Tissot Adds a Chronograph to the PRX Collection

This is one that most of us probably saw coming. Even if you didn’t actively predict this new watch from Tissot, if someone had asked you “What do you think Tissot will do next with their PRX line?” I think it’s pretty likely most of you would have said, “Well, a chrono makes sense.” Because a chrono does make sense. This is how you build out a product line these days: you start with the value oriented quartz piece to get enthusiasts accustomed to the design language, then you make a premium version available with a mechanical movement, and now we’ve moved into the complications phase. A mechanical chrono is a logical choice for a watch many think looks a heck of a lot like a certain integrated bracelet sports watch that is currently unobtainable, and this release certainly only ties those watches closer together. 

The PRX Automatic Chronograph’s predictability is a feature, not a bug. Tissot had an immediate hit on their hands when the quartz PRX dropped a little over a year ago, and the quick follow up with a mechanical version made it clear that this would be a entire watch ecosystem for Tissot to play in, and they’ve done that with plenty of variants for each version of the watch, largely building on an aesthetic coming straight out the 1980s, when the original PRX that the new watches are based on was produced. The chronograph unsurprisingly maintains exactly the same look as the PRX watches before it, with an angular cushion case, integrated bracelet design, and plenty of brushed finishing with crisp transitions to the polished bits. 

At launch, two dial options are available for the 42mm version of the watch: blue with white subdials, and white with black subdials and gold tone accents. Each has a date at 4:30 (cue the comments any minute now…) and a fairly large “PRX” wordmark within the hour totalizer at 6:00. This is present on previous editions of the watch, but it reads a little differently, and is perhaps a bit more cluttered, on a chronograph. Call me crazy, but at first glance this is actually a more objectionable design choice than the date window, which is at least functional. 

Powering the watch is the automatic Valjoux A05 H31 caliber, visible through the display caseback and carrying an impressive 60 hours of power reserve. The A05 H31 is a newer adaptation of the Valjoux 7753 caliber, and has been used in a bunch of Tissot watches prior to the PRX, including the Tissot Heritage 1973. This is not a particularly svelte movement, and while we don’t have the case thickness confirmed, Tissot’s own images reveal a watch that will likely wear very differently than the altogether pretty thin PRX watches from last year (especially the quartz, obviously). The Heritage 1973 chronograph is notably chunky, coming in at nearly 15mm thick, so that will be at least one barometer we’ll measure the new PRX chrono against. 

The PRX Automatic Chronograph will set you back $1,750 once it arrives at retailers this summer, so the trend of each new PRX roughly doubling in price continues for now. Tissot