A watch is one of the most important accessories that a man can have. It’s not just about telling time, and it’s about having style. Watch brands are like car brands in terms of prestige and quality.
There are many different levels to choose from for those who want to buy or wear watches but don’t know where to start. For many watch lovers, it is difficult to choose between two of the most popular Swiss watch brands:
Longines and Tissot. This article compares the two brands to help you decide which one will suit your needs best.
History
Both brands are well known worldwide for their timepiece designs and innovations, as well as having a long history in watch-making.
Longines was founded in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz and quickly became known for high-quality timepieces that could withstand extreme temperatures (due to the harsh climate).
The brand is also well known for creating the first anti-magnetic watch with a Faraday cage created around the movement and designing one of the most accurate mechanical movements ever produced (the famous column wheel based caliber 2892). To stay true to their Swiss heritage, they create some models using only Swiss parts & labor, such as their Conquest line.
Edouard Trapenard founded Tissot in 1853 after being inspired by his visit to England, where he saw watches being mass-produced and sold. He began designing watches for other companies such as LeCompte, Gallet, and Vidor-Ortho before starting his own company with a loan from his wife’s dowry (hence the name Tissot).
Their most famous model is their T-Touch collection which features additional functions on top of timekeeping (like altimeter, compass, thermometer) in a line that has evolved over the years to be more high-tech than any other watch line on this list.
Price
Longines watches are often classified in the luxury price range and are available at various prices. Longines is known for its dressy style as well as sporty/sport-styled timepieces. Due to their versatility, there is something for everyone.
While Tissot’s vary in price due to model selection (some models being very high-end), they tend to be more affordable than many brands on this list. Many of their collections are dressier, and some cater to women while others are suited more towards men.Easily comparable on this basis alone!
Design
The design of a watch is subject to personal taste; however, most Longines watches have clean, elegant dials and cases. On the other hand, most Tissot watches feature more sporty appearing dials and cases.
Longines is known for a few vintage-inspired lines, such as the Legend Diver and RailRoad. However, it also has some very modern designs like the Conquest collection. Most of their timepieces have clean, classy designs that can be worn in formal or informal situations.
Tissot tries to cater to men and women with three main lines (Classic, Sport, Ballade) while offering additional collections for specific events (like holidays). They’ve tried to achieve timelessness with many of their models by using classic styles and shapes on all kinds of different colored dials.
Movement
The technology behind watch movements varies by type (hand-winding, automatic, etc.) and brand. Longines watches use a self-winding mechanical movement based on the ETA 2824/2892 models with an average life expectancy of 10 years.
Tissot’s timepieces use an in-house made LVMH movement that is housed in 3 locations: Switzerland (Copper), China (Nivarox), and Thailand (NNSi), though they are all adjusted to display Swiss Time.
The technology itself has been simplified over the years due to competition from Japanese watch companies, making them both affordable and versatile for almost any budget.
Quality
Both brands have an excellent reputation for quality; Longines especially excels at anti-magnetic construction, while Tissot is known for being one of the easiest watches to read in low light conditions.
Tissot, however, has a slightly higher customer service rating on Watchreport.com, although both brands are known for having excellent customer service.
Durability
Longines & Tissot watches will generally last a lifetime if properly maintained and worn as intended (around the wrist). Both brands have a reputation for having some of the toughest movements around, with Longines being used in space by NASA (the brand that made their timepieces became defunct but was acquired by, you guessed it, an American watch company).
Tissot’s quartz movements are being used in many different kinds of watches like dive computers and sports dashes.
Status
According to Forbes, these two are part of the top-tier luxury watchmakers category, whose list is based on annual sales.
They are both well known for having a reputation for innovation as well as quality and an outstanding warranty, which is why they’ve been able to stay afloat despite the impressive competition from Japanese watchmakers like Seiko & Citizen.
Water resistance
Both brands have clear water resistances on most of their models, with Tissot being better rated on average (30m vs. 100m). Neither brand works directly with any big brands like Rolex or Patek, so they don’t have that kind of marketing power behind them; however, this also means no expensive lawyers & PR teams telling them what’s over the line and just under it.
Weight
None of these timepieces are too heavy; Longines range between 31g-42g while Tissot is denser at 30g-44g.
In conclusion, both of these brands are high quality with plenty to offer in each category, including design and movement. The biggest competition comes from within the Swiss watch industry since both brands are based there, but this also makes them some of the highest quality timepieces out there and worth looking at if you’re interested in getting a new timepiece or just want to see what all the fuss is about.
The big question: which brand do you prefer? If the value for money is your primary concern, go with Longines (just look up Longines Conquest 1/100th second). Their watches have exceptional water-resistance as well as are very affordable compared to their Swiss competitors. If you want a top-quality, well-made watch with plenty of features, then go with Tissot. You won’t be disappointed.
