Tissot Men's T17.1.526.52 PRC 200 Watch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this watch.As subtle as it appears, it does seem to grab attention, and I enjoy the dressy-casual paradox it creates.While not pretentious, it is definitely bold, as one reviewer put it, and you should be prepared for strangers asking you what kind of watch it is.I'm not that familiar with Tissot watches, so in the way of metrics, I would say that it is nicer than a Bulova Marine Star (a solid watch in its own right) but a good step below a TAG Heuer Carrera (but the TAG has an automatic movement).

The strap and chronograph imply "working man's watch."No frou-frou here.But the massiveness, precision design and elegant finish tell you it's a little nicer than a simple workhorse timepiece.

One quirk is the layout of the hands and dials.The large yellow "seconds" hand in the central dial location is not the real-time seconds hand, but rather that of the chrono; this hand remains perpetually at 12 o'clock (until you start the chronograph).All chrono functions are color-coded with yellow hands, which is a thoughtful touch.The real-time seconds are actually marked by a secondary (white) dial at the 6 o'clock position.The casual observer, seeing the large stopped hand, might think your watch battery has stopped.I have a Lucien Piccard with this setup, so I guess I will just get used to it.

The reviewer who complained about the buckle-clasp makes a valid point.In theory, these buckle-clasps should work fine.However, on my wrist, the strap is tight enough to nearly take off skin when I slide it on, yet when I clasp it shut, it is still too loose to stay in place.I will also look into after-market straps with conventional buckles.There's no good excuse for spending more than ten seconds to put on a wristwatch, no matter how nice it looks.But straps come and go, so this isn't a huge deal.

Pro:
- Very elegant for a casual watch
- Size, mass and depth (the depth of the watch is thicker than a Sharpie-brand marker)
- Good overall design; looks like it could have been designed by an architect
- Internal tachymeter on a beveled ring; allows for a larger crystal and a cleaner look

Con:
- The chronograph "seconds" hand, at the home position, is slightly off-center against the 12 o'clock tick mark on the watch face, indicating a quality control issue at the factory.You would have to look very closely to notice this, however.
- The fancy clasp is over-designed and should be replaced with a more effective buckle design.

As a side note, I noticed today that Amazon shows the MSRP as $425, however, the retail tag attached to the watch I received through Amazon states $395.As of February 2008, the online price is still $273 with free UPS shipping (signature required).

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Product Description:
Equally at home in both dressy and casual situations, the Tissot Men's Watch features a bold monochrome color scheme that is sure to turn heads. The black dial face is accented by white stick indexes and white Arabic numeral indexes at the three, nine, and 12 o'clock positions. White, luminous minute and hour hands and a yellow second hand further brighten up the face of this timepiece. The dial also features a tachymeter along its border, as well as three subdials for full chronograph functionality. The stainless steel bezel attaches to a jet black synthetic leather strap, while a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial from everyday wear and tear. A date window has also been included at the four o'clock position. This watch is water resistant to 330 feet (100 meters) and features precise Swiss quartz movement.

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