Tissot, The Golden Age of Motorsport, and the Venerable PRS516

A car obsessive first, watch enthusiast second. This is how I would describe the cladogram of my passions. One feeds into another. Ever since early childhood, really my first memories, I have been obsessed with cars. The wide and illustrious world of Motorsport, and automotive enthusiasm in general, is rife with another form of reverence in ways of mechanical miracles, the ones powered by not the mana of the God’s golden petrol, but the movement of the wrist. In that, the world of horology is really tied in all facets to the world of Motorsport, just as it shares similar bonds with the world of sport, aeronautics, and nautical endeavor. This is where my favorite kind of watches shine, the tool watches. Watches that are cool not just because they are in and of themselves mechanical and craftsmanship marvels, but because of what you can do while they are triumphantly strapped upon your wrist. Immersed in the elements on a vicious slog through the omnipotent mountain ranges benevolently watching over jet-set Monte Carlo behind the wheel of a Renault Alpine A110, or perhaps fastened tightly while gliding through the picturesque stages of San Remo in a balletic Lancia 037 in Martini livery. Or, maybe blackened with oil and greased with tension and sweat while pent down by the excessive and ever magnificent forces of acceleration on that final jaunt down the Mulsanne in a Jaguar C-Type. Or better yet, relied upon for its chronographic accuracy on the achingly time precise stages of the Mille Miglia, as a gentle Tuscan breeze wafts over its metallic and crystal face punctuated only by the burble of a Weber carbureted engine.

It is these watches I find special, the ones that have both a purpose and shared history in the world of automobiles. And the Tissot PRS516 has its fascinating tale shaped by these willful waves of automotive excellence. The PRS516 was a sire to the truly pure golden era of Motorsport in the mid-60s-70s when the magnificence of automotive engineering and styling was unbridled by the suffocating and utterly joyless regulation of today. Back then the drivers and their cars were undiluted catalysts of charisma and romance, truly rock stars. Watch companies saw these drivers and more, they saw their cars and they saw that they were good. The drive to snag a piece of precious real estate on an aero-formed panel of racing metal was quite high as the greatest makers of tool watches fell upon themselves in securing sponsorship. But frankly the boffins at Tissot were ahead of the curve. Long before intentions of snagging marketing relations, Tissot birthed a minimalist, almost Bauhaus, all steel watch known as the PR516, (the S, signifying sport was added a bit later) The watch featured simple but robust construction with a distinctive design element in its perforated steel bracelet, that hearkens to the wheels of feather-weight sports cars with the perforations in the ever ongoing quest for supreme lightness. Interestingly this was not a watch that attempted to form some tenuous connection to a specific notable racing machine or driver, but was made in its own right to be a watch for drivers, and in that I find it highly appealing.

The original 1965 PR 516 with its perforated band cc. https://www.portfoliomagsg.com/ and Archives Tissot SA

The “PR” in very Swiss fashion stood for the imaginative slogan “Particularly Resistant,” which was an apt descriptor. The original model featured a clever suspended movement which made axial and lateral impacts little to be concerned with. Thus, a perfect watch for the keen driver. One that would be at home in the staccato vibration filled interior of a sports-car being driven around corners a bit too quickly. And it was, rally driver Henry Bradley who wore his PR 516 in every race, and was so fond of the resilient little steely that he painted its name on the side of his Ferrari. As such, the mighty PR 516 was ground zero for Tissot’s concerted explosion on to the racing scene. After endearing themselves into the hearts of the racing drivers with the PR 516, Tissot became sponsor of the mighty Alpine A110 in its seminal victory at Rallye Monte Carlo and later the World Rally Championship. After forging a solid relationship with the mighty French Alpine team, Tissot became their official timepiece in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and all of their Formula 1 efforts from 1977 to 1982. Even today, the Alpine LMP2 cars bear the Tissot name with pride.

Rally driver Henry Bradley and his PR 516 cc. Archives Tissot SA

The Rallye Monte-Carlo victor Renault Alpine A110 sporting its Tissot sponsorship cc. archives Tissot SA.

Which brings us to today’s reissue of the now named PRS516; a direct descendant of the titular PR 516 and as such, has the prodigal son returned? A notable absence is the aesthetic defining perforated band; however, we see a tribute in the exhibition case back revealing a perforated three spoke steering wheel cradling the dependable Powermatic 80 movement. I personally love this detail and do not miss the iconic strap as the PRS516 is not meant to be a copy of the original, but an adaptation to make the same impact it did in the 60’s in the present. And in that endeavor, it really excels. The face is delightfully minimalist and utilitarian in all the right ways just like the original. Mine has yellow accents that run around the bezel and adorn the T shape second hand which are very visually appealing. The face is uncomplicated, lending well to quick glances while behind the wheel. Its design has really mastered a juxtaposition between sportiness, refinement, and utilitarianism., As such, I feel it is just as at home paired with a polo and sportswear as it is with a suit.

My modern interpretation Tissot PRS516 and its effortlessly cool steering wheel exhibition case back

And again, I really love that steering wheel for its ubiquity, as it takes the familiar form that could be found in any great sports car from the Jaguar E Type, the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, or the Aston DBR1. But also, I like that unlike many other automotive watches this one doesn’t scream in the face of any casual glance “I AM A FAST MAN WHO DRIVES FAST! LOOK AT MY SPORTY WATCH, IT’LL SHOW YOU!” No, not on the PRS516, on this watch the delightful nod to Motorsport is concealed in the back only for the owner to enjoy and perhaps a selection of worthy souls. And this gives the watch a sense that it is not a poseur product, but something that derives real authenticity. It is only recognized for what it is by those select few who are truly the afflicted, the devout petrol heads.

What’s more, I am really in love with the movement, the Swatch Group’s standby wearer of many hats, Powermatic 80. This movement provided by the wizards at ETA, is loosely based on the workhorse 2824. But as hence the name, the Powermatic 80 possess a whopping 80 days of power reserve when fully wound. It is a great entry level movement, not too expensive, highly robust, and riddled with Swiss craftsmanship and unalienable accuracy. And I would like to emphasize that this mighty watch, rich with a heady combination of history and significance can be had at quite a bargain. The one I own was found on the endless pages of Amazon where bargains grow like mold, for only $357.00. For a Swiss automatic watch with more than slight automotive significance. I feel it is a must buy for any collector who also deems themselves a member of the devoted helmsmanship of Petrol Heads

Although a bit more pricey, it is worth noting that you can have a carbon fiber detailed PRS516 complete with Alpine French racing blue highlights for around $1,000.00.

CC. https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-ca/shop/tissot-prs-516-automatic-new-3.html