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“Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph” can describe several different watches, so the reference number matters more than the family name. The documented models range from a 42 mm legacy PRS 516 quartz chronograph to 40 mm and 41 mm PR516 releases from 2024. Their movements and chronograph counters differ, too. Tissot’s published specifications establish those details, but they cannot support a hands-on verdict about comfort, real-world accuracy, or how a particular watch feels on the wrist.
PRS 516 and PR516 are related names, not one interchangeable specification
Tissot dates the PR 516’s debut to 1965 and its first chronograph to 1968. The brand says “PR” stands for “Particularly Robust,” or in some accounts “Precision and Resistance,” while “516” refers to the 16th model in its fifth, water-resistant series. The first chronograph featured elapsed-time registers and a tachometric scale, which can estimate speed over a known distance. Tissot’s account of the period also describes a rally-period marker. Tissot’s PR 516 history reproduces the era’s advertising line, “On the track, in the air, in the water – everywhere!”
The names track different collection generations. In 2022, Tissot announced a PRS 516 range that included automatic and quartz chronographs as well as a three-hand Powermatic 80 model. The automatic chronograph used a Valjoux movement; Tissot also highlighted piston-shaped pushers and a chequered caseback. In 2024, it introduced the PR516 collection as a reinterpretation of a 1970 model: one manual-winding mechanical chronograph and three quartz versions. Tissot said worldwide availability began February 22, 2024. The models below are specific examples, not a complete catalogue of every PRS 516 or PR516 variant. The 2022 PRS 516 announcement and the 2024 PR516 announcement provide the collection context.
Compare the exact references before comparing the watches
| Reference | Movement and size | Documented features |
|---|---|---|
| T100.417.11.051.00 (legacy PRS 516) | Quartz; 42 mm | Ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal, 10 bar water resistance, date, 30-minute and 1/10-second counters, central chronograph hand, ADD/SPLIT functions. Tissot Malaysia product page |
| T149.417.11.041.01 (2024 PR516 quartz) | Quartz G10.212 PowerDrive; 40 mm | 12.16 mm thick, 20 mm lug width, sapphire crystal with underside anti-reflective coating, 10 bar water resistance, date, 30-minute and 1/10-second counters, ADD/SPLIT functions, quick-release bracelet. Tissot Denmark product page |
| T149.459.21.051.00 (2024 PR516 mechanical) | Swiss manual winding; 41 mm | 13.67 mm thick, 20 mm lug width, sapphire crystal, 10 bar water resistance, listed 67-hour power reserve, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, central 60-second hand. Tissot India product page |
These are manufacturer specifications on regional Tissot pages, not independent measurements. The cited product pages are for Malaysia, Denmark, and India respectively; prices and availability depend on market and can change.
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- Case Size: 45.00 mm, Band Width: 22 mm, Case Thickness: 12.12 mm
- Quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index + Arabic dial type, Date
- Stainless steel strap/bracelet, interchangeable quick release bracelet, butterfly clasp with push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
How to choose between the quartz and mechanical PR516 chronographs
Choose by movement preference
The 40 mm T149.417.11.041.01 is quartz-powered by Tissot’s G10.212 PowerDrive. The 41 mm T149.459.21.051.00 is a manual-winding mechanical watch, with a listed power reserve of 67 hours. These are different operating styles rather than a simple better-or-worse ranking: the appropriate choice depends on whether you want quartz or a watch that you wind by hand.
Check the counter layout and what it measures
The quartz reference lists 30-minute and 1/10-second chronograph counters; the mechanical model lists 30-minute and 12-hour counters, plus a central 60-second hand. If the duration you want to track matters, verify the exact reference and counter range rather than assuming the models share a layout. The legacy 42 mm PRS 516 quartz reference has its own listed 30-minute and 1/10-second counters.
Rank #2
- Case Size: 40 mm, Band Width: 20 mm, Case Thickness, 12.16 mm
- Swiss Quartz Movement, 316L stainless steel case, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft)
Use the diameter, thickness, and bracelet details as reference points
The documented quartz PR516 is 40 mm in diameter and 12.16 mm thick; the mechanical PR516 is 41 mm and 13.67 mm thick. The PRS 516 example is 42 mm, but its cited product page does not establish its thickness. Diameter alone cannot tell you whether a watch will feel comfortable on your wrist. The quartz PR516 page specifies a quick-release bracelet and 20 mm lug width; do not assume those details apply to another reference.
What the tachymeter and pulsometer scales do
Tissot describes the tachymeter as a way to estimate speed using elapsed time over a known distance; it can also be used for production rate. The 2024 PR516 announcement identifies tachymeter and pulsometer scales on the bezel and notes that counter positions differ between the mechanical and quartz models. A pulsometer scale is intended to help calculate heart rate from a timed count, but a watch bezel is not a clinical measurement device. Scale presence and layout should be checked against the particular variant.
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- Case Size: 41.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 13.67 mm
- Mechanical movement, 316L stainless steel case with black PVD coating, Index dial type,
- Stainless steel strap/bracelet, interchangeable quick release bracelet,folding clasp with safety and push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft)
- 2 Year International Warranty
What these specifications cannot tell you
The official material cited here does not establish on-wrist comfort, real-world accuracy, or an independent durability result. Water resistance ratings are manufacturer specifications, not evidence of a particular watch’s condition or a substitute for checking its seals. For a hands-on assessment, observations would need to come from actually handling or wearing the exact reference; the family name and published specs alone are not enough.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Case Size: 41.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 14.19 mm
- Automatic movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type
- Stainless steel bracelet, interchangeable quick release bracelet,butterfly clasp with push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
Rank #4
- Case Size: 40 mm, Band Width: 20 mm, Case Thickness, 12.16 mm
- Swiss Quartz Movement, 316L stainless steel case, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft)
Identify the reference before buying or reading a review
- Find the full reference number. Check the product listing or the watch’s documentation; PRS 516 or PR516 alone does not identify a generation.
- Match the movement and size. Confirm quartz, manual-winding mechanical, or automatic, and compare the listed case diameter and thickness for that reference.
- Check the functions and hardware. Verify the counter ranges, bezel scale and material, date, bracelet or strap, and interchange system against the specific listing.
- Confirm local details. The cited product pages belong to different regional sites, so check your market for current availability, price, and exact configuration.
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.
