The Tissot T Race is probably the most Avant Garde watch out this year, from watch manufacturing legend Tissot. This timepiece is takes its inspiration from biking with many references to the culture and the mechanical fortitude of motorcycles. Tissot has shown once again that their relationship with racing is stronger than ever. Yearly, the brand is the official timekeeper of the SuperBike racing meet.
The watch is sculpted from stainless steel with brushed gold PVD plating, and carries a case diameter of 45.3mm for the diameter across and 50.26mm lug to lug. For an automatic chronograph, the Tissot T Race is relatively flat with a case height of just 16.09mm.Perhaps the most striking feature on the T Race is the convex magnifier lens over the date at 3 o’clock which is clearly reminiscent of the visor used in helmets. This feature does partially conceal the ridged main crown and chronograph pushers. The bezel is black PVD stainless steel and is fashioned after a tire.
In the spirit of racing, Tissot has placed a tachymeter on the flange of this timepiece. Tachymeters have been used in races for many years as this complication gives a reading of a Driver’s mean speed. Tachymeters are used in conjunction with the chronograph function by starting it at any given point during the race and stopping it at either the mile or the kilometer marker. The dial is black and features oversized gold toned Arabic numeral at the 12 and 6. The remaining hour markers are also gold toned on this model and are rendered as indexes.
The chronograph features totalizers also at 12 and 6 displaying minutes and hours respectively. The small seconds sub-dial is larger than its chronograph counterparts and is located at the 9 position. Powering this piece is an accurate, automatic, mechanical movement Caliber C01.211. Automatic movements work from the movement of the wrist which causes the oscillating rotor to spin thus winding the main crown. The see through case back allows for the movement to be viewed on this model.
Securing this watch to the wrist is a thick, luxuriant, black rubber strap equipped with a Tissot folding clasp. A sapphire crystal protects the dial from the elements and is highly scratch resistant maintaining the aesthetic appeal. This rugged watch is water resistant to 100 meters or 10 ATM making this piece ideal for daily wear.
