Mario Canonizado 
The Prodigal Sun – pun intended – has finally come back! After over a decade-long absence, the PRC 100 makes its way back into the Swiss brand’s roster.
While the Quartz Crisis brought strife to many watch brands, for others, it sparked innovation and change. Those who failed to adapt – or believed they didn’t need to – were swiftly swept aside and dissolved, while the watch industry scrambled to reposition itself. This shift manifested in a number of ways. Perhaps you could embrace the luxury route, proclaiming mechanical watches as the highest and most respected form of artistic engineering. Or maybe you could push the limits of what mechanical watches could do, trying to keep up with quartz watches by offering mechanical alternatives. For Tissot, however, they decided to go another route: fighting fire with fire.
Like other Swiss brands such as Swatch, Tissot quickly recognised the potential of quartz watches. Though they had established themselves as a reputable watchmaker since 1853, they made the smart decision to pivot to quartz manufacturing in the early seventies – not long after the release of the game-changing Seiko Astron. While some might scoff at this period in their history, Tissot’s strategy paid off, allowing them to navigate the Quartz Crisis with little incident.
With the Quartz Crisis firmly in the rearview, Tissot had been irrevocably changed. They had built a strong reputation for manufacturing both quartz and mechanical watches, a foundation they continued to expand upon into the 2000s. It was during this time that they introduced the PRC 100, an abbreviation for ‘Precision, Robustness, Classic.’ True to its name, the watch quickly gained popularity, earning a reputation as one of the toughest and most accessible Swiss timepieces. Despite its success, Tissot eventually quietly discontinued the model sometime in the early 2010s. This year, however, with a surge of new watch enthusiasts and a more positive outlook on quartz watchmaking, the PRC 100 has made its return. The initial lineup includes four references, each measuring 39mm in diameter and 9.2mm thick. Tissot has stated that smaller 34mm alternatives will follow soon, but a 39mm case remains an incredibly versatile size – opening the door to a wide range of watch enthusiasts.
All three of the new PRC 100 models come in stainless steel, with one including an all-black PVD coating and two including alternate strap options. For those familiar with the original, you’ll be glad to know that much of the original design has stayed, including the Dauphine-style hands and the dodecagonal (twelve-sided) bezel. The dials are all finished with sunray brushing, which only enhances the ‘Classic’ nature of the PRC 100. ‘Robustness,’ on the other hand, comes in the same way the name suggests: A 100m water resistance. Though 100m is regarded by some as excessive – it’s typically double what the average person would need in everyday encounters – it has rapidly become the industry standard for any watch that isn’t built for purely dressy occasions. If you don’t think that the PRC 100 can’t complement a formal outfit, however, you might want to check out those aesthetics again.
The most important feature of the PRC 100, perhaps, lies in the final word: ‘Precision.’ As part of the Swatch Group, Tissot benefits from the expertise of renowned movement manufacturer ETA, which has supplied them with the ETA F06.615 quartz movement. However, for a re-release as significant as this, Tissot isn’t just aiming to restore the PRC 100 to its former glory – they want to surpass it. That’s why they haven’t simply opted for the F06.615, but have enhanced it, transforming it into a solar quartz movement powered by their Lightmaster technology.
Unlike other solar quartz/photovoltaic movements, Tissot’s Lightmaster technology relies on microscopic solar cells mounted just beneath the crystal. As the watch encounters light, the honeycomb-shaped cells absorb it and channel the energy through the case, powering the quartz movement and storing excess energy for later use. Thanks to the ultra-efficient design of the F06.615, charging remains exceptional even in low-light conditions, with the watch boasting an impressive power reserve of up to 14 months when fully charged. Charging is also remarkably quick – just ten minutes of direct sunlight provides enough energy to power the watch for another 24 hours. This means that, as long as it gets enough exposure to light, the PRC 100 can run indefinitely.
My Thoughts
When a widely beloved watch model is discontinued, it’s always a point of mourning for me. Not that I’m in complete, inconsolable grief – it’s not a funeral, after all – but it’s a shame to think that future watch enthusiasts might not get to experience it the same way as those who were there when it was first released. That said, the watch world and I always hold out hope that sought-after discontinued models eventually make their way back. When one does, it’s usually a cause for celebration!
The return of the Tissot PRC 100 is exactly that: the revival of a much-loved timepiece from the early 2000s. Its sleek yet pioneering design, now enhanced with Tissot’s new Lightmaster technology, makes it an incredibly capable watch that fits seamlessly into today’s watch trends. It even begs the question, “why was it ever discontinued in the first place?” In fact, the PRC 100’s return is one I’ve been anticipating for quite some time. While it undoubtedly marks another win for accessible watch enthusiasts – thanks to its ‘Precision,’ ‘Robustness’ and ‘Classic’ aesthetic – I think I’ll only truly believe it when I see it on wrists once again. If only there was a way to make that happen…
References:
- T151.422.33.051.00/T151.422.36.051.00: Full Black (Bracelet/Black Strap)
- T151.422.11.031.00/T151.422.16.031.00: Stainless Steel, Grey Dial (Bracelet/Brown Strap)
- T151.422.11.041.00: Stainless Steel, Blue Dial
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 39mm case diameter x 9.22mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel/with Black PVD coating (Full Black)
- Dial: Black/Grey/Blue
- Movement: ETA F06.615 quartz movement with EoE (End of Energy) indicator and Lightmaster Solar technology
- Battery Life: 14 months maximum, 24 hours per 10 minutes in sunlight (Given a typical day of ~5000 Lux)
- Water Resistance: 100m (10bar)
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with butterfly clasp/Black PVD coating (Full Black) or Black/Brown leather straps with steel buckle
