Tissot is known for its precision and high-end luxury watches, while Seiko is renowned for producing reliable and affordable timepieces with exceptional quality.
The best value for money watch brands, Tissot and Seiko are two names that come up to mind. Both of these brands offer excellent quality watches at reasonable prices, making them popular choices for watch enthusiasts and collectors. The Seiko is a Japanese Brand with a long history of making quality time pieces. Tissot is a well known Swiss Brand with a reputation for quality. In this blog post, we will compare Tissot and Seiko, explore their histories, most popular watches, and the pros and cons of each brand.
Tissot: A Brief History
Tissot is a Swiss watch brand that was founded in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son, Charles-Émile Tissot. The brand initially focused on making pocket watches, but later expanded to wristwatches in the early 20th century. Tissot was also the first watch brand to introduce a watch made entirely of plastic in 1971, called the Tissot Idea 2001.
In 1983, Tissot merged with the Swatch Group, which is the world’s largest watchmaker. Since then, Tissot has continued to produce high-quality Swiss watches, ranging from classic dress watches to sports watches.
What Tissot is Famous For
Tissot is known for its innovative designs and high-quality Swiss-made watches. The brand has a reputation for producing accurate and reliable timepieces that are both stylish and functional. Tissot watches are also popular among sports enthusiasts, particularly with their T-Sport and T-Touch collections, which offer features such as chronographs, compasses, and altimeters.
Most Popular Tissot Watches
Tissot has a wide range of popular watches, but some of their most sought-after timepieces include:
- Tissot Visodate: The Visodate is a classic dress watch that features a retro design with a modern twist. The watch has a stainless steel case and a leather strap, and its minimalist design makes it an ideal choice for formal occasions.
- Tissot PR100: The PR100 is a versatile and durable watch that is perfect for everyday wear. It features a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, and is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
- Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar: The T-Touch Expert Solar is a high-tech sports watch that offers features such as a compass, altimeter, and chronograph. The watch is powered by solar energy and has a stainless steel case with a rubber strap.
Photo by Simon Reza: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-in-white-shirt-wearing-black-round-analog-watch-9285861/
Pros and Cons of Tissot
Pros
- High-quality Swiss-made watches
- Wide range of designs and styles
- Innovative features in sports watch collections
- Good value for money
Cons
- Limited availability in some regions
- Fewer options for affordable watches
- No in-house movement
Seiko: A Brief History
Seiko is a Japanese watch brand that was founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori. The brand started as a small shop selling and repairing watches and clocks, but later expanded to become one of the world’s largest watch manufacturers. In 1969, Seiko introduced the Seiko Astron, which was the world’s first quartz watch.
Seiko is also known for its innovation in watchmaking, with notable developments such as the first automatic quartz watch, the Seiko Kinetic, and the first GPS solar watch, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar.
What Seiko is Famous For
Photo by Hazel Marie: https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photo-of-a-silver-wristwatch-7617109/
Seiko is known for its reliable and durable watches that offer excellent value for money. The brand is also famous for its technological innovations in watchmaking, such as its Kinetic and Spring Drive movements. Seiko watches are also popular among divers and sports enthusiasts, with their Seiko Prospex collection offering features such as water-resistance and rotating bezels.
The Seiko Prospex Special Edition SRPF79 Blue Silicone Automatic Diver’s Watch come to mind when I think about the Prospex.
Photo by Yury Kim: https://www.pexels.com/photo/round-orange-and-silver-colored-seiko-analog-watch-showing-1-57-580707/
Most Popular Seiko Watches
Seiko is a popular Japanese watch brand known for producing high-quality timepieces at affordable prices. Here are the most popular Seiko watches and a brief description of each:
- Seiko 5 Sports: The Seiko 5 Sports is a line of watches that has been in production for over 50 years. These watches are known for their durability, affordability, and versatility. They come in a variety of styles, including diver, field, and dress watches. The Seiko 5 Sports watches are powered by automatic movements, have a day/date display, and are water-resistant.
- Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver: The Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver is a popular dive watch that is designed to withstand depths of up to 200 meters. It features a unidirectional rotating bezel, a screw-down crown, and a Hardlex crystal that is resistant to scratches. The Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver is powered by an automatic movement and has a power reserve of up to 41 hours.
- Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail Time: The Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail Time is a dress watch that is inspired by the art of mixology. These watches feature a textured dial that resembles the surface of a cocktail. The hands and markers are designed to resemble the stirring rod and drops of a cocktail. The Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail Time watches are powered by automatic movements and have a power reserve of up to 50 hours.
Pros and Cons of Seiko
Seiko watches are known for their reliability, quality, and affordability, but like any product, they have their pros and cons. Here are some of the pros and cons of Seiko watches:
Pros
- Quality: Seiko watches are made with high-quality materials and are known for their durability and longevity.
- Affordability: Seiko watches are relatively affordable compared to other luxury watch brands, making them accessible to a wider audience.
- Innovation: Seiko has a long history of innovation in the watch industry, and the brand has introduced many groundbreaking technologies, such as the first quartz watch in 1969.
- Diverse range of watches: Seiko offers a wide range of watches to suit different tastes and styles, from dress watches to dive watches and everything in between.
Cons
- Limited resale value: Seiko watches do not retain their value as well as some other luxury watch brand. This means that they may not be a good investment for collectors.
- Service centers: Seiko has fewer service centers compared to some other watch brands. This means it can make it difficult to find a qualified technician to service the watch.
- Design: While Seiko watches are well-made and functional, some people may find the design of the watches to be uninspiring or lacking in personality compared to other luxury watch brands.
Overall, Seiko watches offer excellent value for money and are a reliable choice for those looking for a well-made and functional timepiece. However, they may not be the best choice for collectors or those who prioritize resale value or the uniqueness of the design.
When talking about Seiko, we also need to mention the Grand Seiko Brand.
Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko is a luxury watch brand that is a subsidiary of the Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko. The brand was launched in 1960. Their goal was to create a watch that could rival the accuracy and craftsmanship of Swiss watches. The first Grand Seiko watch was equipped with a manual-winding movement and featured a dial with a textured pattern that resembled snowflakes, which has since become a signature design element of the brand.
Grand Seiko watches are renowned for their exceptional accuracy, durability, and attention to detail. The brand uses only the highest quality materials. The company employs expert watchmakers to ensure that each watch meets the strictest standards of quality and precision. In 1964, a Grand Seiko watch was submitted to the Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland for testing. It achieved the highest score ever recorded at the time for a mechanical watch.
Today, Grand Seiko offers a range of watches with both mechanical and quartz movements, including models with complications such as chronographs, GMT functions, and power reserve indicators. The brand’s watches are also known for their sleek and understated design. The brand has a focus on simplicity and elegance. Grand Seiko has become a cult favorite among watch enthusiasts. The Grand Seiko brand are highly sought-after by collectors. In recent years, the brand has expanded its presence globally, with boutiques in major cities such as Tokyo, New York, and London.
Comparison Between the Seiko and Tissot
Let’s put the two brands pros and cons together in the table below:
| Seiko | Tissot | |
| Pros | •High-quality Swiss-made watches •Wide range of designs and styles •Innovative features in sports watch collections •Good value for money | •Made with high-quality materials and are known for their durability and longevity. •Relatively Long history of innovation in the watch industry •Diverse range of watches |
| Cons | •Limited availability in some regions •Fewer options for affordable watches •No in-house movement | •Limited resale value: •Seiko has fewer service centers compared to some other watch brands •Some people may find the design of the watches to be uninspiring or lacking in personality compared to other luxury watch brands. |
The Verdict
For a newbie watch collector, I will start with a Seiko 5 Watch for all rounder what. If I wanted something more stylish, I’ll go for the Tissot PRX. It is really hard to say and it comes to your personal preference. The Seiko feels more practical and durable, where as the Tissot looks slightly more refined. It also depends of the type of watch for each brand. Both brands have their sweet spots. I will buy a Seiko over a Tissot. That is just me, while ideally I would buy both.
The Alternatives
Casio
When we talk about the most valued brand, the two above in my opinion provide excellent value. If I am looking for a brand that does the basics for a watch, i.e. tells the time, is durable and water resistant, then some can argue brands like Casio is better value. The classic Casio F91W sells for $18. There is nothing that can compete with this. If I want to buy something more sporty, I can go for the Casio G-Shock or the Casio Duo for under $100. It is better value for money.
Tudor
Wealthier Watch Buyers may only consider watches over $3,000. For example, Tudor with watches like the Tudor 1926 Automatic 41 mm are available for $2,000. In this scenario, the Tudor brand compared to Rolex is better value and can be considered a brand that is value for money.
In general, most people can afford more than $200 and will not be able to afford a few thousand dollars on a watch. Therefore, the price range of $200 to $1,000 would be a reasonable price range to make the comparison. At this price point the Seiko and Tissot brands makes the most sense in terms of value. Both watch brands are extremely good value in their own ways.