Tissot PRX Damascus Powermatic 80 damascus steel dial damas leather strap 38 mm

Tissot PRX Damascus: When Material Becomes Art

For over forty years, the Tissot PRX has symbolized the perfect union of design, precision, and robustness. Born in the late 1970s, at the height of the integrated bracelet sports watch era, the PRX has stood the test of time without ever betraying its DNA: a graphic, angular, and distinctive aesthetic, instantly recognizable. Its name, an acronym for Precision, Robustness, and water resistance to 10 ATM, perfectly embodies this philosophy — to create a slim, solid, and reliable watch designed to last.

Revived in 2021, the PRX quickly became a horological phenomenon. Its confidently seventies-inspired design, paired with the modern Powermatic 80 caliber, has won over a whole generation of enthusiasts in search of a watch with an exceptional value proposition. Since then, the collection has continued to expand with new variations — steel, gold, forged carbon, titanium… yet Tissot had not taken the boldest step of all: that of Damascus steel.

With this PRX Powermatic 80 Damascus, the Le Locle-based brand pushes the limits of industrial design and ventures into the realm of craftsmanship. Both the case and the dial are entirely fashioned from this fascinating material, born from the hammering and forging of successive layers of stainless steel. This ancestral process, used for centuries in blades and decorative objects, gives rise to a substance with organic, fluid patterns — each piece entirely unique.

This choice of material is far from a stylistic whim. Damascus steel embodies a philosophy of singularity: every watch becomes a work of art in its own right, revealing a different face depending on the light, like a living metal. The silvery and deep gray reflections, the natural waves of the grain, and the almost liquid surface texture lend this PRX a hypnotic, almost mineral character.

For Tissot, this creation marks a new stage — one where the material tells the story as much as the form or the movement. This PRX Damascus is not just a beautiful watch; it celebrates the art of transformation, the meeting between the raw strength of metal and contemporary Swiss precision. A piece in which you can feel the heartbeat of time itself, as well as that of fire and hammer.

Design & Finishing: Perfect Harmony Between Case and Dial

At first glance, the PRX Powermatic 80 Damascus retains all the features that made the collection successful: a sharp, 1970s-inspired silhouette, a tapered case, and a sport-chic style that’s instantly recognizable. But when you look closer, everything changes — the material itself becomes the aesthetic.

The 38 mm case adopts ideal proportions: more balanced than the 40 mm version, yet more assertive than the 35 mm, it offers wrist presence without heaviness. Its slim profile, softened edges, and alternating polished and satin finishes reveal the great care given to every surface.

The true uniqueness, however, lies in the continuity between the case and the dial, both hewn from the same Damascus steel. The swirling, vein-like patterns echo one another across surfaces, creating a striking impression of a single block of living metal. Depending on the angle and the light, the surface transforms — sometimes fluid and liquid, sometimes deep and contrasted. This hypnotic play of textures makes each watch genuinely one of a kind.

Nickel-plated baton hands and a black seconds hand add structure and a graphic touch, while the black-nickeled indexes ensure clarity and elegance. The overall design remains remarkably pure — the material itself takes center stage, with no excess.

Finally, the grained black leather strap, enhanced by Damascus steel end links and a matching buckle, completes this aesthetic harmony. Soft, comfortable, and perfectly integrated, it highlights the dressier side of this edition while maintaining the sporty soul of the PRX.

The PRX Damascus thus achieves the improbable: preserving the iconic spirit of the PRX while transforming it through the nobility of its material. A watch both familiar and utterly new, one that turns light, metal, and time into a perpetual dialogue.

Movement & Performance: Precision in Motion

Inside this sculptural case beats the engine that helped make the PRX a contemporary watchmaking benchmark: the Powermatic 80 automatic caliber, developed within the Swatch Group.

Based on a proven architecture, this movement runs at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers an 80-hour power reserve — over three days of autonomy without winding. A true everyday advantage: you can take it off on Friday night, put it back on Monday morning, and it still keeps perfect time.

Tissot has equipped it with a Nivachron™ balance spring, an innovative titanium-based alloy resistant to magnetic fields, shocks, and temperature variations. This technology ensures lasting chronometric stability, even in our modern, magnetized environments.

The movement can be admired through the transparent sapphire caseback, revealing the decorated oscillating weight and the precise mechanics within. This is no mere detail — it reflects Tissot’s commitment to combining transparency with mechanical craftsmanship. Enthusiasts will appreciate the clean, purposeful finishing, true to Swiss tradition.

Protecting this mechanical heart, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal crowns the ensemble. Scratch-resistant and crystal-clear, it ensures perfect legibility while providing exceptional durability.