The new Valjoux-powered chrono brings a new look to the brand's most popular collection.
Tissot has made the strongest push of any watch brand of late in breaking through to mainstream watch buyers with its throwback PRX line of watches. You know — the integrated bracelet, Royal Oak-on-a-budget pieces that have come hard for the "Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is the best value in mechanical watches" hive.
Well this past week, Tissot emerged with a brand new take: The PRX Automatic Chronograph.
The watch takes a similar retro stance to its predecessors by using a Valjoux A05 H31 chronograph movement (an automatic caliber which Tissot has seen fit to exhibit via a see-through caseback) and maintaining the angular 1970s aesthetic complete with the bracelet that we have come to appreciate on the PRX over the last few years.
The 42mm chrono comes in two dial options: Blue, or silver with rose gold-plated hands and a panda effect (via the contrast of black subdials agains the silver background). The dials feature a 30-minute and 12-hour totalizer. Each of the two variants utilize a "controversial" 4:30 date window as well as the PRX wordmark down near six o'clock.
Tissot presented this watch alongside other additions to the PRX line including new 35mm options (harkening back to Tissot's past) and a drool-worthy gold on gold on gold option. The PRX Chrono may have been announced the other day, but eager buyers will have to wait until June to pick one up
The Tissot PRX is, for lack of a better explanation, Tissot's hipster watch – with a retro appeal that draws Millennials and Gen-Z buyers. Wearing a PRX with its '70s styling pairs perfectly with the resurgence of vinyl and mid-century modern everything.
With the new PRX Chronograph however, I think Tissot has stepped a bit out of the hipster zone and squarely within range of core watch nerdery.
In many ways, the chrono is a natural progression for initial PRX buyers — those who very well could've been first time watch buyers — ready to take the next step in their watch journey. It offers a new complication, and larger case. Plus, with a different enough dial design, you could make the case that a PRX and and PRX chrono would make a nice little collection. But at the same time, this watch definitely pulls on the nostalgic heart strings of watch lovers who appreciate Tissot's inclusion of a Valjoux chronograph movement.
No matter how you slice it, I have a feeling this new collection is going be quite popular, even if we have to wait until summer to get our hands on it. The dial designs are not particuarly exciting, and definitely don't come close to the Genta-esque patterend dials of the PRX automatic. But this is just the first release – and I'm sure many more PRX Chronos will be in our future.
Both dial options bring high contrast and easy readability. My money is on the blue dial for now because I'm just not a fan of the rose gold against the silver dial. If you're going to go two-tone, go full two-tone. Now, while I typically don't love exhibition casebacks on sub $5,000 watches, I think the Valjoux A05 H31 is very well showcased here. I appreciate its inclusion because I think the PRX is currently one of the best entry-level watches on the market, and visible movements are the best way to bring novices over to the dark side – by getting them positively hooked on the mechanics powering this hobby we love.
The PRX has been, and continues to be, one of the most talked about watches on the planet in recent years – especially from a value perspective. With the new PRX Automatic Chronograph, Tissot has ensured that conversation won't be ending any time soon.
The Basics
Brand: Tissot
Model: PRX Automatic Chronograph
Reference Number: T137.427.11.011.00 (silver and rose gold) T137.427.11.041.00 (blue)
Diameter: 42mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Silver or blue
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Integrated bracelet
The Movement
Caliber: Valjoux A05 H31
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and chronograph functionality
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 4Hz
Jewels: 27
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: RM 7,400
Availability: July, 2022
Limited Edition: No