Tissot vs Tag Heuer: Differences Between Two Renowned Watchmakers
The two famous “T”s of Swiss watch brands, Tissot and Tag Heuer, have each carved out a legacy rich with technological innovation and collaboration with athletes throughout the ages. Today, Tissot sell 40,000 pocket watches per year, mainly in the United States, Germany and Japan, with lesser amounts being dispatched to Italy and France. While Tag Heuer can boast sales of up to 86 billion euros during 2023! But where do you start when weighing up Tissot vs Tag Heuer?
Well, this article will put the contest under the microscope by comparing each company’s history, contemporary brand philosophies, and features and pricepoints of their most notable models. So after reading this you’ll have some light shed on the questions “are tag heuer watches worth it?“, “Is tag heuer a good brand?” and “Are Tissot watches worth it?“.
Tissot: A Brief History
Founded in 1853 by father-son duo Charles-Félicien and Charles-Emile Tissot in Le Locle, Switzerland, this mountainous town was already a mecca for watchmaking, with half the town’s workforce employed in the sector.
Then, Charles-Emile understood the importance of preserving the watchmaking craft and galvanized the institution of watchmaking schools in the region.
Subsequently, Tissot quickly became popular in cities around the world, from Chicago to Moscow, and their watches were even worn by Russian Tsars. They were also among the first to create wristwatches.
Finally, in the 1950s, the brand gained a reputation for being the trusted watch of car racing champions.
Read more: Are Tissot Watches Really Good Or Not? Find The Truth
Tissot vs Tag Heuer: Tissots’s Revolutionary Technological Advancements
By the time electricity became part of everyday life in the 1920s, watchmakers faced the issue of watches becoming magnetized, which compromised their precision. Subsequently, to combat this issue, Tissot produced the first nonmagnetic wristwatch.
Then, the 1960s saw a new line of colorful watches with self-lubricating materials.
Finally, by the 1980s, Tissot adapted to a rapidly digitizing world by releasing the world’s first tactile watch, featuring a touchscreen.
Tissot in 2024: Brand Philosophy
Tissot prides itself on three core values: tradition, precision, and innovation.
Subsequently these values have resulted in it being the traditional Swiss brand that sells most watches in the world today and is the official timekeeper of various major sporting franchises [1] and events, including the NBA and Tour de France.
One of Tissot’s latest innovations is the Nivachron [2], a titanium-based alloy used to preserve watch precision that could be impacted by mobile phones and computers.
Notable Tissot Watches to Add to Your Collection
Tissot is known for its huge range of men’s and women’s watches, with prices starting from under $1000 USD. So, let’s examine three of the most popular Tissot collections.
Tissot T-Classic
Price Range: $250-$7,000
A most appropriate name, the T-Classic collection features an array of watches characterized by their timeless designs, making them easy to dress up or down.
Notable New Models
- Tissot Classic Dream
- Gorgeous, timeless design
- Stainless steel case
- 50m water-resistance
- Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80
- Interchangeable quick-release bracelet
- Stainless steel case
- 80-hour power reserve
Tissot T-Heritage
Price Range: $395-$2,275
In Tissot’s own words, the T-Heritage collection “tells stories of the past.” Arguably the most vintage-looking watches from Tissot’s new releases, this collection is a throwback to more times of more elegant style.
Notable New Models
- Tissot Heritage 1938 Automatic Cosc
- Vintage-inspired dial
- Swiss automatic movement
- Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
- See-through caseback
- Tissot Telemeter 1938
- Beautiful archive dial with chronograph, telemeter, and tachymeter scales
- 68-hour power reserve
- See-through caseback
Tissot T-Touch
Price Range: ~$2,000
Tissot was the trailblazer for touchscreen watches in the 1980s, but they’ve come a long way since. Also, new watches from the T-Touch collection can track heart rate, steps, calories, distance, and speed.
Notable New Models
- Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar
- Features altimeter, compass, perpetual calendar, barometer, step counter, and more
- Scratch-resistant ceramic bezel
- 100m water-resistance
- Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport
- Tracks heartrate, speed, distance, steps, calories, altitude, and more
- Ceramic and titanium details
- Solar-powered
Tag Heuer: A Brief History
Founded in 1860 by the then 20-year-old Edouard Heuer in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, he first made his living by selling silver pocket watches.
Tag Heuer is known for its invention of the crown-operated keyless winding system, which replaced the separate key once needed to wind watches.
In the 1880s, the company focused on developing highly accurate pocket chronographs, which became especially popular among horse and dog racing enthusiasts. The patented self-stopping and starting chronograph, which Edouard Heuer deemed “the perfected chronograph,” is still used to this day.
Then in 1908, the company patented the Sphygmometer pocket chronograph, which allowed physicians to determine a patient’s pulse rate after counting heartbeats for 20 seconds. As demand grew for more precise timing, they released chronographs with 1/100th-second accuracy and consequently became the supplier of chronographs for the Olympics.
Subsequently, by the late 1940s, the company invented wristwatches that tracked the tide, the moon, and speed over a measured distance or even a second time zone.
Finally, the “TAG” was incorporated into the Heuer name in 1985 when the company was acquired by Luxembourg-based holding group Techniques d’Avant Garde. This era marked the modernization of their watches.
Tag Heuer in 2024: Brand Philosophy
Tag Heuer’s modern brand values are focused on incorporating historic designs with new technology. This is evident from them being the first to launch a Swiss luxury smartwatch, whose first model came with their iconic Carrera-style case and featured software from Intel and Google.
Read more: The Ultimate Care Guide for your TAG Heuer Automatic Watch
Notable Tag Heuer Watches to Add to Your Collection
Tag Heuer Carrera
Price Range: $3,287-$58,583
Named after the Carrera Panamericana race, this collection features watches designed for racing enthusiasts. The collection also features a range of chronographs and three-hand watches marked by a sleek and elegant design.
Notable New Models:
- Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph
- Screw-down sapphire case back
- Deep blue dial
- 80-hour power reserve
- Tag Heuer Carrera Day-Date
- Date and day display
- Silver sunray-brushed dial
- Brown alligator strap
Tag Heuer Aquaracer
Price Range: $2,100-$20,100
First introduced in 1982, this collection consists of highly water-resistant watches made for water sports. This line is also the official timekeeper for divers, swimmers, and yachters.
Notable New Model:
- Tag Heuer Professional 200 Solargraph
- Solargraph movement
- Designed to withstand harsh weather conditions
- Rhodium-plated indexes and hands
- Super-LumiNova inside indexes and hands for optimal luminosity
Tag Heuer Formula 1
Price Range: $1,725-$4,365
Tag Heuer became a trusted partner for the Formula One race. Moreover, this collection was designed with high-speed performance in mind, with extremely accurate chronographic readings.
Notable New Model:
- Tag Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph
- Fine-brushed steel case
- Sapphire crystal glass
- Black titanium carbide-coated steel for the bezel
- Super-LumiNova-enhanced dial details
- 200m water-resistance
Read more: Are TAG Heuer Watch Winders a Good Investment?
Finding the Best Watch Winder for Tissot or Tag Heuer Watch
Aside from ensuring your mechanical watches are properly maintained, watch winders are a way to make your watch a part of your home decor with a beautiful display.
MOZSLY offers a wide selection of watch winders for Tissot or Tag Heuer watch, including single watch winders, in case you had trouble settling for just one!
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Tag Heuer Watch Winder: Tag Heuer Carrera
Tissot vs Tag Heuer: Which Brand is Best?
Deciding between Tag or Tissot ultimately comes down to preference for aesthetics and a variety of technical specs. You should choose Tissot if you like having a wide variety of styles to choose from.
Alternatively, you should choose Tag Heuer if you’re looking for a smartwatch with complex technical specs and if you’re looking for something extremely durable.
References:
[1] https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-ie/tissot-world-sport-partnerships [2] https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-en/tissot-world-know-howeditor's pick
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