ENGINE POWER

POWERMATIC 80: TISSOT SHUFFLES THE DECK

Dan Diaconu

Code name? C07. Its mission? Fitting perfectly into a watch that will be unveiled at a major event: the 160th anniversary of Tissot. Presented in 2013, the Luxury Automatique Powermatic 80 captivates with its sporty-chic look that sets a trend in the making. Nevertheless, it is its self-winding movement that is causing a stir. The evolution of a reference produced in several million units, the ETA 28242, this calibre stands out for its ambitious technical specifications. With this calibre, the Swatch Group brand is embarking on a new era.

In an extremely competitive ecosystem, differentiation becomes an added advantage. The impressive features of the Powermatic 80 provide a timely response to the delicate balancing act of delivering excellent value for money

models. The technological advances are there for all to see, with the presence of a beryllium bronze balance combined with a silicon spring. Variations also feature a spring in NivachronTM, a titaniumbased alloy invented by Nivarox. Its antimagnetism is ten times greater than that defined by the NIHS watchmaking standard.

The chronometry of the Luxury

Automatique's calibre, oscillating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3hz), also meets the requirements of the official Swiss chronometer test. Subsequently, this is not systematically required. A certificate from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) is included with the case to inform the owner. Irrespective of the variations, the Powermatic 80 offers another strong

THE POWERMATIC 80 OFFERS ANOTHER STRONG POINT, A GENEROUS POWER RESERVE.

WHETHER SPORTY OR ELEGANT, WATCHES EQUIPPED WITH THE POWERMATIC 80 OFFER CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE.

point, a generous power reserve. The calibre sets the bar quite high. With 80 hours of autonomy, it is twice as long as that of the ETA 2824-2 and also that of standard self-winding movements!

All these achievements benefit a wide range of Tissot branded references featuring multiple personalities, such as the PRX with its 1970s-inspired design and sporty, urban elegance. Its 40mmdiameter steel case without lugs merges with a link wristband. The Seastar 2000 Professional diver's watches take on the pressures of the underwater world with the help of a 46mm case topped with a unidirectional ceramic bezel. Within the athletic 42mm PRS 516, the Powermatic drives the hour and minute hands, the second hand, and also the day and date at 3 o'clock. The calibre's versatility also enables the Locle-based brand to equip decidedly more classic models such as the Tradition Open Heart and Chemin des Tourelles. The sapphire crystal backs allow discovering the decorated or openworked oscillating weight, such as the one shaped like a three-pointed steering wheel on the PRS 516. The timepieces included in the women's collections also benefit from the advantages of the highperformance movement.

Another Swatch Group entity, Certina, incorporates the Powermatic 80 into its attractive DS watches. As Seneca (4 BC - 65 AD) pointed out, "a good is only pleasant if it is shared".