7 Best Tissot sports watches for men in 2021

Tissot is a brand that needs no introduction, being around since 1853. That’s only half a decade after Omega and over half a century before Rolex. Heritage isn’t something that Tissot needs to fake. And while calling themselves ‘innovators of tradition’ may sound like a bold claim, it is actually a claim with proper backing. Having made watches for over a century and a half, it’s safe to say that the brand has gotten pretty damn good at making them. And with advancements in technology in the modern era, the brand has also embraced modern technology and infused it in its creations. Whether it’s in the form of the incredible and functional T-touch series or its newest Silicium escapement for its Powermatic 80 calibres, or even its quartz powered perpetual calendars, Tissot is a brand that always looks forward in its creations, while never forgetting its illustrious heritage too. With such an extensive history, it should be expected that Tissot’s catalogue is equally extensive too, and it is indeed.

For those looking to add a Tissot into their collection, simply look towards their sportier timepieces and you will find that it is inhabited by some of the nicest affordable luxury sports watches that money can buy today. Today, we’ll be taking a look at seven of them. With timepieces ranging from their T-race series all the way to their PRC, PRS and Seastar lines, we’ll be covering the lot. And now, without further ado, let’s crack on.

Tissot PRC200 Automatic chronograph T0554271101700 MEN'S WATCH

It should go without saying that chronograph movements don’t come cheap, and even buying in movements from other sources can still be pricey. But Tissot, being part of the Swatch group has the inherent advantage of working internally with movement power-house ETA, and this, combined with volume production, has enabled Tissot to release the new PRC200, a Swiss automatic chronograph, for well under $1,500, while most Swiss made automatic chronographs generally go well above $3000.

This makes the Tissot PRC200 Automatic chronograph T0554271601700 incredibly affordable and excellent value for the money for its robust specifications and its functional, down-to-earth design and build.

The steel case is 44mm across and a little on the thick side, though the lugs do a good job of minimizing how high up on the wrist the PRC 200 sits. The alligator style strap feels nice, and while the PRC 200 is also available on a bracelet for a slight premium, it’s the rubber strap that I found the most enjoyable to wear. With red accents added to the black dial and the black rubber strap this relatively large watch wears much easier than either of the other options.

The pushers have a satisfying weight to them and you can really feel the chronograph engage and disengage. There is nothing overtly fancy about the PRC 200 or the C01.211 inside, but that isn't the point - the PRC 200 offers an accessible way for someone to get into the world of mechanical chronographs, and it does so very nicely.

Key Features

A functional, classically sporty design
Movement Type - Automatic
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 200 meters
Case Size - 44mm

TISSOT SEASTAR 1000 POWERMATIC 80 MEN'S WATCH T1204071704100

No list of the best sports watches you can get will be complete without taking a look at a dive watch, and this is it: the Tissot Seastar 1000. The Seastar 1000 is a sports model marketed towards water sports lovers of course. The case of the Tissot Seastar 1000 is the nowadays-usual 316L steel. Over 43+ millimetres in diameter not including the crown or the guards, it is not exactly a small watch. But I’d rather call it contemporary. Being 13.3mm thick does not make it sit obstructively high on the wrist, it’s just a really comfortable watch to have on the wrist.

As far as the surface finishing is concerned, the top of the case is polished and the sides are mostly brushed with some polished trims here and there. The rear, as well as the case back, are all brushed. A few years ago, only the top brands had ceramic bezels, and now this incredibly technical material has become an industry standard for luxury dive watches.

The Seastar 1000 also has a unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel with a lume pip at 12 o’clock. Large crown guards make sure that the equally large crown (with the brand’s T logo emblazoned on it), remains intact. As the model name suggests, inside the Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 is a now-relatively staple movement of the Tissot brand, the ETA Powermatic 80. It is a 23-jewel automatic movement with a date function and beats at 21600 vph.

The major thing to note about this caliber is, of course, its power reserve, which is, as the name suggests, 80 hours. All in all, if you’re looking for a handsome, modern Swiss diver with respectable performance and some additional features to boot, the Tissot Seastar 1000 is certainly a great choice for you.

Key Features

An elegant diver for water sports lovers
Movement Type - Automatic
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 300 meters
Case Size - 43mm

TISSOT POWERMATIC 80 SILICIUM T1274071105100 MEN'S WATCH

It may not look like it, but the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 is a fantastic stainless-steel every-day sports watch. It’s a timeless design that works no matter the occasion, whether you’re in jeans or shorts for a weekend out or in a suit for a gala dinner, this simple steel sports watch will never look out of place.

The watches that exemplifies this design best is, of course, the Rolex Datejust. But what if we don’t want to spend $10,900 on a steel Swiss made sports watch, but still want something special with similar aesthetics without having to break the bank? Well, Tissot has heard your calls and have responded with this: the Powermatic 80 Silicium T1274071105100. It’s part of Tissot’s Gentleman line, so we’ll just call it that for short.

The design is a simple formula that’s worked for over half a century and still will for the next century. With a smooth stainless-steel bezel surrounding a satin-finished sunburst Rhodium grey dial adorned with sharp, applied indexes and hands.

It’s a handsome watch and fits the bill of a gentleman’s timepiece perfectly. Elegant, ergonomic, refined yet strong enough to get a little rough. The 100m of water-resistant is a nice touch too, though it is really the movement of this watch that’s what makes it unique. It’s Tissot’s own Powermatic 80 caliber that offers a useful 80 hours of power reserve but paired with a Silicon escapement which makes the watch much more magnetism-resistant than before.

It’s an interesting piece of technological innovation that is rarely ever seen in watches of this price range, and when you put it next to the Rolex with its own Silicium escapement as well, getting that same bit of technology and refined design in a watch a tenth of the price makes the Gentleman look like the bargain of the century.

Key Features

A versatile everyday sports watch
Movement Type - Automatic
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 100 meters
Case Size - 40mm

TISSOT T-TOUCH EXPERT SOLAR T0914204705701 MEN'S WATCH

With all the watches we’ve covered so far being mechanical, I think it’ll be fun taking a look at something different for our next watch, the Tissot T-touch Expert Solar.

Combining both analogue and digital readings, the Tissot T-touch Solar Expert 2 is a watch that will suit all kinds of horologists and offers the best of both worlds. Coming in the form of a neat, practical and compact watch that not only looks good but is great at its job as well. Its multiple functions include multiple time-zones, a chronograph, day and date, altimeter, barometer and compass.

The dial of the Solar Expert 2 (45mm) is large enough to be read legibly during the day and after the sun sets, the luminescent hands and markers make it just as legible as it is in the day. It’s a robust watch, which you can tell right off the bat after handling it for a while; a proper, purpose-built timepiece.

Overall, it is a well-built, well thought out watch that can be the perfect tool when you’re out in the wild and can only depend on the gear you have with you, or when you just need a snappy, convenient and properly handsome timepiece to accompany you on your days out.

Key Features

A neat, practical and compact watch with multiple easily accessible functions
Movement Type – Swiss Quartz solar tactile
Materials - Antimagnetic titanium case with black PVD coating
Water Resistance - 100 meters
Case Size - 45mm

TISSOT V8 AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH T1064271103100 MEN'S WATCH

For the petrol-head looking for a reliable, affordable chronograph to reflect their style and passion, the Tissot V8 Automatic chronograph is for you. The case is a classic sporty affair with equally sporty T-shaped chronograph pump pushers and a tachymeter scale as well.

Taking its namesake from one of the most versatile and iconic engines of all time, the V8 packs one hell of a punch in its design and technical prowess, not dissimilar to what you would expect from the engine it derived its name from. Power comes from the C01.211 automatic chronograph caliber with a 6-9-12 sub-dial layout, a 3Hz frequency and 45 hours of power reserve.

The V8 chronograph seems like significantly greater value when compared to the competition, offering a Swiss automatic chronograph for under $1,500. And being a Tissot of course, reliability will practically never be an issue over time. Overall if you’re looking for a sporty timeless piece that oozes motorsport style for yourself, this is certainly a strong contender.

Key Features

A sporty timeless piece
Movement Type - Automatic
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 100 meters
Case Size - 45mm

TISSOT T-RACE MOTOGP 2020 AUTOMATIC LIMITED EDITION T1154272705700 MEN'S WATCH

The Tissot T race line has always been a celebration of the brand’s ongoing partnership with the prestigious MOTO GP motorcycle race. The brand has always had a tradition of making limited edition watches within the T race range and this MOTO GP 2020 Automatic Chronograph is no exception.

Though for this one, Tissot has done a rather good job on the dial, giving it an almost Royal Oak Offshore kind of a vibe, which isn’t even a bad thing. Firstly, the bold numerals are applied, and the chronograph subdials are nicely recessed and completed with a carbon fibre finishing. The case is where the design cues of this watch start to dial up to 11.

Featuring a unique brake calliper-esque crown guard and a brake rotor like bezel, the watch certainly harks to its motorsport heritage. The crown guard is merged nicely with the date magnifier which while large, gets the job done nicely. The pushers are nicely detailed too with a bold Start and Reset etched into the sides so there can be no mistaking what they are for.

Powering the watch is the ETA C01.211, an automatic chronograph movement that beats at 3Hz and offers 45 hours of power reserve and is visible (barely) through the exhibition caseback behind the motorcycle style wheel cage beneath the window.

All in all, whether you’re a fan of the Moto GP or are just looking for a striking sports chronograph, the Tissot T race Moto GP 2020 is certainly a worthy contender.

Key Features

A striking sporty motorsport inspired design
Movement Type - Automatic
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 100 meters
Case Size - 45mm

TISSOT PRX 40 205 T1374101104100

One of Tissot’s newest releases and unarguably one of their best so far. Oozing 1970s charm with its integrated bracelet design, harking back to angular sports watches of the era popularized by the Royal Oak and Nautilus.

With only 3 hands and the date, packed in a nicely svelte 40mm tonneau shaped case, paired with a neatly designed angular integrated bracelet, it is an iconic and timeless design that looked ahead of its time in the 70s and is still timeless today even after half a century.

It may look the part of a luxury Swiss-made sports watch but it certainly isn’t priced like one. And that is the best part about this fantastic watch: it costs only $510. Let that sink in for a moment; a Swiss made stainless steel sports watch that’s finished beautifully, sized nicely and is made by one of the best affordable Swiss watchmakers in the market, what’s the catch?

Well, if you hadn’t already guessed, where Tissot made the sacrifice to give the PRX the incredibly low-price-tag it has is in the movement. It’s powered by a Swiss ETA Quartz caliber, and to purists and enthusiasts, it may seem like a deal breaker but it shouldn’t be.

If you think about it, the reason why sports watches like the Royal Oak and Nautilus even existed in the first place was because the quartz crisis was about to wipe out the reign of mechanical watches. Casing a quartz movement in a watch that harks back to the era is the perfect vintage throwback to a substantial turning point of Swiss luxury watchmaking, at an incredibly competitive price.

Key Features

A versatile and iconic sporty design
Movement Type - Quartz
Materials - Stainless steel
Water Resistance - 100 meters
Case Size - 40mm

Affordable Luxury?

It’s a term I personally dislike using and see being used, simply because luxury isn’t meant to be affordable or accessible. But for Tissot, I think it really is the case here. Maybe affordable luxury isn’t the right term, entry-level luxury would be more appropriate. It offers collectors and by-standers a bite of a highly coveted and often inaccessible slice of cake that is high-end Swiss watchmaking. Obviously, their watches aren’t made to compete with the giants that we’ve grown accustomed to, like Rolex, Omega, and Patek, but the appeal is similar. If you’re not looking to splash tens of thousands or even thousands of dollars on a watch, but still want something special, with an intriguing heritage and plenty of brand cache too, then Tissot is certainly the brand that you should go for.