Tissot T-Race

Tissot has been the official timekeeper of the MotoGP, the premier class of motorcycle road racing events, since 2001. The T-Race series in the {model-2387,T-Sport collection} pays tribute to the MotoGP.

The designers at Tissot drew inspiration from the world of motorsport when creating these timepieces: the bezels resemble a brake disk, the crown guards take after a caliper, and the lugs are not unlike the rear suspension on a motorbike. Tissot crafts these 43 or 45-mm watches from 316L stainless steel, which is coated in rose gold or black, depending on the exact reference.

The T-Race collection offers chronographs and three-hand watches. Most T-Race models are powered by high-precision quartz calibers that only deviate by a few seconds per month, while specific timepieces are outfitted with reputable automatic movements. All movements are supplied by ETA, another company in the Swatch Group.

The majority of T-Race models fall in the price bracket between 440 and 490 USD. You can choose between quartz chronographs or automatic three-hand watches. Tissot rings in each MotoGP season with a limited edition dedicated to the racing event itself or certain riders. These quartz chronographs cost only slightly more at roughly 540 to 580 USD. Chronographs with automatic calibers come in at around 970 USD.

The watches from the T-Race Touch series, a line that Tissot retired a few years ago, are an affordable option. These timepieces fuse the look of the T-Race watches with the innovative technology of the T-Touch and only require an investment of between 280 and 390 USD.

There's no denying that the T-Race chronographs are emphatically sporty watches, and the luminous accents on many models make sure they do not go unnoticed.

One example is the T-Race Chronograph T115.417.27.051.00. The 43-mm case, crown, and push-pieces located underneath the hefty crown guard are made of brushed stainless steel. The bezel and lugs have a black PVD coating. The dial combines black and gray tones and features wide applied hour markers. The subdials at 2 and 6 o'clock for the 1/10 of a second counter and small seconds stand out in white. The minute counter at 10 is more understated: It is black with a light outer ring, giving the watch an offbeat flair.

The date magnifier for the date window at 3 o'clock is another interesting detail. It is remarkably large and shaped like the windshield of a motorcycle. The rehaut sports a tachymeter scale. The word "tachymetre" is inscribed in bright red, while the numerals are white. Other red accents include the stop second hand and rubber strap.

The quartz ETA caliber G10.212 keeps this watch ticking. The movement allows the wearer to stop time to 1/10 of a second and has an end-of-life indicator that lets you know when it's time to replace the battery.

You can buy this watch on Chrono24 for about 430 USD. If you would prefer a more muted model, the ref. T115.417.37.061.03 is worth taking a look at. The case, subdials, and stop second hand are completely black, and it costs roughly 490 USD. For the same price, you can get the two-tone ref. T115.417.37.051.00; the case, subdials, and hands of this timepiece are coated in rose gold.

T-Race Swissmatic: Three Hands and Automatic Caliber

Tissot also offers three-hand watches in the T-Race collection. At 45 mm across, these models are a tad larger than the chronographs, but the design language is slightly more conservative. Characteristic features such as the special lugs, crown guard, and large date magnifier immediately give away that the T-Race Swissmatic is a member of the T-Race family. Nevertheless, the watch has a much more classic appeal than the chronographs in the series.

The reason for this is, among other details, the refined dials. These are available in black, blue, and silver and feature a subtle sunburst finish. The bar indices are applied and filled with luminous material. Coupled with luminous hands, the result is a timepiece that is very easy to read in all lighting conditions.

The bezel also plays an important role in the classic design of the T-Race Swissmatic. It has the same color and finish as the rest of the case, which lends the timepiece a sporty dress watch vibe despite its size. This impression is reinforced by the fact that Tissot pairs these references with a leather strap fashioned to look like alligator leather that matches the color of the dial.

The biggest difference between the T-Race Swissmatic and Chronograph is found inside the case. Tissot outfits the former with the Swissmatic ETA caliber C15.111, the inspiration behind the model's name. This movement is based on the automatically assembled and very affordable ETA C10.111.

The affordability of the movement is reflected in the prices for the T-Race Swissmatic. You can buy a brushed stainless steel model for around 490 USD. The version with a rose gold coating changes hands for around 540 USD.

Tissot regularly launches limited-edition T-Race models. These are often dedicated to famous racers from the motorcycle scene, and enjoy a high degree of popularity. Tom Luthi, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, and Marc Marquez are among those who have been honored with signature models.

Tissot has dedicated several watches to Marc Marquez, most recently the T-Race Marc Marquez 2022 Limited Edition ref. T141.417.11.051.00. This is a quartz chronograph powered by the ETA caliber G10.212 found in similar watches in the collection. Visually, however, the Marquez model differs significantly from its counterparts: Tissot decided against the distinctive date magnifier and crown guard. What's more, the watch has an integrated stainless steel bracelet, so it does not feature the rear-suspension inspired lugs.

The dial of the Marc Marquez 2022 Limited Edition is black, as is the aluminum inlay of the bezel. The subdials, chronograph seconds hands, and tachymeter inscription are red. The production run is limited to 3,993 pieces. You will need to have around 720 USD on hand to call one of these models your own.

Special Editions for the MotoGP World Championship

The MotoGP Limited Edition watches are the top models in the T-Race collection. Tissot unveils a new model every year at the start of the racing season. These watches are available with quartz or automatic calibers. The mechanical versions are powered by ETA's caliber C01.211. The movement was developed at the express request of Tissot and is quite affordable thanks to machine production and plastic components. This movement was modeled on the famous Lemania 5100 and has a power reserve of 45 hours. The small seconds is located at 8, the 30-minute counter at 12, and the 6-hour counter at 6 o'clock. This leaves enough space for the date display at the 3 o'clock position.

In terms of design cues, the MotoGP Limited Editions are T-Race watches through and through. However, there are some differences between them and the other chronographs in the collection. For example, the dials are mostly dark and have different textures. The chronograph hands stand out from the background with bright colors like red or blue. The respective color scheme is carried over to the straps, which are made of cowhide or rubber, depending on the reference.

Another feature of the MotoGP Limited Edition is the display caseback. It is designed in the shape of a motorcycle rim and allows you to watch the movement at work. Tissot pulled out all the stops for the box: The watch comes to you in a small motorcycle helmet. These models are limited to production runs of 3,333 pieces.

As far as prices are concerned, MotoGP Limited Editions with automatic calibers range from 920 to 1,100 USD. Their quartz-powered counterparts cost between 430 and 580 USD.

Tissot also has close ties to the world of cycling. The traditional manufacturer has been the official timekeeper of the Tour de France for many years. Tissot pays homage to this partnership with special T-Race Cycling editions.

Several parallels can be drawn with road racing bikes: the aluminum bezel, which sits on a carbon ring, resembles the wheel rim of a racing bike. The chronograph push-pieces are shaped like brake levers, the lugs are reminiscent of a front fork, and the dial has an asphalt-like texture. Tissot equips the 44.5-mm stainless steel watches with the tried-and-true quartz ETA caliber G10.212.

You can find T-Race Cycling models from standard series production on Chrono24 from about 310 USD. Special editions for specific races like the Tour de France or La Vuelta cost around 100 USD more.

T-Race Touch

The T-Race Touch is a unique timepiece in the T-Race collection. Its design takes heavily from that of the other T-Race models, but the inner workings come from Tissot's T-Touch collection. Watches with T-Touch technology feature a touch-sensitive sapphire crystal that can be used to operate various functions. In the case of the T-Race Touch, these include an alarm, timer, tide forecast, and compass. The chronograph also has various modes, for example, a lap and split time chronograph. The latter allows you to record individual lap times and compare them afterward.

To display the various functions, the T-Race Touch uses both the central hour and minute hands and an LCD located in the lower third of the dial. The power and complications are provided by the ETA E49.303, which is also used in many other T-Touch watches.

The T-Race Touch comes in stainless steel or aluminum The bezel, push-pieces, and straps are made of high-quality plastic. The aluminum models are particularly suitable for people who like colorful watches; bright colors like red, orange, green, and blue are available.

You can buy a T-Race Touch in stainless steel for around 280 USD. If you like the aluminum version, you'll need to spend around 390 USD.