There are a number of watchmaking technologies that are tough to appreciate until you’ve actually spent considerable time with a watch. Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive comes to mind, especially if you’re inclined to constantly check your watch’s accuracy. The consistency over time of a Spring Drive movement is kind of mindblowing if you’re used to “normal” mechanical watches. Similarly, high accuracy quartz, from any brand, is tough to wrap your arms around until you’ve gone months without needing a reset because your watch is keeping time to within a second or two. And ultra-thin watches deserve a mention here as well. A watch that you literally forget you’re wearing because it’s so thin can be a special thing when properly executed.
But in terms of actually making your day to day life easier, there are few technologies that match the practicality of solar powered timekeeping. There are a bunch of brands that offer watches with solar movements, and for some it’s really become their stock-in-trade. Today, Tissot expands their solar offerings with the new PRC 100 Solar collection, bringing an aging collection up to date with some modern tech that should have broad appeal to both the mass market and the most sensible, practical, enthusiasts among us.
The PRC 100 was originally introduced in the mid 2000s and is easily identified by its dodecagonal bezel. PRC is an acronym that stands for “Precise, Robust, and Classic,” which seems like the right canvas on which to paint a new solar derived collection. The new watches in the PRC 100 Solar collection run on the new Lightmaster Solar Quartz movement, which Tissot says is adept at capturing both natural and artificial light through honeycomb-structured solar cells. The heart of the Lightmaster caliber is the F06.615 Quartz movement, which can run for a full 14 months in the dark once fully charged. The combination of an ultra low power consumption movement with sensitive solar cells means that wearing the watch for just a few minutes a day should keep it going indefinitely. Per Tissot, ten minutes of natural light charges the battery for 24 hours.
The watches themselves will be available in a wide array of styles at launch. The case on all launch models measures 39mm with dials that feature simple applied indices and a date window at 3:00. Dials will be available in silver and blue, and there’s a fully blacked out version with a matching black dial and bracelet as well. Tissot also plans smaller 34mm variants for later in the year, including a two-tone reference and one in full yellow gold PVD.
The retail price of the PRC 100 Solar sits at $495, which is competitive with watches from Citizen, G-SHOCK, and others making solar powered watches. I’ve long felt that a solar watch is somewhat indispensable in the collection of an enthusiast – there’s simply no better watch for “grab and go” purposes, and having one on hand, I’ve found, can deliver real peace of mind. It’s nice to have options, and while these PRC 100 pieces might not be the most daring in terms of design, that could exactly what some are looking for to fill this slot in a collection. Tissot
