The Tissot Heritage 1936 has a beautiful movement, the ETA Unitas 6498, but it takes some effort to see it. This watch is a new version of a 1936 Tissot (scroll down to see an advert illustrating the watch 80 years ago), and so it has some elements of those pioneering days of wristwatches. At that time, wristwatches were generally made by welding wire arches on each side of the case, so that a strap could be fitted. So this modern piece reflects this, with a strap that loops behind the case. If you free the case from the strap, you can then open the hunter-type hinged caseback, revealing the display caseback window that lets you see the movement in operation.
The hand-wound ETA Unitas 6498 is a perfect fit for this 45 mm case, decidedly large on the wrist. The balance wheel can be seen through the caseback, and it presumably has the 18,000 vibration per hour oscillation rate, 2.5 Hertz, characteristic of that movement. The timepiece follows the pocket-watch arrangement with small seconds at 6 o’clock, and it also has the engaging 24-hour indications on the chapter ring.
The leather strap has contrasting stitching and a pin buckle. The dial has numerals of a curious flowing design, with more formal Breguet hands.
All considered, it’s an attractive piece, large and distinctive, with some nice detail touches such as the fluted crown and the rounded bezel and case side.
Price and reference
The Tissot Heritage 1936, reference T104.405.16.012.00, costs €1,025, $995, 995 Swiss francs. A women’s version is also available.
Below, detail of a 1936 advert for the Tissot watch that inspired this new piece.
