Tissot has been making great strides in recent years, especially with the wildly popular PRX line. This time, Tissot aims to do something a little different – with a technological play. Here is the brand’s take on the solar-powered timepiece space, with the PRC 100 Solar.
Tissot PRC 100 Solar
The price of the Tissot PRC 100 Solar begins at S$620.
The Tissot PRC 100 Solar, as shared by the brand, is a culmination of the research and development work that the Le Locle-based brand had invested into over the years.
The key difference between the Lightmaster Solar technology, which powers the PRC 100 Solar, and the other solar-powered timepieces lies in how the power is harnessed. For most traditional solar-power watches, the photovoltaic panels – which captures power from light sources – are placed beneath the dial. Tissot, on the other hand, managed to integrate this beneath the watch’s sapphire crystal which allows for a more seamless design. For the uninitiated, one will not even know the photovoltaic panels are there, unless he or she looks closely at the sapphire crystal.
While we are strong proponents of mechanical watches, we do understand the appeal and demand for such timepieces in the mass market as well. Therefore, we spent some time with a loaner watch from Tissot, to find out if this watch had managed to convince us.
The Case, Dial, and Hands
The Tissot PRC 100 Solar is fitted with a 39mm stainless steel case – to which we understand that there are other variants available as well (in black PVD coating, for now).
The design of the timepiece is a continuation of the existing PRC line, with a more modest and conventional case design. The most striking element is perhaps the dodecagon bezel, which lends a nice touch to the aesthetic of the watch. Otherwise, it is a pretty standard-looking watch.
The same story carries on with the dial and hands. The watch features a sunburst dial, which reflects light pretty nicely. Aside from that, the PRC 100 Solar is fitted with stick indices, with Super-LumiNova applied on both the indices and the hands. There is also a date display at the 3 o’clock position, which most people will appreciate as well. In terms of functionality, the PRC 100 Solar certainly ticks all the boxes.
The most interesting element of the timepiece, in our opinion, is the sapphire crystal. As alluded earlier, the photovoltaic panels for the PRC 100 Solar are integrated beneath the sapphire crystal. This results in the honeycomb pattern that appears on the sapphire crystal, which interestingly is not obvious to the eye unless one pays great attention to it. We thought this was quite novel, especially since the typical solution is to place these panels beneath the dial – which may result in a compromise on the aesthetics of the dial.
Design-wise, the PRC 100 Solar is overall pretty standard. There are no obvious elements that really stood out, except for the dodecagon bezel. The clean design certainly fits the bill for many, and there is nothing critical for us to speak of as well.
The Movement: F06.615 Quartz
The watch is powered by the F06.615 Quartz Swiss Made movement. We understand that for this timepiece, solar is first absorbed from the honeycomb cells, before it is being transferred to the movement through a “zebra connector”.
According to Tissot, 10 minutes of daylight will provide the PRC 100 Solar with a power reserve of around 24 hours (by way of charging up the battery). Any surplus energy will be stored in a rechargeable accumulator, which results with a 14-month power reserve on a full charge. This is certainly quite impressive for a timepiece of such nature.
In the event that the battery is running low, Tissot employs the End of Energy (“EOE”) indicator where the seconds hand tick once every four seconds, instead of the usual one second interval.
Generally, for a mass market timepiece, we do see the appeal of the PRC 100 Solar and the technological aspect of it. This is a timepiece that will work well for most people, especially with the useful solar-charging function which does not require one to go out of their way to juice up the timepiece.
Competitive Landscape
Prices of the PRC 100 Solar begin at S$620. There is a premium if one is opting for a stainless steel bracelet, or the black PVD coating variant. At this price point, there are also certainly a few watches that are worth considering.
The first competition is from Tissot itself, with the PRX. The PRX has been a popular watch, and we can certainly see why. If one is just keen on the design alone, then the quartz version – in our opinion – fits the bill rather nicely. The prices begin at S$495 (the leather strap variant), which we think is priced rather modestly especially for such a good looking and well-made timepiece.
Next, we have something more upmarket in the form of Junghans’ Max Bill Mega Solar (picture above courtesy of Junghans). This watch features the iconic minimalistic Max Bill aesthetics, with the incorporation of a movement that is powered by light energy. This Max Bill also boasts a perpetual calendar, automatic conversion between summer and winter time, as well as a function to synchronise time using the Junghans’ Mega app. Prices of the Mega Solar begin at €1,125 (approximately S$1,680), and it is worth a strong consideration especially if one is a big fan of the brand’s design philosophy.
Finally, we have the Casio G-SHOCK GM-B2100 – also known as the CasiOak – in full metal and with solar charging capabilities (picture above courtesy of Casio). This is suitable for collectors who are looking for something functional, yet with a very distinctive look. We think this is suitable especially for someone who is looking for a rugged and tough timepiece, with a rather stylish appearance. The prices for this series of CasiOak begins at S$799.
Concluding Thoughts
The Tissot PRC 100 Solar is a good watch, especially for someone who is looking for a solid and reliable timepiece to tell time. Its classic aesthetics is something that is agreeable with many, although it does lack distinctive features to stand out in a rather saturated market of entry-level watches
However, the Tissot is admittedly priced rather competitively. Here, we have a well-made timepiece from Switzerland, at around S$620 (with premium for a stainless steel bracelet). It is a timepiece that should last relatively long as well, so it is actually pretty value-for-money if one amortises the purchase over the lifespan of this watch.
Overall, we do see the appeal of the watch, and we do think that it has the ability to attract the attention of the mass market with its competitive pricing. We do, however, think that perhaps Tissot might consider bringing this technology over for some of its more popular pieces (such as the PRX), which will certainly appeal to more collectors within the space.
