Tissot

Who are Tissot?

Tissot is a Swiss watchmaker founded in Le Locle in 1853, and it is still based there. It is one of the 16 watch brands of The Swatch Group. This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a pre-owned Tissot in the UK.

Tissot makes quartz, solar, touch-screen and mechanical watches for men and women (Tissot). Its current range runs from the PRX, with its integrated bracelet, to Seastar dive watches, Le Locle dress watches and the T-Touch. It is also a sports timekeeper, for MotoGP, the Tour de France and the NBA among others (Swatch Group).

The history of Tissot

Tissot’s history runs from a family workshop in Le Locle in 1853 to a brand within The Swatch Group. The key dates are the founding (1853), the merger with Omega that created SSIH (1930), the T-Touch (1999), the Powermatic 80 movement (2012) and the PRX revival (2021).

Le Locle and Russia. Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile founded the company in Le Locle, in the Swiss Jura, in 1853 (Wikipedia). In 1858 Charles-Émile went to Russia and sold Tissot pocket watches across the Russian Empire; his own son, Charles, later ran the Moscow branch (Wikipedia).

Omega and SSIH. In 1930 Tissot and Omega merged to form SSIH (Wikipedia). Wikipedia also credits Tissot with one of the first antimagnetic watches around 1929–30, and describes it in another passage as among the first to make an antimagnetic wristwatch in the early 1930s; the two dates are close but not the same.

Timing. Tissot’s first job as an official timekeeper was for ski races at Villars-sur-Ollon in 1938 (Wikipedia). Its Tour de France work started in the 1980s: Tissot says its relationship with the organiser, A.S.O., began between 1988 and 1992 and was strengthened in 2016 (Tissot). It has been MotoGP’s official timekeeper since 2001 (Bike Review) and the NBA’s since the 2015–16 season (Wikipedia).

Materials. In 1971 Tissot launched the Idea 2001, which Wikipedia describes as the first plastic watch. Later experiments included a watch in Alpine granite, the RockWatch (1985), and a wooden watch (1988) (Wikipedia).

The Swatch Group. SSIH merged with ASUAG in 1983, and the combined group took the name The Swatch Group in 1998 (Wikipedia). Tissot stayed in Le Locle.

Recent decades. Tissot made its first tactile watch in 1999 (Tissot). The Powermatic 80 automatic movement was announced at Baselworld 2012 (Caliber Corner); some reviewers date its official launch to Baselworld 2013. The PRX, based on a 1978 Tissot design, was reintroduced in 2021 (Tissot).

What is Tissot known for?

Tissot is known for Swiss watches across quartz and mechanical movements, the T-Touch touch-screen watches, the Powermatic 80 movement with its 80-hour power reserve, the PRX, and sports timing. The details below are each sourced.

Touch-screen watches. Tissot says it made its first tactile watch in 1999 (Tissot). The line has grown since; the T-Touch Expert Solar of 2014 had 25 functions (Wikipedia).

The Powermatic 80. This movement is based on the ETA C07.111, a development of the ETA 2824-2. It runs at a slower 3 Hz instead of 4 Hz, which helps give it an 80-hour power reserve against about 38 hours for the 2824-2 (Caliber Corner). Versions marked Silicium have a silicon balance spring, and some are COSC-certified chronometers (Caliber Corner). ETA is the Swatch Group’s movement maker, so these are group movements rather than ones Tissot makes itself. Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why buyers care about the difference.

The PRX. The PRX takes its design from a 1978 Tissot watch. Tissot says the name is defined by “precision” and “robustness”, with the X for 10-bar water resistance (Tissot). Watchonista reports that the 1978 original had a quartz movement, that the 2021 relaunch began with a 40 mm quartz model, and that a Powermatic 80 automatic was planned for later that year.

Sports timing. Tissot lists the NBA, MotoGP and the Tour de France among its partnerships, as official timekeeper (Swatch Group).

Which Tissot collections are there?

Tissot’s UK site lists collections including the PRX, Seastar, Gentleman, Le Locle, PR 100, PRC 100 Solar, T-Touch, Chemin des Tourelles, Visodate and PR516 for men, and the Désir, SRV, Ballade, Bellissima and Lovely among its women’s lines (Tissot).

The collections table on this page gives the year each began where it is sourced, and a one-line description. A few points help when you are reading listings:

• Quartz or automatic. Some collections, including the PRX, come in both quartz and Powermatic 80 automatic versions (Watchonista). The movement changes how the watch is used and serviced, so check which one a listing describes. Our guide to mechanical and quartz watches sets out the differences.
• Powermatic 80 versions. “Powermatic 80” on the dial or in the name means the 80-hour automatic movement; “Silicium” means the version with a silicon balance spring (Caliber Corner).
• Reference numbers. Tissot references start with T followed by digits; the Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium, for example, is listed on Tissot’s site as T1274071106101 (Tissot). The reference identifies the exact model, dial and strap or bracelet.
• Older names. The Seastar name is much older than today’s range. Master Horologer dates the Seastar trademark to 1952, while some retailers say the name entered the catalogue in the early 1960s. A vintage Seastar or PR 516 may be a quite different watch from the current model.

Who owns Tissot?

Tissot is owned by The Swatch Group Ltd, a Swiss company based in Biel/Bienne and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It became part of the group’s forerunner in 1930, when it merged with Omega to form SSIH, which in turn merged with ASUAG in 1983.

The Swatch Group lists 16 watch brands, from Breguet and Omega to Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton and Swatch, and owns production companies including the movement maker ETA (Swatch Group). Tissot’s chief executive is Sylvain Dolla, who has led the brand since 2020 after 15 years as chief executive of Hamilton (Bilanz, August 2025).

In the UK, the group’s company, The Swatch Group (UK) Limited, was incorporated on 26 October 1921 as S.S.I.H. (UK) Limited and was renamed SMH (UK) Limited in 1988, then took its present name in 1998 (Companies House).

Sister brands that Watch60 covers include Omega and Longines.

Buying a pre-owned Tissot in the UK: what to check

Check that the reference and serial number on the watch match its papers, that the movement is the one the listing describes, and that the watch is not recorded as stolen. Then check whether any of the Tissot warranty is left: two years as standard, three on COSC-certified and Lightmaster Solar models.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask exactly what comes with the watch: box, warranty card or digital warranty details, booklet, receipt and any spare links. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves and what it does not.

2. Reference and movement. Look up the reference on the Tissot site to confirm the case size, dial and movement. A listing that calls a quartz PRX automatic, or the other way round, is a sign the seller has not checked.

3. Authenticity. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

4. Stolen-watch check. Before you pay, check the serial number against a stolen-watch register and ask the seller to confirm the watch is not reported lost or stolen. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers and how to use them.

5. Servicing and condition. Tissot recommends a service every four to five years at a Tissot authorised service centre, and says a service elsewhere voids the warranty (Tissot). Ask when the watch was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. For a quartz or T-Touch watch, ask when the battery was last changed and whether the seals were checked.

6. Warranty. Tissot gives a two-year international warranty, or three years on COSC-certified and Lightmaster Solar models (Tissot FAQ). Its warranty terms state 24 months and do not mention the three-year term, so check the terms for the model. The warranty starts only once an official Tissot dealer activates the electronic warranty, and Tissot guarantees spare parts for at least ten years on standard watches (Tissot). Tissot’s pages do not say whether the warranty passes to a later owner. See watch warranties explained.

7. Who you buy from. There are three main routes in the UK:

Sources: Tissot, FAQ and warranty (checked 29 October 2026).

Our guide to buying from a private seller or a dealer sets out what protection each route gives you.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Tissot founded?

In Le Locle, Switzerland, in 1853, by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile (Wikipedia). The company is still based there (Swatch Group).

Who owns Tissot?

The Swatch Group Ltd. Tissot merged with Omega to form SSIH in 1930, and SSIH merged with ASUAG in 1983 to create the group (Wikipedia).

Are Tissot and Omega owned by the same company?

Yes. Both belong to The Swatch Group, and they have been in the same group since their 1930 merger (Wikipedia).

Does Tissot make its own movements?

Tissot uses movements from ETA, the Swatch Group’s movement maker. The Powermatic 80, for example, is based on the ETA C07.111 (Caliber Corner).

What is the Powermatic 80?

An automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, announced in 2012. It runs at 3 Hz rather than 4 Hz, and some versions have a silicon balance spring (Caliber Corner).

What does PRX stand for?

Tissot says P and R stand for “precision” and “robustness” (its own words), and X for 10-bar water resistance (Tissot).

Was the T-Touch the first touch-screen watch?

Tissot says it made its first tactile watch in 1999 (Tissot). We found no independent source confirming that it was the first touch-operated watch made by anyone.

How long is the Tissot warranty?

Two years, or three years on COSC-certified and Lightmaster Solar models (Tissot FAQ). Check the purchase date on the warranty details to see how much is left.

Can I buy a pre-owned Tissot without papers?

You can, but without papers you rely more heavily on the seller’s written guarantee, an independent watchmaker’s check and a stolen-watch check. Agree in writing that you get a full refund if the watch is later found not to be genuine.

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Tissot or The Swatch Group.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.