Tissot watches
by David Barth
written June 2003
Tissot
This medium value watch is manufactured by the Swatch Group.
The company was founded in 1853 in Le Locle, Switzerland, the cradle of the Swiss watch-making industry.
Tisson built the world's first anti-magnetic watch, the world's first plastic watch (Idea 2001), the world's first watch made of stone (The Rochwatch), and the world's
first watch made of wood (The Woodwatch).
Represented in more than 140 countries, Tissot extends today its trendy T-Collection with various models.
Since 1853 TISSOT has earned a renowned reputation in watch making. The numerous prizes and decorations received for its innovations in the watch industry are
undisputable evidence of TISSOT's worldwide recognition.
TISSOT played and continues to play an important part in the watch making history.
TISSOT is the only watch brand in the world to combine Swiss-precision craftsmanship and innovation with outstanding quality at a reasonable price.
People who live by authenticity and true values recognize these qualities in TISSOT watches.TISSOT is the Swiss leading brand of the mid-price segment.
High-quality watches at attractive prices make every TISSOT watch more than an excellent purchase, a good investment, a real pleasure.
Tissot has been involved with high profile sports events since 1974 when they sponsored a racing car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, France. Since then Tissot has been
involved in several sporting activities such as Formula One motor racing, cycling, ice hockey, cricket and fencing.
Tissot take their sports sponsorship programs into the new millennium continuing to be official timekeepers and partners to such great cycling classic Tour de Suisse
as well as their commitment as the Official Timekeepers of the road, track, cyclo-cross and mountain bike cycling World Championships until 2003. Tissot returned in
2000 to being the Official Timekeeper and become the title sponsor to the Mountain Bike World Cup. Other World Championship sponsorship continues with ice hockey.
New for 2001 Tissot is an Official Timekeeper for the FIM Motorcycling World Championships and is continuing to develop their testimonial programs with such sports
stars as footballer Michael Owen.
Tissot Timeline
From http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/clocks-n-watches/watch/watches/tissot/tissot-watches-history/index.htm.
1853 - First production of pocket watches
Mainly the heavy savonnette watches which appealed more to the Russian bourgeoisie than to the local Swiss population and first inspired Charles-Emile Tissot to
leave Switzerland in search of new markets.
1917- Prince "Banana" watches (re-edition in 1991 and in 2002 as the "Classic Prince")
Revolutionary in its design with the curved case and Art Deco numbers on the dial, this piece, which delighted customers in Europe and Russia (just before the closure
of the Russian borders) has now been re-edited with a quartz movement to appeal to both men and women.
1930-The Antimagnetic watch
The antimagnetic quality of the watch is a sales argument used by Tissot during the 1930s for these timepieces which, with the rise of modern industrial technology
(telephone and electrical equipment) are able to resist being influenced by these new interferences, which risk to deregulate the precise isochronism of the
watch.
1953-The Navigator
Designed for the rapid reading of time in the 24 different time-zones around the world, as represented by the names of 24 corresponding major cities, this timepiece
inspired the giant world watch now in place at the UNESCO site of the Salines Royales d'Arc et Senans in the French Jura.
1965- PR516
Inspired by the wholes in a GT steering wheel, this watch was subject to a widely acclaimed advertising campaign based around the world of motorcars and gave rise
to the first "Tissot car" with the logo appearing on the side of the car of the Peruvian champion Henry Braedley.
1971-IDEA 2001 (Astrolon)
The first watch with mechanical movements in plastic - a revolutionary idea for the time and the result of long years of research by the Tissot company starting in
1952 to try to find a means to dispense with the need of oiling the watches by replacing the metal parts with synthetic ones.
1978- F1 watches
Created to celebrate Tissot's being "in the Race" as official sponsors and timekeepers for the celebrated Lotus racing team under the leadership of motor racing legend
Colin Chapman, with the team also comprising the Italian world champions Mario Andretti and Elio de Angelis, and Argentinean born Carlos Reutemann.
1985- Rock Watch
True to its Swiss origins, Tissot's innovative use of the stone from the Swiss Alps, is then joined by a collection of watches using different stones from different mountain
ranges around the world, with the characteristic red and yellow hands, representative of the signalisation of the hikers paths in the Swiss mountains.
1986-Two Timer
With both analogue and digital time display this two time-zone watch is revolutionary by its use of a single crown to regulate all functions - a line that has been modified
over the years with a wide range of models, and which is still a best-seller over 15 years later.
1988-Wood Watch
Innovative use of materials and technological mastery enabled the creation of this watch, with a limited series designed in 1991 for the 700th anniversary of the Swiss
Confederation by the artist Barbara Seiler, including images in cut-out paper of Swiss chalets and forest scenes.
1991-Ceraten
Created in ceramic with a lithium battery with a life span of over 10 years - a first in the world - this bright colourful watch was created to attract a young and sporty
audience and special watches were created for local sponsorship events including the Tour de Suisse.
1998-Titanium 7
High tech anti-allergic material used in a futuristic design with two-time zones, in a model for the resolutely modern young generation.
1999- T-Collection
Playing upon the "T" of the Tissot name, this line uses the "T" in its bracelet design in a series of elegant timepieces originally designed solely for ladies and created
to be the ambassador line of the Tissot collection.
2000- T-Touch
Revolutionary technology enables the six functions of the watch, as well as the date and time, to be activated by the simple touch of the finger on the sensitive tactile
glass. This technological instrument offers an altimeter (feet and metres), stopwatch, compass, alarm, barometer and thermometer (Fahrenheit and Celsius) in a new
kind of body-tech environment.
2001- Temptation
Avant-garde design with three interchangeable bracelets, this extension of the T-Collection continues the line in a very modern way with its case in the form of a
polished "T".
2002-T-Win
The extendable "Milanais" bracelet (first launched with the Bellflower in the Tissot Gold collection in 2000) enables the wearer to have two watches in one and to
interchange these with a single "twist of the wrist" - no complications but simple innovation to show two sides of one's personality.