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Hands-On with the Fortis Tycoon Chronograph: Reference 904.21.12

The Fortis Tycoon Chronograph balances a dressy, vintage-leaning dial with a substantial 41 mm case. Here are the reported specs, movement details and buyer checks for reference 904.21.12.
Estimate3–4 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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The Fortis Tycoon Chronograph, reference 904.21.12, pairs a dress-leaning silver dial and vintage-inspired details with a substantial 41 mm case. Fratello’s hands-on review reports a Dubois-Depraz 2020 automatic chronograph, 13.59 mm case height and 5 Bar water resistance. The reviewer found it wearable for office and business-casual settings, but those are personal impressions—not a universal fit verdict.

What is the Fortis Tycoon Chronograph?

Reference 904.21.12 is the silver-dial chronograph described in Fratello’s hands-on review. Its styling mixes a domed dial with smooth and ridged surfaces, rose-gold-plated main hands and blue chronograph hands. Fratello also reports an anthracite dial variant. Launch-era coverage places the Tycoon in Fortis’s 2015 Terrestis collection, alongside a time-only version, and notes design cues recalling Fortis chronographs from the 1940s. That history describes the model’s launch context; it does not establish present-day production or availability.

The result reads dressy in its dial and finishing, but the case dimensions are more substantial than the styling alone might suggest. Fratello describes a brushed case, polished bezel and capped pushers. The author also notes that the dial furniture is not luminous, a relevant distinction for anyone prioritizing low-light legibility.

Fortis Tycoon Chronograph specifications

Specification Reported detail
Reference and version 904.21.12, silver dial, as described by Fratello
Case diameter 41 mm, per Fratello’s hands-on review
Case height 13.59 mm, per Fratello’s hands-on review
Lug width 20 mm, per Fratello’s hands-on review
Case and crystal Stainless-steel case; domed sapphire crystal, per Fratello
Caseback Mineral-glass display window; secured by eight flat-head screws, as described by Fratello
Water resistance 5 Bar, as stated in Fratello’s review
Movement Dubois-Depraz 2020 automatic chronograph; 47 jewels and a stated 42-hour power reserve, per Fratello

These are reported specifications for the reviewed example, not results of an independent test. The review does not establish the watch’s current production status, price or availability.

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What movement is inside the Tycoon Chronograph?

Fratello identifies the movement as a Dubois-Depraz 2020 automatic chronograph with 47 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve. The reviewer describes the chronograph as a module mounted above an ETA 2824 or clone automatic base; that architecture description is the reviewer’s account, rather than an independently verified Fortis specification.

In the review’s register layout, running seconds are at 3 o’clock, the 30-minute counter at 9 and the 12-hour counter at 6. The author also notes that the chronograph minute and hour hands advance progressively, rather than jumping only when the central chronograph hand completes a revolution. Through the mineral-glass caseback, the reviewer says the chronograph module itself is not visible; the window principally shows the underlying automatic movement.

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CITIZEN Men's Blue Angels Eco-Drive 43mm Stainless Steel AT8020-03L
  • Citizen Eco-Drive Radio-Controlled Chronograph World Timer; Blue Angels edition with caseback insignia
  • Synchronized to Atomic Time Clock for Superior Accuracy, Atomic Timekeeping Technology with Synchronized Time Adjustment Available in 26 Time Zones, 1/20 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, Perpetual Calendar, 12/24 Hour Time, Power Reserve Indicator, Day/Date
  • Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
  • Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
  • 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

How does the watch wear?

Fratello’s author characterizes the Tycoon as dressy in appearance but substantial on the wrist. The reviewer reports wearing it to the office and for business-casual occasions, and says it fit their small wrist and slipped under a slim-fit shirt. That account is one wearer’s experience; a 41 mm diameter and 13.59 mm height will not fit every wrist or cuff in the same way.

The author disliked the supplied light tan strap’s appearance and preferred a darker one. The review reports 20 mm lugs, so a 20 mm strap is a sensible starting point when searching for a replacement, not a guarantee that any particular strap will fit. Check the individual watch’s spring bars, buckle width and strap length before buying. Fortis’s downloads and support page lists a strap-size guide and accessory categories including straps, clasps or buckles, and tools or screws.

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Rank #3
Tissot Mens Seastar 1000 Quartz Chronograph 316L Stainless Steel case Swiss Quartz Watch, Grey, Stainless Steel, 22 (T1204171104103)
  • Case Size: 45.50 mm, Band Width: 22, Case Thickness: 12.82 mm
  • Swiss quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type, Date
  • Stainless steel bracelet, folding clasp with safety, diver extension and push-buttons, interchangeable quick release bracelet closure
  • Water-resistant up to a pressure of 30 bar (300 m / 1000 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
  • 2 Year International Warranty

What to check when considering a used example

The cited coverage is a historical hands-on review, not a current listing or inspection of a watch offered for sale. Use the reference and dial variant to identify the version, then assess the individual example rather than assuming its condition from published specifications.

  • Confirm the reference, dial color and included parts against the listing and photographs.
  • Ask for service history and have a qualified seller or watchmaker assess condition and parts availability.
  • Check that the chronograph starts, stops and resets correctly, and that its registers behave as expected.
  • Do not infer suitability for a particular water activity from the reported 5 Bar rating alone; the individual watch’s seals and condition matter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the Tycoon’s history does—and does not—tell you

Fortis’s official company history says the company dates to 1912 and describes work with John Harwood on an automatic watch in 1924, followed by serial production in 1926. Those are brand-history claims, not evidence of the Tycoon’s performance or construction. The model-specific historical context is narrower: launch-era coverage describes the Tycoon as part of the 2015 Terrestis collection, with chronograph and time-only forms and two reported dial variations.

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Timex Men's Legacy Tonneau Chronograph 42mm Watch - Black Strap Black Dial Stainless Steel Case
  • 42mmmm stainless steel case
  • 8 inch black two- piece
  • black dial
  • mineral glass lens
  • water resistant up to 50 meters

Neither the historical launch coverage nor the hands-on review verifies current production, market pricing or inventory. A buyer should therefore treat any present-day listing as an individual offer to verify, not assume that launch-era details describe today’s market.

Quick Recap

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CITIZEN Men's Blue Angels Eco-Drive 43mm Stainless Steel AT8020-03L
CITIZEN Men's Blue Angels Eco-Drive 43mm Stainless Steel AT8020-03L
Silver-Tone Stainless Steel; Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal; 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
$536.95
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Tissot Mens Seastar 1000 Quartz Chronograph 316L Stainless Steel case Swiss Quartz Watch, Grey, Stainless Steel, 22 (T1204171104103)
Tissot Mens Seastar 1000 Quartz Chronograph 316L Stainless Steel case Swiss Quartz Watch, Grey, Stainless Steel, 22 (T1204171104103)
Case Size: 45.50 mm, Band Width: 22, Case Thickness: 12.82 mm; Swiss quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type, Date
$675.00
SaleBestseller No. 4
Timex Men's Legacy Tonneau Chronograph 42mm Watch - Black Strap Black Dial Stainless Steel Case
Timex Men's Legacy Tonneau Chronograph 42mm Watch - Black Strap Black Dial Stainless Steel Case
42mmmm stainless steel case; 8 inch black two- piece; black dial; mineral glass lens; water resistant up to 50 meters
$156.63
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Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Weekender Chronograph Watch in Silver-tone Stainless Steel, Black Dial (Model: AT2387-52E)
Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Weekender Chronograph Watch in Silver-tone Stainless Steel, Black Dial (Model: AT2387-52E)
Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style; 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
$197.51
Best Value
Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Weekender Chronograph Watch in Silver-tone Stainless Steel, Black Dial (Model: AT2387-52E)
  • Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style
  • 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
  • Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Case
  • Mineral Crystal
  • 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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