Watch enthusiasts purchase chronograph watches for their intended purpose of timing. But for most, it's a sporty feature they hardly use. It’s the same for me- In my 30-year career working with and collecting watches, I have owned just two chronographs. And the one that sticks out is the IWC Ingenieur that I wore back in the early 2000’s. I love that 70’s, Gerald Genta futuristic design. It reminded me of the iconic late 70’s/early 80’s car, the DeLorean. Machined and angular in a brushed steel finish and was a perfect marriage of design, function, and quality. I loved it because it was well engineered but somehow, even though I hardly used the chronograph function, it made sense and worked for me. The NEW Tissot PRX chronograph reminds me a lot of the IWC Ingenieur chrono that I once had, but instead of being US $8,000, it's under US $2,000.

I got my first Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 with a blue dial earlier this year, which was inspired by the original Tissot SeaStar from 1978. I’m completely obsessed with it and can't take it off my wrist, so I was excited to see the new chrono version. This watch is available in two dial configurations, one with a silver dial with black subdials and pink gold PVD applied markers while the other has a blue dial with silver subdials and silver applied markers for US $1,750. 

On one hand, It’s a tough pill to swallow because it’s almost three times the price of its little brother the powermatic 80, which is priced at US $650. On the other hand, there is nothing out there that can compete at its price point for what it is.

When you look at the design-quality build and overall execution- in my opinion, it's underpriced and gives watches that are more expensive a run for their money! For those who want an AP Royal Oak Chronograph or Vacheron Constantin Overseas and don't want to put themselves into insane debt over it, the PRX Chrono might be the answer.

The case is an impressive 42mm in case diameter and sits 14.8mm in thickness. It's rugged and masculine yet refined. It has an exhibition case back and is water resistant to 100 meters. There is a date at the 4:30 position that can be changed with a date pusher on the opposite side of the case at 10 o’clock. There is also the case and bracelet with fine brushed and polished edges, and the angular chronograph pushers. The dial has long brushed grain strokes and applied indices; the integrated bracelet features a double butterfly clasp and an interchangeable quick release system. I’m a sucker for details, so it ticks all the right boxes. 

The Movement

This watch is equipped with a Swiss-made Valjoux A05 H31 movement with a skeleton oscillating mass.When you look at watches in this price range, often the movements are ETA-based time and date with a chronograph module added on top to make it more budget-friendly. This watch however uses a Valjoux base 7753, utilized in watches with history and have their place in the world of luxury timepieces- Breitling Navitmers and Chronomats, Tudor Fastriders, and IWC Portuguiser & Pilot’s chronographs at one time.

This movement Is fully integrated and has been upgraded including a longer 60-hour power reserve, decoration such as perlage across the central bridges, mirror polished finishes, and a brushed matte finish rotor.

Since the PRX Chrono is thicker, wider, and heavier than its less complicated sibling, it also wears bigger. Nevertheless, those averse to wearing anything bigger than 40 mm might find it to be a pleasant surprise because it sits well even on smaller wrists.

This style of the watch incorporates the chic 70’s styling with modern-day finishing, which might not be everyone’s pint of beer, but those who appreciate that and want something sportier will instantly recognize how this is one of the best chronograph watches you can buy under USD $2,000.