Hodinky Tissot PRS 516 have been inspired by racing cars for decades. In 1965, Tissot first used a strap with large holes in their PR 516 GL watch, which was supposed to resemble the racing drivers' leather gloves. The buttons on the current chronographs are inspired by the engine pistons and the rear view of the device (for automatic models) is decorated with motifs that look like a car racing steering wheel. The most commonly considered alternative to the automatic chronograph PRS 516 is a little more classic PRC 200, T-Sport from the same line, or some Certina Sport models.
The designer of the model said: "To me, PRS 516 is the most prestigious sports watch from the whole Tissot collection. That is why I wanted to add a few luxury details to the original 1965 design, for example the ceramic bezel. This is the first Tissot watch equipped with the new A05 movement (60 hours power reserve) ". A rare thing about this watch are the "floating" indices, which are the reason for the interesting dial 3D effect.
PRS 516 Automatic Models
- T100.427 chronograph models with Swiss Tissot A05.H31 movement (it is an adaptation of ETA 7753). The movement contains 27 jewels and has a 60 hours power reserve. Models with red and yellow seconds hand have a ceramic bezel, while the black PVD model has a carbon bezel. There is a tachymeter scale on the bezel of the watch.
- T100.430 Models with Swiss Powermatic 80 movement with 23 jewels and an incredible 80 hours power reserve. You can put the watch aside on Friday after work and it will still show the exact time on Monday.
- T100.428 Models with Swiss ETA 2825-2 movement. It has a small seconds hand, 25 jewels and 38 hours power reserve.
- T079.427 chronograph models with Swiss Tissot C01.211 movement (it is an improved Lemania 5100 movement) with 15 jewels and 45 power reserve.
All models have sapphire glass with a double-sided anti-reflective coating, which ensures better readability. The transparent caseback has elements containing racing cars motifs. The glass that protects the movement is also sapphire.
PRS 516 Quartz Models
- T100.417 chronograph model with Swiss quartz ETA G10.212 Powerdrive movement. The model with a blue seconds hand and PVD treatment T100.417.37.201.00 has a carbon bezel, other models have ceramic bezels.