Tissot Luxury Automatic T086.407.11.031.00

By Grumpyguy on 6-07-2013 in PHOTOS, Tissot

The Tissot Luxury Automatic features the ETA C07.111 movement which boasts an 80 power reserve.

Watch and Wound describes the “new” ETA movement:

The C07 is in fact a heavily modified ETA 2824-2 movement, which we are all very familiar with. And like the 2824-2 it’s a hand-winding, hacking automatic with date, but 2 less jewels for a total of 23. The first and only noticeable major difference is that the frequency of the movement has been reduced from 28,800 to 21,600 bph, which reduces the overall energy consumption of the movement. You will see the effect of this in the sweep of the seconds hand, as the smoothness will be visually reduced. The hand will now tick 6 times per second rather than 8.

Other modifications include reduced friction in the escapement, which was achieved through the use of “a high-performance synthetic material”. As well as creating more power storage within the mainspring by reducing the barrel-arbor’s core. The arbor is essentially the axel on which the mainspring winds. It’s logical that by reducing the diameter of this element, the spring can be stretched further, thus increasing reserves. Beyond that they claim that the precision of the watch has been increased by the use of a new balance that has been regulated in an “innovative manner”.

The watch itself evokes dials from the late sixties, with its all silver look and index markers. Even though this model is silver, there are several shades readily apparent and the hands are easily read.

The center part of the dial is matte silver, around that is a brushed silver ring, slightly darker, which itself is punctuated by polished index markers. Then once again, the brushed ring feathers back into the matte dial. In short, you have the matte silver dial, the brushed silver ring, the polished silver index markers, and finally, polished silver hands which all work well together and more importantly, depending upon the lighting, provide you with a different look every time you view the watch. The anti-reflective material on the sapphire crystal deserves special mention as it is one of the clearest crystals I own. There are very few reflections and as you know, a crystal which has too many, can ruin an otherwise great watch.

The hands lack lume, but in a dress watch it isn’t expected either. One last aspect of the dial, is the date window at 3 o’clock. The date is large enough to be read, and it is housed in a silver frame.

The bezel is polished and that gives way to the sides, which can be best described as textured, almost looking like a carbon fiber weave. That runs into the brushed lugs. I like the intricacy and it gives the watch a bit more of that sixties look.

The bracelet is stainless steel with a butterfly clasp. The band is brushed, save for a polished line which runs down the middle of it. Where the band closes flush, Tissot and 1853 adorn it.

The display case back reveals a decorated rotor and its wavy lines extended onto some of the movement pieces.

As I noted in the Le Locle review, Tissot sends their watches in very well constructed and thought out boxes, which among other things, includes a small book chronicling the history of the company.

Since I received this watch earlier in the week, when I was busy with work, I really couldn’t get around to photographing it, but I did wind it and let it sit for three days. When I opened the box today, it was still running, which means it ran for 71 hours. Additionally, I set it to a time server and three days later, it is still accurate to the second. Of course, wearing it might produce different results, but that little test proves the movement does live up to its name, “Powermatic 80.”

The watch specs are as follows: