Swatch Group’s Tissot has raised the curtain on a number of additions and improvements to collections that will be shown at Baselworld next month.Â
The classic Tissot Ballade (pictured top) will see a silicon balance spring used in its Powermatic80 movement. The use of silicon is rarely used for watches in Tissot’s price bracket. Higher end pieces use it for balance springs because it gives the watch greater consistency and longevity thanks to its anti-magnetic properties.
The company demonstrates its love of its home country of Switzerland with the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Helvetic Pride Special Edition. The watch features a Swiss franc coin on the back, which bears the image of Helvetia, the female national personification of Switzerland, surrounded by 23 stars representing the states of the Swiss Confederation. The dial of the gentlemen’s version also pays tribute, decorated with the Swiss cross pattern, while the dial of the ladies’ model uses mother-of-pearl.
The ladies’ Tissot T-Wave for 2017 is designed with flowing curves through the case and lugs that are supposed to evoke the movement of a ribbon. The dial has hands resembling skeletonised leaves and a teardrop index set with white or black mother-of-pearl at 12 o’clock. The 30mm watch comes in a steel case with quartz movement.
The new Tissot Bella Ora: has been pared back to a simple mother-of-pearl dial, but stronger colours are used for its leather straps.
Finally, the Tissot T-Race MotoGPTM Automatic Limited Edition 2017 is a sporty watch inspired by the company’s long-term partnership with MotoGP. The watch picks up design cues from the sport such as a brake-disc bezel and dashboard counters.