Introducing The New Tissot PR516 Chronograph Mechanical

The Tissot PR 516 debuted in 1965, followed by a chronograph version shortly after in 1968. Tissot has always stood out as one of the Swiss watchmakers with its affordable timepieces.

The PR 516 chronograph edition was a major advance for its time. The watch featured a triple chronograph design, tachymeter bezel, and luminous hands, and gained a reputation for its reliable performance. Such was its fame that Peruvian rally legend Henry Bradley wore it proudly, even engraving its name on his Ferrari race car. It is worth noting that the watch gained more fame when the famous MI6 agent wore it in the famous movie “Live and Let Die” in 1973. Considering the history of this watch, the company wanted to present a contemporary version of this watch.

The case size is 41 mm and a significant thickness of 13.7 mm, inspired by the first edition of the 1960s, but in a contemporary form and noticeably larger than its predecessors, which were only 36 mm. The polished steel case features pump-style push-buttons, a screw-down crown, and a bezel decorated with a tachymeter scale and a pulsation scale located beneath the case-shaped, anti-reflective-treated sapphire crystal. While Super-LumiNova was applied to the tire marks.

The matte black dial pays tribute to the first edition. The 30-minute counter is located at 3 o'clock, while the 12-hour counter is at 6 o'clock, and the running seconds are at 9 o'clock. Silver-tone rings with snailed finishes adorn all three sub-dials, with numbers printed within them. It is worth noting that the first 5-minute sector on the 30-minute timer is highlighted in blue, reminiscent of a design element from the 1970s intended to highlight the crucial 5-minute period before the start of the race.

The chronograph hands are decorated in orange, while the thin indicator tip on the minute hand, reminiscent of the original design, helps in easier reading of the minute track that surrounds the dial. The baton-shaped indexes and hands are all coated with Super-LumiNova.

Visible through the sapphire case back is the A05.291, a manually-wound movement crafted by Valjoux. Featuring a magnetism-resistant Nivachron hairspring and an adjustable-mass balance wheel, the A05.291 boasts an extended power reserve of 68 hours.

The new Tissot PR516 Chronograph Mechanical is worn on a three-row stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp.  featuring a quick interchangeable system. Priced at USD 1,850 which is equivalent to 6,800 AED.

For more information, please visit Tissot official website.