Hands-On: Tissot PRC 100 Solar Watch

The past several years have been a period of impressive growth for Tissot. Since the introduction of the massively popular PRX line in 2021, the affordable Swatch Group marque has moved from strength to strength, bringing back popular heritage lines like the PR516 chronograph while pushing forward impressively accessible technical advances like the Sideral’s entry-level carbon case. For 2025, however, Tissot looks to tackle another technical arena entirely, while re-imagining another classic line from its back catalog. The new Tissot PRC 100 Solar line offers a new, uniquely Swiss approach to light-powered quartz movement design, delivering a strong contender in this traditionally Japanese-dominated technical space wrapped up in a handsomely versatile package.

Although it may not be the most daring or distinctive case in the brand’s lineup, the Tissot PRC 100 Solar’s 39mm wide stainless steel case is clean, contemporary and likely to appeal to a broad range of tastes. Naturally, the dodecagonal bezel largely defines the look on the wrist here, with a sharp distinctive shape and bright faceting. The transition between the linear-brushed upper surface and the polished chamfered edges is impressively executed for the price, and the faceted reflections it lends the PRC 100 Solar help this watch to literally outshine most of its entry-level competition. Rather than the bold integrated forms usually paired with this sort of bezel, though, the main case body here is simple and broadly conventional. The tapering lugs are visually “safe” here, while the gentle faceting on the brushed case sides help to tie the rest of the design in with the angularity of the bezel. With its modest diameter, dramatic lug undercut, and a manageable 9.2mm overall thickness, it’s a case that should wear well on smaller wrists, and it fits my moderate 6.75-inch wrist commendably. Where Tissot truly innovates with this case, however, is its sapphire crystal. Most light-powered watches gather their energy either through a photovoltaic panel beneath a translucent dial surface, or through refraction into a light-sensitive rehaut. For Tissot’s new Lightmaster Solar Quartz technology, the brand instead uses the underside of the crystal. This light-gathering mechanism allows Tissot to use more traditional and ornate dial finishing techniques, without sacrificing the efficiency of the movement. In images, this light-gathering layer is clearly visible as a honeycomb-like hexagonal mesh, but in person the mesh appears far more subtle. Around back, Tissot finishes the case with a simple brushed solid caseback, and rates the watch for a respectable 100 meters of water resistance.

Beneath the high-tech light-gathering sapphire crystal, the Tissot PRC 100 Solar’s dial is clean, simple, and handsomely executed. The smooth, finely detailed graining of the silver sunburst dial surface is impressively refined here, and Tissot lends the design a more complex feel with a raised, radially brushed outer minutes scale. This layered design concept also makes its way into the PRC 100 Solar’s blunted dauphine handset, with recessed, brushed central stripes to complement their polished outer edges. The rest of the dial design is simple and straightforward, from the beveled baton indices to the unframed date window at 3 o’clock. It may not be the most innovative dial design overall, but the varied finishing and balanced proportions keep it from feeling dull or sparse on the wrist.

To harness its new light-gathering technology, Tissot equips the PRC 100 Solar with the ETA F06.615 quartz movement. This new package offers genuinely competitive performance with its Japanese rivals, including a hefty 14-month power reserve on a full battery charge. Even more impressive is the F06.615’s rapid-charging capability, which allows the watch to absorb a full 24 hours’ worth of running power in only 10 minutes of sunlight exposure. Tissot completes the watch with a classic stainless steel H-link bracelet and a hidden butterfly deployant clasp. There’s an intriguing interplay between rounded and planar surfaces here, with gently curving brushed H-links contrasted by more angular center links split between brushed upper surfaces and abrupt, polished chamfers. The end result adds just a hint of brightness to the wearing experience on the wrist, making it a solid everyday-wear option.

Tissot has been on a hot streak for much of the 2020s, consistently moving between re-imagining popular heritage designs and introducing impressive new technologies. The new Tissot PRC 100 Solar manages to do both, reinventing the popular 2000s-era original PRC with a clean, everyday-wear design and a truly novel approach to light-powered quartz movements. The new Tissot PRC 100 Solar is available now through authorized dealers. MSRP for this watch as tested stands at $525 USD as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.