Jonesing for an Audemars Piguet? This Must-Have Tissot is Best Watch Alternative
There are “grail” watches, there are “exit” watches and then there's Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak watch. First released in 1972, the nautically inspired, Gerald Genta design launched the luxury sports watch genre as well as the ships of a thousand competitors. Hyperbole aside, the Royal Oak’s “porthole” octagonal bezel, signature screws, integrated bracelet and "tapisserie" dial came together to create a true horological icon.
Of course, in the world of watches there’s always a “but,” especially when it comes to ultra-desirable pieces. So here’s the rub—a 41mm steel, self-winding model will set you back $30,000 at retail…if you’re lucky enough to find an authorized dealer willing to sell you one. For watch enthusiasts, scarcity makes their heart grow fonder, I suppose, but we have the perfect watch dupe for you.
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So for those of us unwilling to part with that kind of cheddar for a steel wrist watch—or anyone who needs a quick, integrated sports watch fix—the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 has entered the chat for those looking for luxury watch alternatives. Like the AP, the PRX features a "tapisserie"-style dial, an integrated bracelet, and a self-winding movement—but for less than 1/34th the price. Plus you can walk right into the store, or click the mouse a couple of times on the website, and buy one; there's no waitlist.
The 40mm, tonneau shaped case is cast in brush-finished, 316L stainless steel and water resistant to 100 meters. Hands and indexes are painted with SuperLuminova for time telling in low light situations. The dial is protected with an anti-reflective coated, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
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Flip the watch over to find another sapphire crystal that reveals the Powermatic 80 movement (based on the ETA 2824-2). The calibre offers an 80 hour power reserve, a Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring, hacking seconds, as well as a date function.
The integrated bracelet is brush finished to match the case and is secured with a twin trigger push-button butterfly clasp. The bracelet is also outfitted with a quick release system, so you can easily swap in a strap for added versatility. The 40mm Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 is available at tissotwatches.com in 20 flavors starting at $715.
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