When you have a history that spans almost 170 years, creating revival timepieces feels like a prerequisite. That’s exactly the case for Swiss watch manufacturer Tissot who with their Heritage collection delivers a gorgeous range of vintage re-editions inspired by models from their archives. The latest addition to the family is a duo of Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches which take motivation from a sports chronograph launched during the 1930’s.
Before we get into the details of the new Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches, let’s first take a look back at the design which inspired them. As many of you will probably already know, Tissot have an extensive history within the sporting world, becoming official timekeepers of establishments like the NBA, MotoGP, and Tour de France. Their first experience with sports timekeeping didn’t come however until 1938, when they celebrated becoming the official timekeeper of a series of Ski races in Villar, just outside the company’s hometown in the Jura mountains. The event saw several Tissot timing chronometers used, but also a wrist chronograph known as the 1938 Tissot Monopusher. As you’ve guessed, it’s this very Monopusher that has heavily inspired the new duo of Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches.
Starting with the case, the Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches retain the fluid and traditional profile of its predecessor with polished and brushed surfaces, curved lugs and raised, box-shaped sapphire crystal. The sizing is a little different, speaking to the wrists of modern-day wearers with a diameter of 42mm compared to the 38mm width of the original. The bezel is fixed and polished while oval pushers sit beside a large, thin, finely fluted crown embossed with the traditional “T” logo. As a dress watch, a 30 metre water resistance is more than enough, and an exhibition case back allows us a nice view of the movement within.
The dial of the Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watch is where the personality of the original 1938 monopusher comes to life. It opts for a black or silver display dressed in glaive-shaped hands for the hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, a small running seconds dial at 9 o’clock and a 30 minutes chronograph counter at 3 o’clock. The rest of the printing on the dial indicates different scales for a number of measurements. It includes a tachymeter scale at the very centre for recording average speeds and a precision minutes scale and a telemeter scale on the outer edge, the latter for measuring the distance between an event you see first and hear second (like lightning). The silver Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph elects a stunning combination of black hardware, red printing and blued hands to display its mass of functionality. Meanwhile, the glossy black Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watch adorns its entire display in a gorgeous shade of gold.
Powering the Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches is the Valjoux A05.231 automatic winding movement with a cam-level design and bi-compax layout. It’s a great choice for a revival watch like this, delivering the complications required but with some wearer-friendly improvements. These include a 68 hour power reserve, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and an anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring. Completing both Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches is a calfskin leather strap, one in dark brown for the silver dial and one in a golden, tan brown for the black display.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Tissot Heritage 1938 Chronograph watches and shop the pair for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Movement: Valjoux A05.231 automatic cam-lever chronograph
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with central seconds and 30 minute counter
- Power Reserve: 68 hours
- Jewels: 29
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Silver or black
- Strap: Calfskin leather strap
- Buckle: Pin
- Limited: No
- RRP: £1,675
- Reference: T142.462.16.032.00 (Silver), T142.462.16.052.00 (Black)
