![]() All the chronograph indications are picked out in racing red, making them easy to consult and adding a cool motorsport touch. Available in sunray-brushed black or blue with black sub-dials, the dial now has large Arabic numerals for the hours and a highly legible white railway minute/seconds track for precision chronograph readings with the sporty red central chronograph hands and its T-shaped counterweight. A domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dial, and the caseback offers a view of the movement.Ĭompared to the earlier (2015) version of the PRS 516, the dial has changed quite radically and looks more technical and contemporary. Given the 100m water-resistance of the case, it’s odd that the large knurled crown is not screwed-in. The surface of the lugs and case flanks are also brushed with a sharp polished bevel running across the entire case middle that features a red ring separating it from the ceramic bezel. Ceramic is ideally suited to the external parts of a watch that are exposed to scratches and impacts and will never oxidise over time. Unlike some ceramic bezels that are polished to a high gloss, the ceramic is brushed for a sportier matte effect. The two piston-style pushers flanking the crown are perhaps the only retro element, a contrast to the sleek modern black ceramic bezel with its engraved tachymeter scale filled with white lacquer. For many, a heavy watch is synonymous with sturdiness and resilience, and the PRS 516 comes across as a strong, sporty chronograph with a cool tool watch vibe. Combined with the stainless steel bracelet option, you can really feel the heft of this watch (the watch weighs 140g on a leather strap and 219g on the steel bracelet). Yes, it’s a whopper of a watch, and despite the short lugs, it has a commanding presence on the wrist, as you can appreciate in the photographs taken on Brice’s 16.5cm wrist. Let’s start with its robust case made of 316L stainless steel with a diameter of 45mm and a thickness of 16.3mm. The latest PRS 516, which now stands for Precise, Robust and Sporty, comes through on all its promises. Rally pilot Henry Bradley was so fond of his Tissot PR 516 that he wrote the name of the watch on his Ferrari. With its suspended movement and lateral protection against axial and lateral shocks, the PR in the name stood for Particularly Resistant. In 1965, Tissot launched the Tissot PR 516, a racing-inspired steel watch with holes in the bracelet to evoke the holes of the steering wheel of sports cars. The brand’s first association with motorsports dates to 1958, when Swiss driver Harry Zweifel sent Tissot a signed photograph of himself behind the wheel of a sports car and the message: “My Tissot is by my side at every race”. Let’s take a look at the black and blue versions of the PRS 516 Chronographs launched in March 2022 with a beefed-up Valjoux movement. In a departure from the brand’s Heritage collection with compelling remakes of vintage models, the PRS 516 is a thoroughly contemporary chronograph with a bold attitude, plenty of motorsport details and an aggressive price. Earlier this year, Tissot revamped its PRS 516 Automatic Chronograph but didn’t go down the vintage path. One of the brand’s earliest watches inspired by the race track was the PR 516 of 1965 a novel steel sports watch with a perforated steel bracelet to simulate the holes found on the steering wheels of race cars. As one of the first brands to court the exciting world of car racing in the late 1950s, Tissot and sporty chronographs have become natural allies. Tissot might be coming up for its 170 th birthday next year, but it has always known how to keep pace with the times.
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