Tissot T-Sport PR 516 Powermatic 80 white dial steel bracelet 38 mm

The PR516: Tissot’s Racing Heritage

Since the 1960s, the Tissot PR516 has embodied the sporting spirit of the Swiss manufacture. Inspired by the world of motor racing, this collection quickly established itself as one of the brand’s most dynamic lines, combining robustness, legibility and precision.

Its name comes from the expression “Particularly Robust”, a promise of reliability designed to keep pace with the most intense lifestyles. The original PR516 stood out with an aesthetic influenced by motorsport, featuring details reminiscent of perforated steering wheels and dashboard instruments found in racing cars of the era.

Over time, the PR516 became a true sporting icon for Tissot and even left its mark on popular culture, famously appearing on the wrist of Roger Moore in cinema.

Recently relaunched by the brand, the new generation PR516 Powermatic 80 continues this heritage with a contemporary approach: a design inspired by historic models, modern proportions and a high-performance automatic movement designed to accompany everyday life with style and reliability.

A Compact Case with Distinct Racing Style

The PR516 Powermatic 80 features a stainless steel case with modern, well-balanced proportions, designed to provide excellent comfort on the wrist while preserving the sporty spirit of the collection.

Its 38 mm diameter aligns perfectly with the current trend toward refined watch dimensions, while its thickness of approximately 11.2 mm ensures an elegant presence without compromising the slim profile. The lug-to-lug distance of about 44 mm further enhances wearing comfort and ergonomics.

The case is predominantly satin-finished, highlighted by subtle polished chamfers along the flanks that add depth and sophistication to the design.

The watch is topped with a fixed black bezel featuring a 60-minute scale and a mineral glass insert reminiscent of the plexiglass bezels found on vintage sports watches, reinforcing the model’s racing identity.

The dial is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, while the transparent caseback reveals the mechanical movement inside. The watch is water-resistant to 100 meters, making it suitable for everyday activities.

The Powermatic 80 Automatic Movement

At the heart of the PR516 beats the Powermatic 80 automatic calibre, a Swiss movement renowned for its reliability and performance, widely used across the Swatch Group.

A modern evolution of the well-known ETA 2824, this movement has been optimized to provide significantly extended autonomy. It operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and offers an impressive power reserve of approximately 80 hours, allowing the watch to remain unworn for several days without stopping.

The Powermatic 80 also incorporates a Nivachron balance spring, an innovative alloy offering increased resistance to magnetic fields as well as improved stability against temperature variations and everyday shocks.

Visible through the transparent caseback, the movement drives the essential functions:

• hours
• minutes
• central seconds
• date at 3 o’clock

This ensures clear and precise timekeeping, faithful to the functional spirit of watches inspired by the world of racing.

A Sport-Elegant Steel Bracelet

The Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80 is fitted with a five-link stainless steel bracelet that alternates brushed and polished surfaces, creating a subtle yet dynamic play of contrasts.

This design, inspired by classic sport-chic bracelets, enhances both comfort on the wrist and the overall elegance of the watch while preserving the racing character of the collection.

With a 20 mm lug width, the bracelet features a quick-release system, allowing it to be easily changed without tools depending on style or occasion.

It closes with a butterfly clasp featuring a folding deployant mechanism, ensuring security, comfort and a discreet fit on the wrist.

This bracelet perfectly complements the versatile character of the PR516, capable of accompanying both everyday wear and more refined occasions.

A Matte White Dial with Strong Contrast

This version of the PR516 Powermatic 80 stands out with its matte white dial, whose clean finish highlights the watch’s sporty and highly legible design.

The applied hour markers and hands, treated in a dark grey tone, create a strong contrast against the bright dial, immediately enhancing readability. Coated with Super-LumiNova, they ensure optimal time legibility even in low-light conditions.

The display is completed by a date window positioned at 3 o’clock, discreetly integrated into the overall balance of the dial.

Combined with the black graduated bezel and stainless steel case, this white dial gives the PR516 a look that is both sporty, graphic and timeless — directly inspired by dashboard instruments and historic racing watches.