Does the PRS 516 Extreme Automatic have enough “T” letters on it? Tissot went a bit ego crazy with three red Ts on the dial and one on the crown. I get it, this is a watch by Tissot. Use of a sloped flange ring and redundant minute scales helps the dial look large and purposeful. Nevertheless, despite a lot of texturing and indicators, the PRS 516 Extreme Automatic is an effortlessly legible dial with excellent contrast where it counts. We won’t even take issue with the “open” date window that mixes the single digit windows we like with open ones as it uses a semi-opaque screen for the rest of the date disc.
Even though the dial is stamped, it offers a utility-inspired look that is fun, and makes using the chronograph interesting. Tissot knows how to make a genuinely cool looking sport watch for mainstream appeal, but that at the same time is enough to tempt snobby watch lovers from time to time. The tachymeter scale bezel looks like it turns given the outer grip, but it is stationary. On the wrist, the watch is quite comfortable and sized nicely for large to medium-sized wrists.
Attached to the PRS 516 Extreme Automatic is an available leather or rubber strap. The leather strap has portholes just like many other straps in the PRS 516 collection. The rubber strap is textured with a colored edge to match the red or yellow accents on the case and dial. Both are the same price so it is a matter of taste. Do you want to honor the rest of the PRS 516 collection or do you want to have a watch that is more like something from the T-Race series?
Over the dial and case back is an AR coated sapphire crystal and the case is water resistant to 100 meters. The case back is similar to others Tissot has released over the last few years. Especially in models with the newer ETA C01.211 movement they debuted here in the Swatch Automatic Chronograph in 2009. As far as we know only Swatch and Tissot use the C01.211, which was designed as a lower-priced alternative to the Valjoux 7750, that was still a mechanical chronograph. Consider the Swiss ETA C01.211 movement to be the most entry-level mechanical chronograph you’d actually want to wear.
Compared to the 7750, the C01.211 isn’t pretty – so Tissot likes to dress up the back of the watch. Though it does have a sort of industrial charm to it. We also reviewed one of Tissot’s T-Race MotoGP watches here with the same movement. From a functionality standpoint, the 7750 and the C01.211 are quite similar. Though ETA stopped the C01.211 after measuring six hours with the chronograph, while the 7750 has a dial that counts to 12. Also, the C01.211 has just the date, while the Valjoux 7750 can offer the date and the day of the week. All of this is nice and good when the price separation between watches with the two movements is relatively straightforward. Tissot however seems to jump back and forth offering the movements from sister company ETA in its fine watches.
What does that mean here? The top level PRS 516 Automatic Chronograph is $1,550 (more retro styled) and includes a Valjoux 7750. The PRS 516 Extreme Automatic is $100 less and has the C01.2011. If it were only a matter of the movement, we’d probably say the $100 is worth the upgrade. Then again, the PRS 516 Extreme Automatic is a much more visually engaging and modern watch compared to its cousins in the rest of the PRS 516 collection. So when it comes down to it, it is a matter of taste. Plus, we have heard decent things about the performance of the C01.211 over time.
Tissot will offer three versions of the PRS 516 Extreme Automatic to start. There is the shown ref. T0794272605700 in red and on the leather strap. The ref. T0794272705700 in red on rubber, and the ref. T0794272705701 in yellow on rubber. Available in November 2013, retail price for each of them is $1,450. tissot.ch
