316L stainless steel case, 47.5 mm diameter, 14 mm thick, water resistance 3 bar (30 metres)

Unitas 6498-1 movement, manually-wound, 46 hours power reserve

Mainspring barrel

Balance running at 18,000 vph

Small seconds

Tissot Bridgeport Mechanical Skeleton, reference T859.405.29.273.00, price €1,075

This pocket watch by Tissot is absolutely traditional, a savonette (crown at 3 o’clock) with a skeletonized movement and case opening front and back. It is made with a 316L stainless steel case, 47.5 mm in diameter, 14 mm thick, water resistance 3 bar (30 metres). It is powered by the mechanical Unitas 6498-1 movement, the classic manually-wound pocket watch movement now made by ETA, with small seconds at 6 o’clock, running at 18,000 vph, with a power reserve of about 46 hours. The barrel is open to view at the top of the dial and so you have a visual indication of power reserve.

For over fifty years, Tissot made just pocket watches, and so this piece is a like a tribute to its history. But it’s their first pocket watch with a skeletonized movement. And I guess that like most brands, they like to keep a few pocket watches in their collection, just in case one day they come back into fashion.

Reference and price

The Tissot Bridgeport Mechanical Skeleton is reference T859.405.29.273.00 and its price is €1,075.