Tissot PRC 100 Solar: the power of light

Not only plants bloom during springtime, but also the latest products presented by watch brands. A season in which the days get longer, the hours of sunlight increase and brands present their references for the ongoing year. The link between sunlight and new products is not accidental, as it refers to the PRC 100 Solar just presented by Tissot. An interesting watch, which represents the culmination of years of research and development for the brand, and a new starting point in the field of alternative energy sources to power timepieces. In this case, solar energy.

TISSOT AND SOLAR POWER

When it comes to simplifying the day-to-day running of a watch, few technologies are as convenient as solar power. Several brands offer watches with solar movements and, for some, it has become their leading product. With the PRC 100 Solar, Tissot expands its offering in this segment, updating with modern technology a collection that was outdated – and that should now become broadly appealing to both the mass market and the more sensitive enthusiasts. An update that Tissot carries out by virtue of its long experience with this type of power supply (its first solar watches date back to 2014), which we already find in collections such as the T-Touch.

In a recent interview, CEO Sylvain Dolla stated that Tissot ‘has always been interested in solar power for energy harvesting, particularly for our connected watches. We have partnered with the CSEM in Neuchatel, developed our technology and invested in production facilities in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The idea is to be independent, just like our mechanical watches. There was no such technology in Switzerland, everything was based in Asia’.

To translate this investment into a product, the brand has therefore chosen the PRC 100, originally introduced in the mid-2000s and easily recognisable by the geometry of its shape, in particular its dodecagonal bezel. PRC is an acronym that stands for ‘Precise, Robust, and Classic’, which seems the right canvas on which to paint a new collection of sun-powered watches. The line offered several iterations, including simple time-only with date display, and chronographs. In recent years Tissot focused on other models, and most enthusiasts have fallen in love with the PRX models – offered in almost every possible colour and size. Now, however, with the PRC 100 Solar, the collection is making a comeback, especially because of the technology it employs.

PRC 100 SOLAR’S CELLS AND MOVEMENT

Tissot is the first brand in the world to apply Lightmaster Solar technology to analogue quartz watches, and it does so with the new PRC 100 Solar collection, which is able to capture natural and artificial light thanks to honeycomb-structured solar cells. Therein lies the real novelty. Usually, in fact, solar-powered watches use panels and cells placed above or below the dial for charging. To be effective, they require openings in the dial itself or a certain transparency of the latter or of the bezel, so that the photovoltaic energy can be harvested to charge the battery. In contrast, the solar cells of the PRC 100 Solar are distributed under the sapphire glass of the watch, in a discreet honeycomb pattern that is only visible from very close up or using a magnifying glass.

During the presentation to the Italian press, we had the opportunity to try out the watch, to hold the tiny solar cells in our hands and, above all, to appreciate how virtually invisible they are to the naked eye. A necessary solution to prevent the reading of the time from being obstructed by the honeycomb pattern, which is, so to speak, the ‘gateway’ bringing light to the movement that drives the PRC 100 Solar.

Thanks to the Zebra connector integrated in the solar panel, light is converted into energy and directly connected to the calibre, the F06.615 quartz movement. The surplus is transferred to an accumulator which, when fully charged, can keep the watch running for as long as 14 months in the dark. Both sunlight and artificial light are suitable for powering the watch. The combination of a very low-energy movement and highly sensitive solar cells means that, if the watch is worn for only a few minutes a day, it should run almost indefinitely. According to Tissot, one minute of direct exposure to natural light will power the watch for 24 hours.

Another advantage of using this technology is that the PRC 100 Solar does not require the usual battery change, making this watch a more sustainable option. Tissot also offers an extended three-year warranty here, compared to the two-year standard, demonstrating its confidence in the longevity of this collection.

DESIGN AND FINISHING IN TISSOT STYLE 

The PRC 100 Solar, however, does not only feature plenty of technology, but also plenty of build quality. As mentioned, the watch presents the dodecagonal bezel that has characterised the collection since its inception, and a 39 mm case. A more feminine 34 mm version, also equipped with the same technology, is planned for late spring, but for the time being the line is divided into five references, all with steel cases.

The case and bezel are characterised by a uniform vertical satin finish. Tissot has paid extra attention to the bezel, combining the satin-finished upper part with the polished sides. On two versions, the steel case is black thanks to the PVD treatment which, on one, is also extended to the bracelet. For the other there is a black leather strap which, together with the dial, completes the total black look of the watch. It is remarkable that, in the black versions, Tissot chose the same colour for the date disc as for the dial, so as to give the timepiece a beautiful uniformity.

The dials are silver, black and blue soleil, all made of stainless steel. The watch with the silver dial is available with either a steel bracelet or a leather strap, while the blue version comes only with the bracelet. All new PRC 100 Solar models are equipped with a simple time and date measuring system, with the date window positioned at three o’clock. Each model presents Super-Luminova details: the hands and indices glow green to facilitate time reading in low light conditions. In addition, when the solar charge is exhausted, the seconds hand starts jumping in four-second increments to signal the need to recharge near a light source.

ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL

While the silver and blue models look relatively classic and versatile, the black model has a decidedly bolder look, not least because of the matching date window. Overall, the relaunch of the PRC 100 collection with Lightmaster Solar technology is an excellent option for those looking for a watch that looks good in any situation and requires less maintenance than a mechanical timepiece. The 100-metre water resistance throughout the collection increases the versatility of these models.

What they probably expect at Tissot is that the PRC 100 Solar line will prompt a healthy internal competition with the PRX. The boom of the latter collection, which has repositioned the brand strongly in recent years, comes from a judicious mix of design, performance and price. On this last aspect, the PRC 100 Solar has much to say. Excluding the precious metal versions, the PRX has a price range from 345 euros for the 25 mm quartz time-only to 1,075 euros for the Powermatic 80 with a carbon case. The most popular references, Powermatic 80 40 mm and quartz 40 mm, are under 800 and 400 euros respectively. The PRC 100 Solar ranges from 445 euros for the steel version with strap, to 545 euros for the PVD bracelet. Aggressive prices for a watch that is a concentrate of technology, design and functionality. All elements that give Tissot confidence in the success of the collection.

By Davide Passoni