PR516 Mechanical

The PR516 chronograph of 1970 was a modern marvel for its time. It featured a triple register layout, tachymetric bezel, luminous hands, and a reputation for reliability. This was so much the case that Peruvian rally legend Henry Bradley wore one and famously etched its name on his Ferrari race car. That wasn’t all; a world-famous MI6 agent strapped on the same watch in his famous 1973 film, Live and Let Die. So how has Tissot considered this weighty heritage as it reimagines the PR516 chronograph for today? With the new, handwound PR516 Mechanical.

On paper, the new PR516 Mechanical chronograph is similar to its storied counterpart, but not exactly the same. The watch is modernized and now features SuperLuminova on the hands, indexes and tachymeter scale. The case is a wearable 41mm while the thickness comes in at a crowd pleasing 13.7mm. Add to that a domed sapphire crystal, and 100m of water resistance. On the dial, the registers are spaced at 3, 6, and 9, creating symmetry, especially without a date window. Turn the watch over and you're treated to easily the most intriguing part of the watch; its chronograph movement.

The PR516 Chronograph Mechanical is the first recipient of Tissot’s manually wound Valjoux A05.291 movement. A 7753-derived caliber, this new movement has seen some major modifications like an automatic winding block deletion and, in its place, a lightly decorated bridge. Despite its old-school power delivery system, the A05.291 offers modern performance specifications to the tune of 68 hours of power reserve and formidable magnetic resistance thanks to its Nivachron balance spring. It beats at 28,800vph (4Hz), good for +/- 5 seconds a day, and hosts a list of other technological improvements around shock protection and regulation. In short, this is a thoroughly modern movement in design and function.