Tissot Release PRX Powermatic 35mm in Ice Blue and Gold

When Tissot launched their long teased and much anticipated PRX Powermatic 80 35mm back in June it pretty much lived up to everyone’s expectations with one notable exception. Where was the ice blue edition? Afterall, it was the ice blue edition at 40mm that instantly became the collection highlight and yet the colour was inexplicably missing at 35mm. Well, now we have our answer, the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 35mm ice blue is simply fashionably late to the party. Alongside the launch of the ice blue, there’s a new golden edition too.

Structurally, the PRX 35mm ice blue is identical to its black, white, green and dark blue siblings. That means it has a 35mm diameter case in stainless steel with a tonneau shape and flat, brushed surfaces leading into an integrated bracelet. It’s inspired by the original integrated sports watch design of the PRX from 1978. Despite its smaller size, the 35mm version is just as robust as its larger counterpart with 100m water resistance.

Focussing in on the dial and to be honest, unless you have a reference for scale, you would not be able to tell that the 35mm and 40mm versions are different. The new piece has the same colour, the same square pattern texture, the same indices and set of hands, even the date window looks the same. It’s all just a little bit smaller with the exception of the square pattern which hasn’t been scaled down.

Interestingly, the fact that the squares are the same size across both models gives us our way to identify which is which if you don’t know their relative sizes. If you zoom in on the index at 12 o’clock on both models (you can see the 40mm version here) the 35mm fits three squares within its span while the 40mm fits four. It’s that kind of small detail and nuance that many collectors love.

While it’s the less exciting launch, we should also touch on the gold edition as well. It’s golden. That’s about it. Purposely obtuse remarks aside, it is actually a nice addition to the collection with a gold PVD coating on its steel case and a golden dial. It’s cool in the same way that a gold Casio is cool, adding a bit of shine and pizzazz to an accessible watch.

Inside, both new versions house the Powermatic 80 automatic movement. If I’ve said it once, I’ve probably said it a thousand times, this is one of the best value-for-money movements on the market. It has an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron hairspring in a watch that costs less than £750. Specifically, the ice blue is only £610 while the extra PVD on the gold edition puts it at £745.

Ultimately, I think the 35mm ice blue is going to be incredibly popular. People wanted a smaller PRX in the colour and here it is. Personally, I think I’d still opt for the 40mm but there are definitely collectors who will prefer the vintage size.

​Oracle Time 

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