Chemin des Tourelles Automatic Chronograph
Tissot pays tribute to its prestigious past
Tissot reveals its new pieces before the spotlights shine on them and the advertising begins. The three pieces consist of a historical watch, a sports watch and a pocket watch.
By Eric Othenin-Girard
Specialised journalist
The history behind the “Chemin des Tourelles”
Since its creation in 1907, Tissot has had its headquarters on a small road on the southern hillside of the Neuchâtel Mountains in Le Locle. Today, the brand is introducing a unique piece that divulges most of its history.
The “Chemin des Tourelles” watch pays tribute to the company’s 161 years of expertise through contemporary design applied to an elegant case. The case is available in different finishes, such as polished or brushed, which perfectly illustrate Tissot’s technical skills. This symbiosis creates the luxurious yet affordable style, which is the brand’s pride and joy. Indeed, over the last twenty or so years Tissot has been producing timepieces that are economically accessible and that sport luxurious finishes.
Multiple versions
The “Chemin des Tourelles” is available in several different versions, but each and every one of them has been taken care of down to the smallest details to fully satisfy the requirements of clients. Some of them – both three-hand watches and chronographs – feature details such as “Clous de Paris” affixed under the Roman numerals. The collection thus offers numerous versions. Some clients will be drawn to the sunburst dial that plays with light whilst some others will readily opt for the sobriety of a model with a symmetrical date display. All in all, the numerous versions of the watch will undoubtedly earn the model unanimous approval.
Characteristics
- Swiss Made
- Self-winding
- 316 L stainless steel case with transparent back and a domed and scratch-resistant sapphire glass with anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance to 5 bar (50m/165ft)
- Leather strap with butterfly pusher clasp or solid 316 L stainless steel strap with butterfly pusher clasp
- Two-toned and pink gold PVD-coated versions
The Tissot PRS 516 - A sportive tribute to mechanical sports
The PRS 516 proves that Tissot is still the chosen brand for mechanical sports fans. In 1956, it paid tribute to racing cars by transposing the typical perforations of steering wheels on its strap. Those perforations were immortalized by the famous ad that shows a hand on the steering wheel of a racing car. While the new version sports modern lines, its core identity preserves the characteristics of the original model. Thus, the slightly angular case, black bezel and pushers remind us of the shape of a car engine’s pistons.
A racy design, a new movement and new materials
Details are the key element of this PRS 516, which draws its inspiration from racing cars. The piece is equipped with a new movement that Tissot has used for the first time in its history. This engine is both efficient (60-hour power reserve) and has a steering wheel-shaped rotor that highlights its design. In addition, it uses resistant and precious materials. Proof of that are the ceramic and carbon bezels equipped with a tachometer or the anti-reflective domed sapphire glass.
Tissot PRS 516
The patterns that decorate the dial look deeply etched while the date display, the volume of the counters as well as the dial’s rim evoke the lines of racing cars.
Characteristics
- Swiss Made
- Self-winding ETA A05.H31movement
- Stainless steel 316 L case with transparent back and ceramic black bezel with tachometer
- Black PVD-coated stainless steel 316 L case and transparent back and carbon bezel with tachometer
- Scratch-resistant glass sapphire with anti-reflective double-face treatment
- Water resistance to 10 bar (100m/330ft)
- Stainless steel 316 L strap with butterfly pusher clasp or leather strap with deployment buckle and pushers.
Reference to tradition
Tissot has been perpetuating tradition ever since its creation and pocket watches are an integral part of this tradition. Thus, the Bridgeport collection could not be complete without the Mechanical Skeleton. The small striations around its cases, which give it character, illustrate that it belongs to the range of self-winding models.
Innovation
However, innovation is also deeply rooted in Tissot’s DNA and that is what makes the Mechanical Skeleton so unique. Indeed, this pocket watch is Tissot’s first hunter-case watch to be driven by a skeletonized movement. It is precisely the movement that reveals the piece’s internal beauty that has seduced aficionados of pocket watches.
Characteristics
- Swiss Made
- Hand-wound mechanical movement
- 316 L stainless steel case with pink gold, or PVD-coated case and transparent back
- Scratch-resistant sapphire glass
- Water resistance to 3 bar (30m/100ft)
- Chain
