Tssot has been on a run, introducing a range of heritage-inspired, affordable models over the last few years, from the PRX to the Sideral. Now, it's doing the same with a chronograph, the PR516 Mechanical Chronograph. While larger than the original model from the '60s, it's a faithful update on a vintage chronograph, and accessible at less than $2,000.

Tissot introduced the PR line, which in a bit of straightforward midcentury marketing stood for "particularly robust," in the '60s as a line of time-only watches. It added the first chronograph to the PR collection in 1968, to which the new PR516 makes reference. The idea was to make the PR fit for racing, similar to the Daytonas and Carreras that had been released a few years prior. The original PR chronograph fits nicely between the simplicity of those pure midcentury chronographs and the funkier designs of the '70s. The case is chunky but measures just 36mm, and while there are some bright colors, it's not quite all-out disco.

The PR516 Mechanical updates this look, sizing the case up to 41mm and 14mm thick (49mm lug-to-lug). About 1.5mm of that thickness comes from the glassbox sapphire crystal. The diameter and length make for a well-proportioned watch, but the case is thick, especially with its slab-sided midcase. On wrist, it reminds me of a Tudor Black Bay Chrono, just a touch smaller on most dimensions. Especially considering the manually wound movement, I would've loved to see the PR516 come in at a couple of millimeters thinner, which would've made it really stand out from any competition.

But on its face, the PR516 gets a ton right: 41mm (imagine just five years ago, this might've been 42mm or – horror! – 44mm), no date, a wearable profile that could be reasonably described as "having presence" and a heritage-inspired design that's not too on-the-nose. 

Excerpt from Hodinkee

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