launch in early 2021, PRX has garnered considerable attention. This is largely due to Tissot's excellent social media marketing strategy, but more importantly, the product itself speaks. Its beautiful appearance and eye-catching price point undoubtedly help to position itself as one of the best novelty products of 2021.
Tissot has now taken the PRX to a notch with a mechanical version. How does this compare to a regular quartz-driven PRX? Is it worth the premium? Let's find out!
Retail price from S$950 (inclusive of GST)
The new PRX Powermatic 80 is an extension of the popular PRX collection, inspired by the brand's watches made in the 1970s. The new PRX Powermatic 80 not only has a different movement (as its name suggests), but also has some subtle but great touches in other aspects of the watch.
As mentioned in the previous review, the PRX is a 40mm timepiece inspired by the original model first introduced in 1978. It features a barrel case and an integrated bracelet, which was almost a fad in that period (and is also true now, with the revival of sports watches). Combined with the case is a circular bezel, in which it has a shiny mirror polish, which contrasts with the brush treatment of the case itself. The shape and angle here are interesting, as Tissot uses curves and circles on the bezel and case contours, while adding angular elements to the lugs and bracelet. This makes PRX visually very interesting.
Since we are talking about cases, we think we should also talk about integrated bracelets. The tapered appearance complements the overall design of the watch, and we particularly like how Tissot worked to change the surface treatment of the bracelet links (external brushing, mirror polishing of the inner/connecting parts). Despite its relatively low price, we do appreciate the work done on top of it.
Next, we have another highlight of this piece. Unlike the quartz-driven PRX, the PRX Powermatic 80 comes with a trimmed dial. It's definitely an upgrade, and the new dial undoubtedly adds a nice touch to this watch – not least because the more plain-looking brushed dial found in its brothers may be a bit bland for some.
On top of that, another minor but important touch is the wrapping of the date indicator. For this particular piece, Tissot added a steel border to the aperture window. While this is a tiny detail, it is not found in the quartz model – which suggests that better mechanical watches pay more attention to detail.
Finally, we have hands. True to the original, the PRX comes with a pair of stick-like hands. From the information we've gathered, modern PRXs have thicker pointer widths, which we think is better as well. It is worth noting that since this is a mechanical version with a smooth sweep over the second hand, the problem of misaligned second hands in the quartz version has also been solved.
As mentioned in the previous article, the PRX is indeed a handsome watch. We also like how Tissot managed to keep the watch's slim shape – despite the use of a mechanical movement and an exhibition caseback. It is worth noting that this watch is only 0.5 mm thicker than the quartz model (10.4 mm). It's truly remarkable.
Powering the mechanical PRX is Tissot's Powermatic 80. This movement should be familiar to most collectors, as it is widely used in Tissot's mechanical components. The self-winding movement is equipped with the patented Nivachron hairspring and has a power reserve of approximately 80 hours. In addition, the movement has a date function, which indicates the 3 o'clock position on the side of the dial.
The finish of the movement is simple and fits its price point. The only thing worth noting is the winding rotor, which is printed with the Tissot logo and some wavy motifs. Otherwise, it is a simple movement that does its job brilliantly and reliably.
Competitive landscape
The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 is priced at S$950 in a stainless steel version and the two-tone model for S$990, with rose gold PVD coatings on the bezel, hands and hour markers. The all-steel version has a black or blue dial, while the two-tone version offers only a white dial.
At this price point, the PRX Powermatic 80 offers tremendous value. It is rare for Swiss-made mechanical watches to sell for less than S$1,000, let alone such a well-made watch with an integrated bracelet. For its value, we dare say that this is probably one of the best value for money in 2021, and may even continue into recent years.
In terms of competition, there are also very few.
The first is probably one of the easiest mechanical timepieces to use in Switzerland: the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm. The S$690 Hamilton watch is very affordable, but we do say that Tissot's one-piece bracelet and versatility may be slightly superior. That being said, Hamilton – as a hand-wound timepiece with a military-style look – also has its charm.
Next, we have Yema Superman Steel Bronze. This is another retro-inspired piece whose interior movement is also impressive (in the form of YEMA2000). Again, in terms of versatility, perhaps PRX does it better. But in other ways, we think both PRX and Superman offer a lot of value. Interestingly, the Superman Steel Bronze is available in 39mm and 41mm models for €990 (about S$1,567).
Finally, we have the Seiko Presage series. We've always been a big fan of Seiko watches, and its Presage collection is probably the most valuable of its many collections. The cocktail collection has a lot of great pieces, and the 2017 edition – known as the Presage Cocktail Time "Sakura" – seems to us to be a very reliable piece. The 40.5 mm watch is equipped with the ubiquitous Calibre 4R35, which was previously priced at €420 (about S$665). While it may be difficult to find this precise variant in the store these days, we think the other mechanical parts of the Presage series still offer excellent design and an attractive price point.
Concluding thoughts
A week after using the PRX Powermatic 80, we've raved about this watch. It offers tremendous value for watches priced below S$1,000. It does take a few notches above the quartz-powered PRX — especially with the addition of the Tapisserie dial.
In addition, the 40mm PRX is a modest fit for the wrist (the author is about 6.75 inches). It may feel small for people with larger wrists, but in an Asian environment, we do think it's sized to fit our wrists. It is also very light and comfortable, making it a breeze to wear.
All in all, we think the PRX Powermatic 80 could be one of the best novelty products of 2021. It's reasonably priced, looks good, and is quite reliable in terms of manufacturing quality. This is another watch that is hard to pick on, and we do think it's undoubtedly a great watch for any new collector to start their watch collecting journey. We definitely have another winner here!