Introducing: The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition — An Asymmetric, Race-Bike-Inspired, Carbon-Cased Watch

Le Locle is a special watchmaking town in Switzerland. Treviso in Italy is special too. It’s the home of Pinarello, a manufacturer of high-performance race bikes. And that’s a very successful brand. No fewer than 15 Tour de France titles were won on a Pinarello, for instance. The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition is a watch combining two crafts in forged carbon. The asymmetric case shape mimics the design of a Pinarello Dogma F, particularly the aerodynamic ForkFlap of the curvy Onda front fork. A human-powered Pinarello relies on the rider’s athletic capacities to keep going. The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition uses the Powermatic 80, an automatic movement with the stamina of a top-level pro cyclist.

What do Miguel Induráin, Bjarne Riis, Jan Ullrich, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and Egan Bernal have in common with the author of this article? It’s not Tour de France victories. The correct answer is that they all, at one time in their lives, rode a Pinarello. My favorite one, looks-wise, was the yellow and red Prince of Spain, and the fastest/best was the Dogma F8, but I also loved my aluminum Prince in celebratory green Eric Zabel colors and my vintage steel Asolo. It’s safe to say that Pinarello, founded in 1952, is one of the most iconic brands in the world of high-end race bikes. The design is very recognizable, and the flagship Dogma’s price and pedigree make it an exclusive, exotic, and desirable bike. So, what do Pinarello and Tissot, a producer of entry-level luxury watches, have in common?

The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition, a bike-inspired sports watch in forged carbon

Tissot is a long-time partner of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Tour de France, but it operates at a different price point than Pinarello. Still, the spirit of cycling brought the two brands together, and the result looks promising. The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition has a 43.14 × 12.15mm forged carbon case with a design twist — the crown at 10 o’clock. It creates an asymmetric shape, and on top of that, the crown is protected by a Pinarello-inspired ForkFlap.

Still, the overall look reminds me more of my former carbon Prince and Dogma F8, which had very distinctive asymmetrical frames and forks. Why? Because a bike has a drivetrain on the right side. To counterbalance the uneven pedaling forces applied to the drive side, the right chainstay, seatstay, and fork are designed to balance torsional loads. The aim is to improve power transfer, handling, and overall structural stability. A watch case doesn’t have to deal with it, but applying the same design philosophy does result in an original-looking watch.

More Pinarello touches

Apart from its distinctive asymmetric design, the forged carbon case, with a water resistance of up to 10 bar, features an engraved Pinarello signature. And there are more Pinerello details. Beneath the box-shaped sapphire crystal is a grained gray dial mimicking asphalt and a central seconds hand with Pinerello’s “P” logo in the brand’s signature Borealis blue. There are also long, black-nickel-treated baton indexes with Super-LumiNova to ensure legibility in dark conditions. The shape of the indexes, combined with the groove-faceted hands, creates a refined, technical look.

This light 74g watch comes fitted with a textured black rubber strap with curved, case-hugging ends, quick-release spring bars, and a black-coated pin buckle. This is the strap you’ll want to wear while on the bike. Providing the power is a COSC-certified Powermatic 80, C07.611 movement with an antimagnetic Nivachron balance spring.

A special box and a dilemma

The Tissot Pinarello Special Edition costs €1,495 and doesn’t come with a matching bike. However, it does include an exclusive collector’s box designed to reflect the aesthetics of both brands. The outer sleeve features Pinarello’s original design sketches. Inside the box, you will find a second strap, also with quick-release pins. The previously mentioned rubber strap is sweat- and rainproof, and the extra, handcrafted Italian leather strap is for enjoying a cappuccino on a sunlit terrace where you can proudly show off both your watch and the tan lines on your toned, smooth-shaved legs.

Now, here’s the dilemma. Do you wear a Tissot watch with a Pinarello logo while riding, let’s say, a Colnago, Cervélo, or Bianchi? Cyclists can be purists just as much as watch fans. Shimano pedals on a Campagnolo-equipped bike? No way! So when both passions overlap, mixing and matching brands can cause serious mental conflict. For those purists who fall in love with the watch, there’s no other option than to go buy yourself a matching Pinarello. It’s an investment, sure, but it will guarantee a great riding experience.

For those who want a carbon Tissot sports watch but are happy with their current ride and can’t mix and match the “P” on the dial with their bike brand, there’s a great alternative. It’s the sporty Sideral. This carbon-cased watch comes in three bright colorways, including one with Tour de France-inspired “Maillot Jaune” accents.

Let me know your thoughts on the Tissot Pinarello Special Edition and the possible implications of wearing a Pinarello-branded watch on a bike of a different make. This is a safe space; you can tell us how you really feel.

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