Tissot is an iconic name in the world of horology. They have been in business since 1853 and have had a hand in Motorsport since 1958 when Swiss driver Harry Zweifel sent Tissot a signed photograph of him in wearing his Tissot and he wrote on the photo “my Tissot is by my side, every race”, queue the Tissot PR 516 !

It began life as a mechanical hand wound watch but after a slow start in sales, Tissot upgraded the watch with the Cal 784-2, a 50hr power reserve 21 jewel automatic movement. With links in Formula 1, Tissot advertised the watch as a racers timepiece. Even going to lengths to make the bracelet and straps resemble a racing steering wheel by cutting massive holes in them.

Sales of the Tissot PR 516 increased and the watch ended up being made in a number of varieties with stainless steel or gold filled cases featuring no date, date, day – date and even a chronograph.

All this came about due to the fact that Tissot was part of a partnership with Omega and Lemania.
The cal 784-2 is also used in some Seamasters and Geneve branded Omegas as a Cal 1481. The movement is a reliable workhorse designed in-house. PR stands for Particularly Robust and I have to agree that it is a solid timepiece.

This example from 1971 has a gold filled case that is brushed on top and has higher polished case sides. It sports the Cal 784-2 which is a automatic that has a date complication. To set the date, you must wind past midnight and once the date turns over, wind anti clockwise to 10pm where the date will lift slightly and fall. Wind past midnight again and it will change again. Not easy if it’s the middle of the month and the date is on the first but that’s how it’s done. It is 35mm in size and has a lug width of 18mm. Not big by modern standards but let’s be honest, this watch was right on the money for size in its day.

The dial is a sunburst satin pearl like design with gold hands and indices. The lume is tritium powered and still lights up, but due to age, only for seconds rather than hours.

How is the Tissot PR 516 to wear? Great to be honest. I am of an average wrist size and it sits quite comfortably. Be prepared for comments about the vintage size. I usually say that I am man enough to wear it!

I do enjoy the watche’s heritage. Tissot was invested in Motorsport and in the days when Motorsport was at its peak. This watch to me reflects those glory days. The other bit of history I love about this timepiece is the link to Omega and the fact that the movement is in many watches of both brands.

The Tissot PR 516 I have was an eBay find and I have managed to breathe fresh air into a tired piece. The case has been given a slight polish as has the crystal and I have given it a new strap. The movement has had a service and runs at +8 secs a day.

If you are after a bit of heritage in a timepiece but don’t have the pockets for some of the higher end pieces, you can find what you are looking for at a relatively cheap price.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you the Tissot PR 516.