Tissot PRX Chronograph Hands-On Review
In the last couple of months, Tissot has released a new fan-favorite into their already highly esteemed PRX Collection. While the watch wasn’t exactly unexpected, the execution looked lovely, and it was an exciting watch to see come out of the Swiss brand. So naturally, I requested to review it as soon as I could. Introducing the Tissot PRX Chronograph in Blue and Silver.
I remember back in 2018, and even a little bit before that, there was this almost race to release a solid steel sport chronograph that didn’t break the bank. There were tons of contenders. Brands like Christopher Ward threw their hat in the ring, Bulova, and Citizen, but the one I’d argue came out on top was Maurice Lacroix. I had the privilege of reviewing that watch, which led me to purchase it later on down the road. It was the first watch I was excited to review in a long time.
I get a lot of the same feelings with the new Tissot PRX Chronograph. Before we get into the nitty gritty, I feel that Tissot has taken a huge step into the luxury market with this watch - And really the entire PRX Collection specifically. This watch especially is clean, fun, and provides a level of quality that had enthusiasts going “Wait, that’s a Tissot?” in my circles. Tissot was gracious enough to let me test drive both models for a couple of weeks (thanks guys!).
THE CASE:
The stainless steel case measures in at 42mm x 15.3mm. This makes it wear a smidgeon larger than what one would expect from a 42mm Chronograph. I didn’t mind the little bit of heft, as the watch was well executed and the integrated bracelet didn’t cause the “Top-Heavy-ness” expected from a Valjoux-based 42mm Chronograph. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the watch fits on my wrist despite the relative thickness to the diameter.
The case itself has a vertical satin-brushed finishing and a polished bezel with polished rectangular pushers. This provided some much needed contrast (especially on the silver dial model) that I appreciated. The thick straight lugs give the case a total 70’s vibe that so many younger enthusiasts have come to love lately. The crown was not oversized, and the time was easy to set. The open case-back displayed the lovely Valjoux movement (more on that in a little bit) just fine, and overall fit the DNA of the watch. As critical as I tried to be of this watch, I literally found no qualms with the case.
THE DIAL:
There are two features of the PRX Chronograph that I find to really shine. The first is the dial. The model currently comes with two options by way of dial offerings - a Blue and Silver “Reverse Panda”(T137.427.11.041.00), and a Silver dial “Panda” with Rose-Gold hands (T137.427.11.011.00). I’m going to start with the Silver Dial model.
I will be honest, at first, and especially in press images, I truly did not like the Rose Gold indices and handset on the silver dial. In fact, I found it to be a bit jarring aesthetically. But the more I wore it, the more it grew on me, and I ended up preferring it to the Blue Dial. After all, there are so many blue dial watches on the market, it’s hard to really get excited about one right out of the gate.
As much as I would have expected the opposite, the white dial was superbly legible - And I credit the way that Tissot has played with textures and not just materials here. The vertical brushed dial plate allows the highly polished indices and handset to pop against it in a way that allows the time to be strikingly obvious at just about any angle. The only exception I found was in the direct sunlight, it was easy to lose the seconds hand - but how much, really, is that an issue to an enthusiast?
Overall, the white dial grew to be my favorite of the two despite every expectation I had. For those on the fence about the “Two-Tone” dial, I would definitely encourage you to see it in the metal before snapping to a judgement. I’m certainly glad I did.
The Blue dial model isn’t without it’s praise. While yes, I find it to be the safer of the two models, a lot of enthusiasts will opt for it because at the end of the day, it’s timeless. The rich blue features the same satin vertical brushing and inset sub dials that provide a stark contrast for legibility.
On both models, one of my favorite features is the date window. Instead of cutting off the 4 o’ clock indice, Tissot opted to fit the date window between the subdials and indices. Does it cause a little bit of business in that quadrant of the dial? Sure, but I find it way more aesthetically pleasing than replacing an indice.
Overall, both dials fit the watch perfectly, and there is little I would change about either.
THE BRACELET:
The second feature of the Tissot PRX Chronograph that really shines is the bracelet. For experienced enthusiasts, it’s a given that pulling off an integrated bracelet isn’t exactly a simple task, but is very desired when it comes to the steel sports watch space.
I’m happy to say that Tissot nailed the bracelet on the PRX Chronograph. While nothing has been notably changed from the previous iterations of the PRX models, the bracelet has been beefed up a little bit to accommodate the weight and size of the Chronograph. The single link bracelet tapers nicely to a butterfly clasp that didn’t irritate or scratch. It was very comfortable (a feat for this single link construction) and I wasn’t struggling to keep the watch on top of my wrist. In fact, I rarely felt the need to adjust the watch at all.
The links were easy to remove and sized well. I do hope, that maybe in the future we see some kind of micro-adjustment tech in this bracelet to accommodate about half a link size difference for those hotter Florida days. The satin-brushed steel was lovely, and the chamfered edges gave the watch a more luxurious feel considering the price point.
The quick release is snappy and easy to use and secures the bracelet just fine. Future purchasers will be able to swap out the bracelet for a leather or rubber strap quickly and efficiently.
THE MOVEMENT:
Inside the Tissot PRX Chronograph is the ETA A05.H31 movement - a modified Valjoux 7753. I’ve seen a lot of grief about the caseback being open for a base movement. I disagree. Tissot has done a fantastic job of finishing and modifying the movement to give us something to look at. Besides - Honestly, who doesn’t love seeing the engine that drives a watch?
The rotor of the movement is skeletonized and finished in a dark treatment, giving high contrast to the finishing behind it - which consists of a heft amount of machined Perlage and polish. The Valjoux A05.H31 features a more than generous 60-hour power reserve. My only gripe is that the date cannot be modified by the crown - instead, you’ll need a pin to adjust it at 10 o’ clock where a corrector is.
Tissot’s biggest recent push into the modern luxury space with the PRX Collection has been my favorite of the brand’s to date. The collection has appealed massively to those looking to dip their foot into a higher quality timepiece without breaking the bank. The PRX Chronograph feels like a step further into that pool. The price point might scare away some of the more budget conscious buyers simply because a ~$2,000 Tissot feels… awkward. But I am here to say that the PRX Chronograph absolutely punches in that weight class. I’ve handled watches far more expensive from far more luxury-established brands that felt much worse than these. I would 100% encourage anyone reading this to feel the watches in the metal before writing off an “expensive” Tissot.
Overall, I have very few negative things to say about the Tissot PRX Chronograph. They were charming watches with enough retro vibes to keep seasoned enthusiasts happy, and appeal to new enthusiasts all the same. They are absolutely worth the price point, and I expect these will do very well the longer they’re in the market.
So, how much is the new Tissot PRX Chronograph?
Price for the new Tissot PRX Chronograph will come in at $1,750 USD. Read more about the watch on the brands website.