The Tissot T-Tempo (ref. T060.407.11.051.00) is a nice choice for those making their first step into the fascinating world of luxury mechanical timekeepers. While not looking terribly ‘fancy’, not offering you any ‘impressive’ complications, and not designed for those wishing ‘to make a statement’, the T-Tempo is a nice crossover between casual and dress timekeepers that also happens to be powered by a mechanism capable of keeping good time, while being robust enough to be abused by a person who is yet to realize that a mechanical watch is like a tiny car: however inexpensive it is, it still needs to be properly serviced at certain intervals.
Okay, Tissot doesn’t look like a “serious” brand for those owning (or searching for) highly expensive models from Panerai, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, or even Longines. However, the Swiss company still enjoys a good reputation as a maker of high-quality and reliable “entry-luxury” timekeepers.
The materials for the case and straps, the level of engineering, and usability are always up to the highest standard of the price range that the brand operates within.
At this time, the main disadvantage of Tissot is the choice of calibers that power their self-winding watches.
Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing bad with them from the technical point of view. They simply look dull and simple. In fact, they look cheap.
While many newbies sincerely expect an automatic mechanism to sport an oscillating weight beautifully decorated with barleycorn guilloche and the bridges adorned with Geneva stripes, in reality, Tissot (and other makers of “affordable” watches) simply offer them almost completely undecorated movements that, for an unskilled eye, don’t look much different from so-called “Asian” calibers that are put together in illegal sweatshops in China or Vietnam.
Well, perhaps the Swatch group simply doesn’t want to cannibalize sales of its more upscale brands, like the aforementioned Longines, for example, that offer watches powered by the same (but better decorated) movements at a higher price.
So, there is only one reason that you may want to get a Tissot timekeeper: you search for a “Swiss Made” watch that looks “European” and offers acceptable quality at a reasonable price.
Although the ETA 2824-2 self-winding caliber that powers the watch is considered somewhat dated and is often regarded as ETA 2892/A2’s poor brother, it is in fact known for its high long-term reliability and, if timely and properly serviced and adjusted, will offer you an unexpectedly high level of accuracy.
Earlier versions of the movement had their share of problems with the automatic winding system, but the issue seems to have been addressed and new movements don’t have serious “congenital diseases.”
From the point of view of exterior styling, the watch is definitely not a breakthrough. However, it is elegant enough to be considered a good choice if your corporate dress code requires you to always wear business attire.
The 40 mm stainless steel case is thin enough not to cause any discomfort when wearing a shirt with standard cuffs, although I would personally prefer its stainless steel bracelet to be replaced with a natural leather strap.
See also: Tissot Tradition G15.561 Quartz Retrograde Perpetual Calendar
Photos: Tissot
Tissot T-Tempo T060.407.11.051.00 specification
Price: €570
Movement: Automatic, caliber ETA 2824-2, 28,800 vph, 25 jewels, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Branded rotor
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 40.00 mm
Lug width: 18 mm
Case height: 10.00 mm
Dial: Black
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Steel bracelet with folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Transparent