Like many of us, I am a fan of the design aesthetic of Gerald Genta – the geometric shapes, alternating finishes, integrated bracelets, simple dials, etc. I’ve been low-key hunting for a reasonably sized, affordable, white dial integrated bracelet watch to serve as a “grab and go” for a couple of years. Until now, it’s been a hard ask. Recent integrated bracelet watches tend to be too thick, poorly constructed, poorly designed, trying too hard to mimic a much more expensive watch or some combination of the above.
Enter Tissot’s announcement of the PRX. Integrated bracelet, fairly minimal design, made by a brand with a reputation for quality and attention to detail, and under $400.
I jumped for the brushed silver dial, though I consider it more cream or white depending on the lighting. Tissot also offers a sunburst black or blue if you’re a fan of darker dials. The vertical brushing on the light dial nicely echoes the brushing on the case and bracelet, and the fact that the dial is white lets me pretend that Tissot matched the date wheel to the dial. The date window has a chamfered edge, showing that Tissot did not miss a single detail. To contrast the dial, Tissot chose to use rose gold colored hands and applied indices. This means that the watch has excellent visibility at every angle. Both the hands and indices have brushed and polished surfaces to subtly reflect the light. The hands are lumed with Superluminova, and the indices have white stripes to match the hands. The dial printing is minimal and balanced, echoing the overall design aesthetic of the PRX.
At 40mm wide, 44mm lug to lug (really it’s 51mm since the end links don’t articulate), and 10.4mm thick, it’s a modern version of Tissot’s 1978 entry into the luxury sports watch space with updated sizing and construction. The uncoated sapphire crystal is flat with a small chamfer around the edge and provides perfect visibility to the dial underneath. The solid stainless steel case is sleek and well finished. The bezel and top chamfers are mirror polished and add a pleasing amount of flash to the watch when it catches the light. The top, sides, and back have a fine vertical brushed finish that flows seamlessly into the bracelet. The lugs angle down slightly so that despite the case and first end links having a larger length, it still curves very comfortably around my 6.5” wrist. The PRX boasts a 100m water resistance rating (the X in the PRX), making it more than capable of fulfilling daily driving duties.
When Tissot first announced the PRX, the biggest question on my mind was: how good can the bracelet actually be at this price point? The answer: REALLY GOOD. The links are thin, tightly fit together, but still articulate fully. The brushing on the top and sides matches perfectly with the case, making you wonder if maybe the whole thing was milled out of a single piece of steel. Where the links meet each other, it’s mirror-polished to allow the bracelet to catch the light as it flows around my wrist. The hidden butterfly clasp feels secure and allows the bracelet to taper smoothly from 27mm at the lug to 17.5mm at the clasp. Tissot includes two half links to ensure that you can get the perfect fit since there is no micro-adjustment available within the clasp. Compared to the vintage bracelets this watch draws inspiration from, the bracelet on the PRX is tightly constructed and sleek, not a hair-pulling rattle trap. A lot of thought and production effort went into the bracelet, and it shows.
Let’s face it, this is not a watch you buy for the amazing or unique movement, but Tissot didn’t cheap out here either. The PRX features an ETA F06.115 movement, which has an EOL indicator, the ability to hack, and a projected battery life of 2 years. A quartz movement is definitely keeping true to the design aesthetic and ethos behind the PRX. The original PRX and other luxury sports watches of the 1970s used quartz movements to create watches thinner than had ever been possible before while emphasizing the premium finishing of the case and bracelet. The new PRX continues this aesthetic for the modern era at an affordable price point.
For me, the Tissot PRX fills a hole in the watch market that imitators and cheap cash grabs had previously occupied. It’s sharp, well constructed, reliable, and looks much more expensive than the $375 MSRP would suggest. Tissot plans to release an automatic version of the PRX, powered by the Powermatic movement, for around $600, but I’m not certain it’s worth waiting for. I think the dials available with the quartz PRX are more attractive, the quartz movement is more in keeping with the style, and you get the same great case and bracelet for almost half the price of the Powermatic versions. If you’re looking for a sleek, comfortable watch that you can wear for any occasion, the Tissot PRX hits on all cylinders.
