Last year it felt like you could not so much as mention the watch industry without someone bringing up the Tissot PRX. That’s how thoroughly ingrained in the zeitgeist this accessible integrated bracelet sports watch was. These days it’s a little less ever present but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t crop up every now and then. Especially when Tissot release cool new editions like the PRX Powermatic 80 Gradient edition I have here for review.
Strapping on the watch with its signature single link, integrated bracelet and butterfly clasp, it feels… exactly like every other Tissot PRX. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because the case and overall design of the watch are identical to the previous editions we’ve seen over the past few years. The watch body measures 40mm in diameter and has a thickness of 10.9mm in stainless steel. It’s not overly heavy and is on the whole very comfortable – it wouldn’t have become the phenomenon it is if they messed up the basics after all.
Where the PRX Gradient really shines is the dial, which is where you’ll find the titular gradient. The edition here has a cool ice blue to dark blue colour shift on a linear axis. There’s also a black to blue version if something a bit moodier takes your fancy. However, I personally prefer the lighter tone of the pure blue gradient because it reminds me of a glacier or the frigid waters of the arctic sea – both popular inspirations in the watch world.
The dial itself consists of a tight square pattern reminiscent of that other luxury sports watch icon, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, albeit at a much finer scale. The hour markers are thin, straight batons with strips of lume, as are the hands. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock to complete the time and date complications. It’s about as understated as it’s possible to get, which I like about the display though I have heard some opinions that it’s a touch boring. The addition of a sweeping gradient certainly helps to combat that though.
Undoing the bracelet and flipping the watch over reveals the exhibition caseback, which sits nice and flat against the wrist when worn. Through the window you can see the signature wave engraved rotor with Tissot logo of the Powermatic 80 movement. I feel like I’ve written about this movement at least 100 times at this point with its 80-hour power reserve that it achieves at the cost of a slightly lower frequency. You could be nit-picky about some of the details such as that frequency (3 Hz) and its plastic parts, but ultimately it has always been presented as an accessible option and it is genuinely great for the price.
Speaking of price, the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Gradient is £640, matching the rest of the PRX Powermatic range. I think expecting this watch to totally reshape how we view the PRX and bring the model back into the limelight that it once had is asking too much of what essentially amounts to a new colourway. At the same time the new colours are great and I’m always a fan of when brands offer customers more options. If you were on the fence about buying a PRX, maybe this is the version you were waiting for.
Price and Specs:
More details at Tissot.
