Tissot Heritage Visodate (Silver Pearlescent)

[AsAnAtheist]

Visodate
Tissot Model: T019.430.16.031.01
Silver Pearlescent,
Pie Pan Dial
White Dauphine Hands (Polished)
High Polish Hour markers
Raised, and Domed sapphire crystal
ETA 2836-2
3 bar water resistance (30M Water resistance)
Laser engraved caseback with sapphire crystal display
Stainless Steel finish
40mm Case size
11.6MM Thick
Gentlemen's Wristwatch

History
In the 1950's during Tissot's centenary the company introduced the date function in their watches. The Tissot Visodate I suspect is a model based on a 1954's Tissot Visodate with had the claw lugs as well as the small notch on the sides of the lugs (first version of the modern Tissot Visodate) minus the arabic numerals (watch dated to 1954~)


The Tissot Visodate is probably one of the most faithful reproductions of a vintage watch in this time of price segment, and unlike most watches which are more of a modern watch with vintage flare the Visodate prides itself by being a vintage watch, with modern flare.

Review

The Tissot Visodate reviewed today features, quality, and fit and finish not common in the price range where most fashion watches seem to take superiority (let's face the music, most watches here, are sadly the minority). Brands like Michael Kors, and Reymond Weil, as well as Movado seem to be far more favorite brands among the masses in the upper $600~ segment. The Visodate offers versatility in a proud and faithful vintage design. The watch can be work in dress, or casual situations and even at times in non contact sport scenarios! (tennis, golf, etc).

The watch features a subtle yet beautiful silver pearlescent dial with very very small hints of shimmer depending how the light hits it. The dial, while plain looking aso has another trick up its sleeves with a rather rare pie pan dial. The pie pan dial is a feature found in vintage higher end watches where the center of the dial is raised, while the dial towards the edges begins to sink in, this creates optically pleasing look to the watch which is only enhanced by the domed sapphire crystal. The dauphine hands and hour markers (12, 3, 6, and 9 o clock have double markers) are high polished, creating a near mirror finish and a beautiful high end look. The casing of the Tissot is unique in it's slanted sides, and claw-styled lugs which only helps add to the vintage look.

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The raised domed sapphire crystal on the Tissot Visodate is a nice touch to help add to the vintage watch. While traditionally vintage watches used acrylic for the crystals Tissot opted for a more durable but far more costly sapphire crystal. Adding to the cost the sapphire crystal is domed and raised, also when compared to a flat sapphire crystal a domed sapphire crystal can be thicker thus more impact resistance and also offers a natural antireflective property. The downside is that since the crystal is raised and then domed, most impacts with objects will more than likely impact the crystal first instead of the bezel of the watch, the fear being that the crystal could be more prone to scratching (even though sapphire glass is not scratch proof most daily activity will rarely encounter materials hard enough to scratch sapphire).

The watch comes with a quality brown leather, alligator-grain with a butterfly clasp. The leather strap when new comes rather stiff, however it will eventually take form to your wrist and it's comfort will get better. There isn't much to say about the strap or the butterfly clasp other than it accompanies the watch nicely. For those of you new to butterfly clasps, I added a small guide on how to size the band

First, unhook the deployment clasp from the notched leather piece. This is done by pulling the clasp upwards thus released the notch.

Once this is done, slide the clasp careful not to allow the metal nob to damage the leather band to the desired size. Proceed to insert nob into the notch of the desired size. Done!

Summary
The Tissot Visodate is truly a versatile watch for the money. With looks that can go well with a suit, casual, and even a slightly more classy sporty look. The ETA 2836-2 movement promises trouble free life time of servicing/maintenance and a workhouse movement capable of COSC accuracy. In this price range it's going to be difficult to beat the Visodate as a true modern vintage watch.

[camb66]

Nice job! Great photos. Its getting a real cult following around here.

[AsAnAtheist]

I bought a cheap lens for my kodak zi8 and was rather pleased with the quality of the video now. So I made a video showing close ups of the Visodate as well as extreme close ups of the ETA 2836-2.

[jah]

Thanks for the review, very well done. Beautiful watch as well!

[Concub1ne]

I've got the same one and more bang for the buck I can't think of. Nice pics.

[teeritz]

Nice review, AAA! Great photos, too.

[AsAnAtheist]

Thanks for the comments.

teeritz, your review is still far better and was the way I was introduced to this watch. So thank you!

[cajmrn]

Very Nice review and love this watch. The Pic's are very good quality too. Great addition to an already great sub-forum.

[AsAnAtheist]

Quick update:
Using Kello (iOS app for measuring time) I was able to record timings for the watch. Recorded on 5 positions.
I believe it meets COSC certification.
Temp diodge attached besides microphone but on the steel casing not sapphire glass, so the temp was of the watch not of the environment.

Temp: 77F~
Dial up: -1.7 s/d
Dial down: -1 s/d
Crown Down: -1.2 s/d
Crown up: +.7 s/d
Dial standing up with dial upside down: -3.0 s/d

Temp: 28F~ (fridge)
Dial up: -1.6 s/d
Dial down: -1.2 s/d
Crown Down: -1.2 s/d
Crown up: +.3 s/d
Dial standing up with dial upside down: -2.3 s/d

Very happy with the watch!

[AsAnAtheist]

Quick update:
Watch is still running well within COSC limits.

Unfortunately the displayback glass is not sapphire, it is mineral. It does indeed scratch.