Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph Review & Complete Guide
Tissot has a reputation for making high-quality watches at relatively affordable prices. At the very least, it is considered one of the top affordable Swiss watch brands in the world.
Tissot has a long and rich history, originally founded in 1853, so it has developed and innovated, developed, and improved its products, design, movements, and technology. It is a popular brand amongst people who trust the quality of Swiss watches, and those who are looking to dive into the world of Swiss watches.
In this article, we are looking closer at one of the model lines from Tissot which is the PRS 516 Chronograph. The collection consists of a number of different watches, so rather than only looking at one of them, we’ll have an overview of the model range as a whole and what it offers.
Have in mind that whilst the core design is the same for the PRS 516 watches, differences can include dial layout, colors, and thus also movement. For the sake of simplicity, we will focus on the three-register chronograph in this article.
Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph Review
The Tissot PRS 516 is described by Tissot as follows:
”Tissot PRS 516 series takes time to reflect on its 1960s motorsport-inspired origins. Wearers of the Tissot PRS models are equipped with timepieces integrating the innovations in Swiss watchmaking to complement nostalgic design elements from the racetrack. On some of these models, the movement can be seen in action through the distinctive case back shaped like the steering wheel of a pioneering sports car.”
With that said, this chronograph is built as a racing chronograph, and this is very evident the looking at the design of many of these timepieces. They have sporty racing designs that are great for everyday wear. With these watches, Tissot has struck a perfect balance between vintage design inspiration and modern features and design elements.
This model is made by a reputable and well-respected Swiss watch brand, has an appealing vintage-inspired design, is made with qualitative and premium materials, equipped with a sturdy and reliable Automatic movement. It’s easy to see why the PRS 516 Chronograph is so popular, but let’s look at it in detail.
Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph case
The watch is presented with a 316L stainless steel case with a diameter of 42mm. The case has a lug-to-lug of 50.8mm and a thickness of 13.9mm. However, there are other variants of this model, for example with a gold-colored case.
The size is essentially what you would expect from a sporty chronograph. Being 42, it will be suitable for men with medium to large wrists, and naturally, it will have a sporty presence on the wrist. At the same time, it shouldn’t be insanely large.
What you will notice about this watch is that it has a ceramic bezel. This is quite unique for watches in this price range, especially when it comes to non-diving bezels (seeing this is a fixed Tachymeter bezel for the chronograph). The ceramic bezel has a circular-brushed finish and really does add a great deal of sportiness to the watch. The ceramic bezel is really well-made and provides this watch with a value proposition that few of the competition chronograph watches have. In addition to this, the ceramic bezel also has engraved numerals.
The case is also well-finished too. The top of the lugs has a lovely brushed finish. Tissot has also gone above and beyond by adding polished bevels to the lugs. In contrast, the sides of the case are polished. At 3 o’clock we have the crown and on each side the chronograph pushers. A detail about the chronograph pushers is that they have colored stripes around them in the same color as the theme on the watch. For example, the red and black versions have red lines on the chronograph pushers, the blue version has blue lines, etc. Since this is not a dive watch where water resistance is absolutely crucial, the crown is a push-pull. The pushers are not screw-down either.
The watch still offers a water resistance of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft). This means that you can go swimming with this watch without having to worry. But keep in mind this is still a chronograph, and just make sure not to touch the chronograph pushers or crown when in contact with water.
The case shape and design is clean and sporty. The lugs are downturned, providing better comfort on the wrist.
The watch is either equipped with a see-through case back or a solid case back.
The ones that do have a steering wheel cutout in front of the movement as a detail for the motorsport-inspired theme of this racing chronograph. Behind the steering wheel, we have the movement, but more on this further on… Those that don’t have a see-through case back simply have a solid screw-down case back with a steering wheel engraving.
Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph dial
Moving on to the dial, as mentioned, there are many different versions and iterations.
But focusing on the PRS 516 with three sub-dials and a date window at 4 o’clock, you can see that it has a very sporty look.
The dial has been made in black, white, and red. In other words, three colors are closely associated with racing. Around the outer edge of the dial, we have the chapter ring on which the seconds are printed in white. The dial has applied metal hour markers that have luminescence on them. What stands out about this dial is its bright red accents and the Cotes de Geneve style pattern. As mentioned we have the date window at 4 o’clock with a round frame around it. Since it has a black background, it blends into the dial very well.
The hands are rectangular-shaped with pointy tips and luminescence applied to them. On this particular watch, the seconds hand is made in bright red. The colors together with the finishing make this a very sporty dial. Together with the hour markers, the hands provide good legibility.
Tissot has kept the dial printing at a minimum, with only the Tissot logo at 12 o’clock and ”PRS 516” at 9 o’clock.
But.. if you don’t like this deal, you should be able to find a different PRS 516 that you find appealing.
Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph movement
Since there are different iterations of the PRS 516, the movement they use will vary. This watch (reference T100.417.16.051.00) is equipped with the quartz ETA G10.212. This movement displays 30 minutes, 1/10 of a second, central 60-seconds chronograph hand, ADD and SPLIT functions.
The watch does not have a see-through case back, merely a solid screw-down back. But those that do have a beautifully decorated movement with the steering wheel cutout in front of the movement. For their price, the see-through case back is a really nice feature. And in addition to this, the movements of these timepieces are impressive value for money since they are beautifully decorated with brushing and Côtes de Genève.
Specifications
- Crystal: Sapphire with AR coating
- Diameter: 42
- Lug-to-lug: 50.8mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- Thickness: 13.9mm
- Water resistance: 10 atm/100m/330 feet
Conclusion
The Tissot PRS 516 model has been around for a very long time, and with that said there are many different variations and iterations, using different movements, and featuring different designs, and colors. There really is a Tissot PRS 516 for everyone.
But regardless of which you choose, the Tissot PRS 516 is a well-made watch built with premium materials and made with great attention to detail. If you want a well-built Swiss-made timepiece featuring a robust and reliable automatic movement with a racing-inspired design, this is definitely a model worth considering.
