The 35MM Tissot PRX Might Be the Perfect Affordable Summer Watch

Tissot’s PRX line of sports watches is one of a handful of genuine hit releases in the sub $1,000 category. The original quartz version, at $375, is priced almost in impulse purchase territory. An automatic with an 80 hour power reserve at $650 is equally compelling, especially given the better than average finishing and security of Tissot being a known quantity in the watch world. Also, let’s not beat around the bush: even though this design is based on a watch from Tissot’s archives, these bear a certain resemblance to a currently unobtainable and very expensive integrated bracelet sports watch. Part of the fun here is getting a small taste of what it might feel like to wear a watch in that style at a price that doesn’t make you squirm too badly. As summer approaches, there’s something undeniably appealing about a lightweight, inexpensive sports watch that won’t break the bank, and Tissot has a bunch of options this year. 

The first batch of PRX watches came in at 40mm in diameter. Anyone who has ever experimented with an integrated bracelet sports watch knows that the measured diameter never tells the whole tale of how these watches actually wear. In almost every case, a watch in this style will wear bigger than the measurements suggest – it’s just a lot of metal to contend with, and these watches frequently have a cushion style case that lays flat but takes up significant wrist real estate. In response, Tissot has released a sub-collection of 35mm quartz powered PRX watches that are intended to work well for smaller wrists. They also might hold an appeal for collectors who simply want a smaller and easier to wear integrated bracelet sports watch.

The 35mm PRX lineup features satin finished stainless steel cases, with dials in silver, blue, green, and an icey blue. There’s also a variant in a full yellow gold coating. We’re talking bracelet, case, and dial. This one is pure 80s in my eyes, and the one to go for if your goal is total authenticity to the era. The other options run the gamut from on-trend colorways (green and that lighter shade of blue that’s popping up everywhere) and more conservative time tested options (you’ll never go wrong with silver or dark blue). 

The specifications reveal some solid value. Like the original PRX from last year, these are still just $375. For that you get a sapphire crystal, 100 meters of water resistance, and a Swiss made quartz movement. There are additional little details throughout that step up the game of these little watches beyond what you might expect if you were to only look at the price tag. They have signed crowns, applied hour markers lumed hands. Most importantly, there’s a fidelity to the original design of the first PRX from the late 70s that enthusiasts are likely to appreciate. According to Tissot, the measurements of the 35mm PRX make it nearly identical in size to the vintage version, so wearing these will really be like a time warp for some. 

The new 35mm Tissot PRX line is currently available on the brand’s website right here.