One of the most well-known Swiss watch brands in the world is Tissot. But over time since they’ve been around, they have made more affordable timepieces for those who are unable to purchase an expensive watch from leading high-end brands. So is Tissot a luxury watch brand? After I’ve looked into it more, I found the answer.
Tissot is a mid-price range, luxury watch brand. Their reliable timepieces are expertly crafted and range anywhere from under $500 to $3,000 and up.
Read on to view the full article where I explain why Tissot is a luxury watch brand, if they’re a respected brand, and my final thoughts about them.
Is Tissot A Respected Brand?
Tissot is one of the most respected and well-known Swiss watch brands ever. So why is Tissot held with such high regard among watch enthusiasts and the general public? Well, I figured out some major reasons why:
- Horology and history
- Innovation
- Versatility and variety of luxury watches
Tissot is one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers in the world and they have a rich and deep history. Tissot was founded in 1853 and the craftsmanship quality of their watches has only increased.
Tissot is also respected because they are widely known for innovation within the watch industry such as the world’s first non-magnetic wristwatch, and they also started making their own movements as early as 1917. Tissot’s slogan is “Innovation by Tradition” which shows that new innovations are always at the front of the company’s mind, which has made them held in high regard around the world.
Lastly, Tissot is respected because of its versatility and variety of luxury watches. Tissot offers a wide range of professionally-crafted timepieces that have high-quality Swiss movements and reliable, luxurious materials such as gold, stainless steel, and more.
On top of that, Tissot has price ranges that cater to everyone. Whether a customer wants an affordable watch below $300 or a stunning timepiece over $3,000, Tissot has a beautiful watch ready, which is why they are so respected. Most brands today are either on the expensive end or on the more affordable end, but Tissot offers both for everyone at all price ranges, which has played a large part in their success.
So What Makes Tissot A Luxury Watch?
When breaking down the reasons why Tissot is a luxury brand, it is helpful to first know what the real definition of “luxury” is. According to Merriam-Webster (one of the most reliable dictionaries and thesaurus), luxury means,
“Something adding to pleasure or comfort, but is not absolutely necessary.”
This definition perfectly describes Tissot and what they bring to the table. Tissot watches, and watches in general, are not absolutely necessary to have since humans can live without them, but they are a pleasure to wear and add a great amount of value to a person, which is what makes them a luxury watch brand.
One of the most common counterarguments that people use to discredit Tissot as a luxury brand is their inexpensive prices on the majority of their watches. While Tissot is one of the best brands that offer a plethora of affordable timepieces, they also offer more expensive watches made with impeccable craftsmanship that compete with some of the best watch brands in the world both in price point and in features.
Let’s dive into some examples, shall we? I have 2 Tissot examples that perfectly demonstrate why they are a luxury brand.
The Tissot Excellence Automatic 18K Gold
The Tissot Excellence Automatic is one of Tissot’s most high-end timepieces and it costs a little over $3,000. While it is simple and doesn’t have any crazy complications, it provides all the aspects of luxury similar to the top watch brands in the world. What you really pay for, with this watch, is the beautiful luxury materials that it’s made of and the amazing craftsmanship of Tissot.
The case of the watch and the dial detailing is made out of stunning, solid 18K gold, the watch has an automatic high-quality Swiss movement with 21 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. These are all features normally found in top luxury brands, which shows that Tissot is
Also, the watch is equipped with an exhibition case back so you can clearly see the exquisite automatic Swiss movement on the interior of the timepiece. If you are wondering what an exhibition case back is, I have written just the article for you. I have made a blog post explaining exactly what an exhibition case back is and why it’s important. If you want to check out the article, you can by clicking right here.
Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Squelette Mechanical
The Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Squelette Mechanical is one of Tissot’s most unique, bold, and high-end watches that costs slightly over $2,000. What makes this watch luxurious is not only the materials used but also the amazing skeletonized dial, which means that you can see the movement through the dial. The skeletonized dial feature is also found on many other high-end watch brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and more.
The watch has a Swiss mechanical movement, rose gold casing and accenting, 17 jewels, 46-hour power reserve, and luxurious, superb finishing and designing: an exceptional timepiece that shows the luxury capabilities that Tissot has.
My Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I believe that Tissot is a fantastic luxury watch brand that looks visibly appealing and is crafted with the utmost class. Not only is their overall craftsmanship exquisite, but they offer a wide variety of timepieces to cater to all sorts of watch collectors and enthusiasts.
In my opinion, I would not be upset with wearing a Tissot luxury watch, and in fact, I would honestly be more than pleased with wearing one! Since Tissot manufactures some of the best all-around timepieces and they’re such a well-respected and mainstream watch brand, I would be totally happy if to wear one of their watches on my wrist.