Tissot Visodate 1957 Heritage Collection Automatic - REVIEW

[shtora]

Thank you, teeritz, for this fantastic review!

Visodate 1957 is one of the few new mechanical watches I like.

[davevv]

Your review's as slick and sharp as the watch. Great job teeritz!

I'm actually going to make a Tissot purchase soon but not quite sure which particular model yet. I've been set on getting a chronograph, specifically the PRS200; but somehow gained interest on the Visodate which further increased with your review. I'm checking out the black dial on black leather one though.

Since you've got some experience with the timepiece, I'd be glad if you were able to shed light on some of my queries. First, is it advisable for the watch to be winded by gently shaking it from side-to-side? Also, is the Visodate able to be winded with an affordable watch winder (probably a Belocia or something along those lines)? Lastly, certain pictures of the timepiece I see on other sites (even the official Tissot site) don't have the "Swiss Made" lettering on the bottom of the watch. I was wondering whether this was region-specific, or the lettering is simply just not seen in certain angles. Do all releases of the Visodate have the "Swiss Made" lettering? Apparently, the one you picked up has it.

I'm had experience with Japanese automatics, but haven't owned a Swiss Automatic yet and am not too familiar with the maintenance and care of ETA movement watches.

Thanks...

[teeritz]

You make a very convincing argument. Surely the 2836 is yards better than a 2824 due to instantaneous date change, not bottom of the barrel?

A watch-maker once told me that the 2836 was the lower of the ETA movements, but he didn't elaborate. Maybe I should ask him again.

Teeritz, are you holding a revised model? Below is the fancy lug, as originally marketed:

Yes, my one is a revised model with a change to the design of the case sides, but this is further covered in the review.
Shame, really.

Your review's as slick and sharp as the watch. Great job teeritz!...

...Since you've got some experience with the timepiece, I'd be glad if you were able to shed light on some of my queries. First, is it advisable for the watch to be winded by gently shaking it from side-to-side? Also, is the Visodate able to be winded with an affordable watch winder (probably a Belocia or something along those lines)?

Okay, davevv, this is what I tell all of my customers. I'm sure there are folks here who may disagree, but I deal with people every day who are not watch experts and some of them tend to worry when they are spending this kind of money on a wristwatch.
If the watch is not ticking, wind it by hand. Anytime the watch stops from not being worn, just wind it about 15 or 20 times and then put it on your wrist. Shaking the watch gently from side-to-side is like trying to start your car with half a glass of fuel in the tank.
I'm sure the Visodate will wind up on a watch winder, but I'm told by many that the affordable watch winders do not tend to last very long. Me personally, I'm not a fan of watch winders (cannot stand them, actually) because they remove you (the owner) from interacting with your watches. However, I fully understand if people want the practicality that comes with a watch winder. You can just wake up in the morning, take your watch off the winder and it's all set and running. Me, on the other hand, I set my watch the night before and have it ready for the next day. It's a habit I got into a long time ago.
But if somebody tells you that a watch needs to be on a winder in order to reduce service intervals or to keep the oils from drying out, well I just don't believe that. I have numerous watches from the 1950s and '60s and none of them have ever been on a winder.
So, daveww, if you can set your watches the night before, you won't need a winder. If you want to have your watches ticking 24/7 and ready to go at a moment's notice, then get a winder.
To each, their own.

Lastly, certain pictures of the timepiece I see on other sites (even the official Tissot site) don't have the "Swiss Made" lettering on the bottom of the watch. I was wondering whether this was region-specific, or the lettering is simply just not seen in certain angles. Do all releases of the Visodate have the "Swiss Made" lettering? Apparently, the one you picked up has it.
I'm had experience with Japanese automatics, but haven't owned a Swiss Automatic yet and am not too familiar with the maintenance and care of ETA movement watches.

Thanks...

I think the "SWISS MADE" is just hard to see from certain angles.
As for maintenance of ETA movements, just get them serviced every three to five years and you should be fine. You could even push it to six or seven years, but your servicing costs may be a little higher.
I tell customers to put away $10 a month and they'll have the money ready for servicing when the time comes.

Best of luck if you decide on the Visodate. It's a great dress/business watch.

[sci]

That's a review. Great!

[RPeanut]

Teeritz I would like to thank you for this great review. I have been looking for an automatic watch for a month or two now at a price range up to £500, never owned an automatic and after looking around a bit I fell in love with the design of the visodate but not a lot of useful info about it on the interwebs...until now.

I was between a christopher ward, hamilton or the visodate but your review just solidified my decision. I will most probably go for the black dial/silver design for the more edgy look and i'm sure it will look great as an everyday and more dressy watch. Personally I hate how the dials of watches today have become very busy, so wanted something minimal, but the day and date look good on this and I love the whole retro feel.

Cheers again, and maybe when I receive it I will post some pics on a more meaty wrist :P

[Marine Corporal]

Great review, I love the illustrations and props. You obviously spent a fair bit of time on it. Thank you.

I am very interested in this watch. I liked it the moment I saw it here on the forum. My local dealer isn't stocking it, though, and when I asked why, the salesman said it was because there was another automatic Tissot for less money that was a top seller for them. He said they doubted whether the Visodate 1957 would sell as well.

I don't agree with them. But I don't remember which model he mentioned. Anyone have any idea?

Peace

Mike

[Ursus]

Great review, I love the illustrations and props. You obviously spent a fair bit of time on it. Thank you.

I am very interested in this watch. I liked it the moment I saw it here on the forum. My local dealer isn't stocking it, though, and when I asked why, the salesman said it was because there was another automatic Tissot for less money that was a top seller for them. He said they doubted whether the Visodate 1957 would sell as well.

I don't agree with them. But I don't remember which model he mentioned. Anyone have any idea?

Peace

Mike

I think he meant the lelocle, but if you see the two watches, they are very different in looks. so it is really two different watches. I`m still hesitating between the two, though the visodate is winning after this review... saw it in the aiport at a discount, might pick it up on my way home in 5 days....

[davevv]

So, daveww, if you can set your watches the night before, you won't need a winder. If you want to have your watches ticking 24/7 and ready to go at a moment's notice, then get a winder.
To each, their own.

I think the "SWISS MADE" is just hard to see from certain angles.
As for maintenance of ETA movements, just get them serviced every three to five years and you should be fine. You could even push it to six or seven years, but your servicing costs may be a little higher.
I tell customers to put away $10 a month and they'll have the money ready for servicing when the time comes.

Best of luck if you decide on the Visodate. It's a great dress/business watch.

Thanks for the informative reply teeritz. I'll definitely take note of your advice when I decide to get a Swiss Automatic. Always appreciate help from experienced users and "watch-professionals;" so-to-speak. Keep enjoying that Visodate of yours, it sure is a keeper.

[lvt]

A watch-maker once told me that the 2836 was the lower of the ETA movements, but he didn't elaborate. Maybe I should ask him again.

I think I would disagree with that watchmaker, the 2836 is the best ETA movement of all times. Maybe he used to work on standard version of the 2836 (no decoration, unsigned rotor...), not the Top/Chronometer grade ?

[Bezzle]

They are all great watches, I especially like the Lanco though. I'm new to this forum and I like the fact that everybody seems to know what they are talking about.