Tissot  T-Pocket  Watches

Tissot T-Pocket Watches

Tissot is one of the few Swiss watch manufacturers that still offer pocket watches. The Tissot T-Pocket range of timepieces offers watch aficionados three different face displays — open-face, hunter, and double-hunter. Ranging from vintage-inspired to more contemporary skeleton timepieces, this range of Tissot watches boasts exceptional designs that can only be made by Swiss craftsmanship.

On top of that, this collection of pocket watches also boast accessible price points, despite their high-quality and the reliable Tissot traditions they come with. Thus, they are easily within grasp for both dedicated watch collectors and for regular people who just want to try something new.

Price List at a Glance

How Much Does a Tissot T-Pocket Watch Cost?

The T-Pocket collection of Tissot watches ticks all the boxes in terms of what the best pocket watch should be. It is stylish, functional, and reliable. It marries timeless designs with modern watchmaking technology and robust materials. As a result, we are left with elegant, state-of-the-art pocket watches that we can even pass down to the next generation. So, how much is a Tissot watch from this collection?

Depending on the model, Tissot price points for these T-Pocket timepieces can range between $295 USD and $1,250 USD. Take note, however, that prices for pre-owned Tissot pocket watches will vary depending on their overall condition.

Tissot Mechanical Pocket Watches

Priced at $459 USD, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T83.4.451.13 is one of the more affordable options from this collection. This Tissot watch comes in a golden brass case with a shatter-resistant Hesalite and mineral crystal. The back of this Tissot pocket watch features the iconic logo of the brand that evokes its tradition and heritage. This watch also boasts an ornate white dial with black Roman numeral hour markings and Fleur de Lys hour and minute hands. The outer rim of the dial also features minute markers in Arabic numerals. On the bottom half of the dial, just above the 6 o’clock marker, is a subdial for small seconds with a floating seconds hand. Ticking away inside this Tissot watch is the caliber ETA 6498-1, a mechanical movement that has a power reserve of 46 hours.

Meanwhile, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T860.405.29.032.01 features a sophisticated crown that takes inspiration from luxury perfume bottles. This intricate detail further highlights the prestige that this range of Tissot men’s watches is known for. Powering this timepiece is the caliber ETA 6497, a mechanical movement that boasts a 46-hour power reserve. On top of that, it is also water-resistant up to depths of 100 feet, or 30 meters. This caliber is enclosed in a 316L stainless steel case with rose gold PVD coating on a silver link chain. Another distinguished feature of this ref. T860.405.29.032.01 is its retro-style silver dial that features Arabic numeral hour markers. This Tissot pocket watch also features a small seconds subdial at the 6 o’clock position. The hands of the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T860.405.29.032.01 are made from blued steel, a symbol of quality within the watchmaking industry. It is also worth mentioning that this mechanical pocket watch is an open-face watch, which means that no lid covers the magnificent design details of the ref. T860.405.29.032.01. If you want to get your hands on this symbol of elegance and luxury, you will need to shell out around $675 USD.

Introduced in 2019, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T861.405.99.033.00 is another beauty that comes in a palladium-plated stainless steel case on a curb link chain. Protected by a mineral crystal, its patterned silver dial features black Roman numeral hour markers. The intricate, vintage design of the black handset also adds another layer of elegance to this round pocket watch. On the inner perimeter of the dial, you can find a minute scale. Meanwhile, this timepiece also features a small seconds subdial at the 6 o’clock position. Powering the ref. T861.405.99.033.00 is a mechanical movement that is perfect for those in search of a unique and reliable watch. This Tissot pocket watch costs around $750 USD.

One of the most expensive Tissot men’s watches in this collection is the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T859.405.29.273.00, which comes in a stainless steel case with a layer of rose gold PVD coating. This round Tissot pocket watch runs on the caliber ETA 6498-1 with a 46-hour power reserve. It is also impact-resistant and has a water resistance rating of 100 feet, or 30 meters. However, the true scene-stealer of this Tissot watch is its skeleton dial. You can admire the mechanical movement of this timepiece through the skeletal silver dial, thanks to the double openings at the front and back. Thus, you can easily check the time while also admiring the inner workings of this mechanical pocket watch. What’s more, this timepiece features sleek black hands, classic Roman numeral hour markers, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. This refined timepiece is priced at $1,250 USD, making it one of the most expensive Tissot men’s watches in this collection. 

Tissot Quartz Pocket Watches

The family of Tissot pocket watches also has a wide range of quartz movements. The Tissot T-Pocket ref. T81.7.222.12 pays homage to vintage nurse watches with their chains attached at the 6 o’clock position, instead of traditional placement at the 12 o’clock position. This ladies’ pocket watch comes in a gold-tone brass case with a hesalite crystal glass. Its ornate white dial features black Arabic numeral hour markers and hands, both of which are filled with luminous material. A minute scale can also be found along the perimeter of the dial’s rim. The date display window can be found at 6 o’clock. This timepiece comes with a Tissot price tag of $250 USD, making it one of the cheapest pocket watches from the brand.

Another affordable option is the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T83.6.553.13, which costs only $295 USD. Housed in a 316L stainless steel case, this Tissot pocket watch exudes a classic vintage look. This is especially thanks to its white dial with matching silver-tone hands and Roman numeral hour markers. Besides the basic functions of hours, minutes, and seconds, it also features a date display window at the 6 o’clock position. This Tissot watch runs on a quartz movement that is perfect for those looking for a no-frills timepiece.

Meanwhile, another quartz-powered pocket watch that blends tradition with modern expertise is the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T863.409.99.297.00. This timepiece comes in a quintessential round case made from blue-plated aluminum. It features a brown dial that utilizes both white Arabic numerals and indices for hour markings. This Tissot pocket watch will cost you an estimated $290 USD.

What is a Pocket Watch?

Nothing is more sophisticated than slipping out a pocket watch during dinner parties to tell the time. It is the perfect conversation piece, which you can use to strike up conversations with other guests. After all, there is nothing more elegant than a truly timeless piece of horology. That said, what exactly is a pocket watch?

As opposed to more common wristwatches with a strap that are meant to be worn on the wrist, a pocket watch is a timepiece meant to be carried in a pocket. These timepieces generally have a chain attached to them, which is secured to either a waistcoat, lapel or even a belt loop. This is to prevent them from being accidentally dropped.

Introduced in the early 16th century by a German locksmith, Peter Henlein, the first pocket watch came in a heavy drum-shaped brass cylinder. It only featured an hour hand and did not have any protective glass covering the face of the watch. Despite this rather unconventional design, it was still the first timepiece that could accurately tell time but was also small enough to fit in a person’s hand. It was a truly revolutionary invention at the time and by the mid-16th century, pocket watches had spread across Europe.

Over time, the evolution of the pocket watch has given birth to different cases, chains, movements, and designs. However, pocket watches are often classified based on the type of face display they have. There are five main types. Firstly, there are open-face pocket watches that have nothing obstructing the face. This type of pocket watch is also called a railroader's watch, because all railway workers back in the 1880s were required to carry pocket watches.

With no protective cover, open-face pocket watches can be easily prone to damage. This problem leads us to the full hunter pocket watch. This timepiece comes with a cover that opens and closes on a hinge, and can completely cover and protect the face of the timepiece.

Meanwhile, the half hunter pocket watch is a variant of the full hunter. The half hunter comes with a cover, but this cover has a transparent crystal glass or opening in the middle. This allows people to see the face of the watch without having to open the cover. Shortly after, the double hunter pocket watch was introduced. Not only does this timepiece come with a protective lid for the face, but it also features a lid that could open at the back. This design allows the owner to admire the mechanical movement of the timepiece from behind.

Lastly, the double half hunter pocket watch is similar to the double hunter, with covers that can be opened on the front and back of the watch. However, it also comes with a drum-shaped clear window on the front, just like half-hunter pocket watches.

Nowadays, pocket watches are living reminders of horological traditions and a symbol of class and luxury.

Vintage Tissot T-Pocket — Is it a Good Investment?

The Tissot brand has enjoyed a long and rich history of providing the world with the best luxury watches on the market. Since its founding in the 1850s, we have seen a high demand for Tissot watches for men and women. Unfortunately, despite boasting exceptional craftsmanship and designs, vintage Tissot watches can be quite underrated compared to vintage timepieces from other Swiss brands.

However, this opens a door of opportunity for savvy watch collectors and aficionados. With the lack of demand for these truly magnificent vintage Tissot pocket watches, avid collectors can get their hands on a vintage pocket watch from this company with not much difficulty. This is both in terms of demand and cost.

It is worth mentioning, however, that it won’t always be easy, as it is common to find fake vintage Tissot watches being sold on the second-hand market. You can tell if you are holding a real vintage Tissot timepiece by inspecting the serial numbers on it. This way, you are not just identifying if it is real but also its age and production year.

Over the years, the demand for vintage watches has skyrocketed. Brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet dominate the antique pocket watch market. That said, it seems like vintage Tissot watches are slowly but surely making their way to the top of the pedestal. This is especially thanks to their brilliant in-house calibers, craftsmanship, and style.

The Latest 2020 Tissot T-Pocket Models

In 2020, the brand introduced two new models to the Tissot T-Pocket collection, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T867.405.39.013.00 and the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T867.405.19.013.00. Both are mechanical pocket watches that run on the caliber ETA 6498-1 movement with a power reserve of 46 hours.

The Tissot T-Pocket ref. T867.405.39.013.00 comes in a stunning rose gold-plated stainless steel case. Meanwhile, the ref. T867.405.19.013.00 is housed in an elegant silver stainless steel case. Both pocket watches measure 48.50mm in diameter, a perfect fit for your palm. Both Tissot watches for men also feature clean white dials with classic black Roman numeral hour markings and Breguet-style hands. There is also a subdial for small seconds at the 6 o’clock position of both timepieces. As part of the Savonnette range of pocket watches, both Tissot pocket watches feature elegant and traditional designs topped off with engravings of the Tissot family coat of arms on the case lid.

So, how much are these latest iterations of the Tissot T-Pocket worth? Priced at $795 USD, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T867.405.19.013.00 is a much more affordable option. On the other hand, the Tissot T-Pocket ref. T867.405.39.013.00 has a price point of around $825 USD.

Tissot T-Pocket's History and Design Details

Founded by a father-son duo in a small city called Le Locle, Tissot was the first company to mass-produce pocket watches, in 1853. In the same year, the Swiss brand was also the first watch manufacturer to release a pocket watch with two time zones.

The first Tissot pocket watches were hunter case timepieces, also known as “savonnette”, which was derived from the French word, “savon.” This was due to their resemblance to round soap bars. In 1858, Charles-Émile Tissot, the son of co-founder Charles-Félicien Tissot, departed Switzerland and journeyed to Russia, where he successfully sold their savonnette pocket watches all across the empire. In 1904 Charles-Émile Tissot even delivered a timepiece to the Czar of Russia, Nicholas II.

The current Tissot T-Pocket Savonnette collection pays homage to the original antique pocket watch lineup. These magnificent Tissot watches for men boast traditional craftsmanship that exudes a hint of nostalgia. The cases of these Savonnette pocket watches even feature the brand’s historical logo, which further reminds its wearer of the brand’s monumental history and tradition. This range of Tissot pocket watches also feature Roman numeral hour markings reminiscent of traditional horology.

Besides these vintage-inspired pocket watches, Tissot also offers more contemporary timepieces in the T-Pocket collection. In line with the current trends, the brand also has a range of modern Tissot watches for men with skeleton dials. The skeleton dial allows wearers to see the detailed inner workings of the timepieces’ mechanical parts. Thus, this provides these elegant timepieces with a more contemporary facet.

Reasons to Buy Tissot T-Pocket Watches

1. 1. Tissot has a rich heritage when it comes to pocket watches. It was among the first Swiss manufacturers to mass-produce pocket watches.
2. 2. With that in mind, Tissot also has a strong brand reputation, which was built over years of releasing highly reliable and durable timepieces.
3. 3. Despite being a Swiss luxury brand, Tissot’s prices are all relatively affordable. The T-Pocket collection is one of the most accessible ranges within the brand’s catalog, with some timepieces featuring price tags of less than $300 USD.
4. 4. When it comes to pocket watches, the design and overall look of them seem pretty standard. Nevertheless, the Tissot watches for men and women in the T-Pocket range offer a wide selection of diverse designs that you can easily mix and match with any outfit. There is surely a timepiece in this collection that suits your unique style.
5. 5. With the rise of wristwatches, pocket watches are now considered decorative and novelty timepieces. However, Tissot T-Pocket watches are truly statement pieces. If you want to exude an air of elegance and distinction among your colleagues, slipping out a Tissot pocket watch to tell the time is the perfect way to do so. On top of that, they also make for exceptional conversation pieces.

Tissot T-Pocket Collection: Novelty Timekeeping

With the advent of wristwatches, smartwatches, and other more convenient ways of telling time, is there truly a place for pocket watches in this modern era? Nowadays, these truly exquisite timepieces are mostly for novelty, with most people reserving them for formal occasions. While more modern thinkers may consider pocket watches to be old-fashioned, there is truly nothing more distinctive than pulling out a pocket watch to tell time. It is an action that gives off an air of unmistakable style and grace.

And as the first in the game, Tissot continues to create affordable pocket watches for both watch enthusiasts and regular folks. The brand currently has over a dozen models in its  T-Pocket catalog. Featuring various designs and movements, and made from sturdy and durable materials, the timepieces in this collection are all of exceptionally high quality.