Tissot

Tissot of Le Locle

Tissot is a Swiss watch brand established in Le Locle in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile. The father worked with gold cases, while the son was a watchmaker. The early business coordinated work from several craftspeople before final assembly. The brand name should therefore not be treated as evidence that one individual made every component of an older watch.

A place or a collection?

Le Locle is both the town where the business began and the name of a later Tissot collection. That collection was introduced in 2003 for the company's 150th anniversary, taking inspiration from the town's church clock. A watch with a classical dial and the Le Locle name is not necessarily an antique from the company's earliest period.

Examine the particular watch

Record its model reference, dimensions, calibre and visible numbers. Document the dial, hands, crown, case and strap or bracelet separately, and request any available service history. Do not identify the movement type from the dial's appearance alone.

Follow the instructions for the correct movement when winding. Tissot's own guide demonstrates that different mechanical movements may require different winding procedures. Do not force a resistant crown; arrange an examination instead.

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Sources

Tissot: Le Locle and the collection, the founders and early business and winding instructions.