A Closer Look At The Dressy Yet Casual Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles In Blue

Tissot is among the largest Swiss watch brands (by volume) and renowned for stylish yet affordable mechanical collections. The PRX collection has been the talk of the town lately, but the Chemin Des Tourelles collection is just as compelling. There are three sizes available throughout the line (34mm, 39mm and 42mm), but we’re focusing specifically on the Chemin Des Tourelles in 39mm, with a refined blue dual-texture dial. It’s one of those watches that are well-rounded enough to be an excellent choice for just about anyone, regardless of budget. It certainly left us impressed after some wrist time.

The stainless steel case is universally sized at 39mm in diameter and 11.2mm in height. Contemporary without being oversized, compact without being tiny, basically. There’s a (slightly) domed AR sapphire crystal protecting the dial, with an exhibition case back on the reverse side, and combined with polished and brushed elements, it can dress up or down. In fact, it would be equally at home in the boardroom or on the beach. A 20mm five-link steel bracelet really complements the case and adds a bit of sophistication, and quick-release levers allow an effortless change to leather for a completely different vibe. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres, so it’s safe for splashes of rain, and even a quick dip in the pool. I would keep the bracelet on for any swimming adventures by the way, and also because of its looks that perfectly complement the case and dial.

Speaking of which, the deep blue dial has a dual-texture design with a Clous de Paris or hobnail pattern at the perimeter and a sunray-brushed finish at the centre. The contrast between blue and steel is historically popular and works very well here. Classy for any occasion. Within the hobnail pattern are faceted Roman numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock and matching applied indices in-between. Just inside the outer ring is a minute/seconds track that’s only interrupted at 6 o’clock by a bevelled date window. Silver Alpha-style hour and minute hands contrast well against the blue dial and TISSOT is printed in white in its modern font. The dial is elegant and even a bit dressy with the absence of lume, but still has a sporty edge to it (particularly with the bracelet) that again makes it so universal.

As the full name of the watch implies, powering the Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Powermatic 80 39mm is the outstanding Powermatic 80.111 automatic, based on the ETA C07.111 (and directly to the ETA 2824-2). Introduced at Baselworld 2012, the highlight is its 80-hour power reserve, but there’s also a Nivachron balance spring (temperature and anti-magnetic alloy). It has 23 jewels and beats at 21,600vph (3Hz), and features a “high-tech escapement” that’s laser regulated at the time of production like the Sistem51. However, it remains perfectly serviceable.

Tissot’s Chemin Des Tourelles Powermatic 80 39mm checks all of the boxes for a versatile Swiss watch that anyone can enjoy. At CHF 795 / USD 825 / EUR 895 including taxes, it’s also perfect for new watch enthusiasts looking for a mechanical Swiss piece that’s a solid step above entry level. Its combination of classic and contemporary styling works just about anywhere and the blue on steel aesthetic is always popular (just ask Audemars Piguet). Whether you’re a seasoned collector or relatively new to watches, this Tissot should definitely be considered for serious wrist time.

For more information or to make a purchase, please visit Tissot’s website (or any of its global authorized retailers).