Tissot Brings Back The Iconic RockWatch As A Limited Edition
Do you remember the famous Tissot RockWatch? If so, you are probably over 40 years old. The original RockWatch debuted in 1985 and quickly became famous for its use of a granite case. Not only did it become hugely popular all across the globe, but it also sparked an entire collection of natural stone watches called Jewels of Nature. Now, 40 years after its introduction, the RockWatch makes a glorious comeback. For people who know the original RockWatch, it will spark memories from the ’80s. For people unfamiliar with Tissot’s RockWatch, it will be the introduction to a still-extraordinary timepiece. It’s time to find out more!
My memories of the original Tissot RockWatch are very vivid. They bring me back to my family holidays in the mid-to-late 1980s, and those are some fond memories. During our many wanderings through German and Austrian cities, my mom and I would always have a peek at Rado’s ceramic watches through the windows of watch/jewelry stores. While the black Rado ceramic watches stood out in a sea of stainless steel, another watch caught my attention as a young boy. The Tissot RockWatch immediately stood out with its smooth granite case and colorful hands. It embodied the mountainous Swiss landscape, home to many world-famous watch brands.
The story of the original Tissot RockWatch
Thus, the Tissot RockWatch was more than just a watch. Both in presence and in story, it was something truly special. If you want to know more about the history of the RockWatch, I suggest you read Tomas’s story on it. It’s fun to read about what motivated Tissot to create the watch during challenging times in the 1980s.
After the introduction of the RockWatch, it quickly became a commercial success, especially in the United States. At that time, I was too young to understand the business behind it, but I was certainly aware of its success. From shop windows in Germany and Austria to ads in tennis and car magazines that I would flick through as a young boy, the RockWatch was everywhere.
As you will understand, the creation of the RockWatch required a lot of investment from Tissot — 7 million Swiss francs, in fact. The largest portion of the costs was invested in developing special machinery that could mill such small stone pieces. Backed with another 20 million for advertising, it was a huge undertaking, but the risk paid off.
As Tomas explained, the granite used to make the Tissot RockWatch cases came from the Alps in the Grischun, Ticino, and Valais areas. The pieces of rock were milled from both sides to create the space for the dial and the caliber. Additionally, the straps were fixed to the backplate on both ends, thus preventing mechanical stress to the stone. Powering the watches was a six-jewel ETA 976.001 quartz movement that fit the sculpted case perfectly.
The story of the new Tissot RockWatch
For the new version of the RockWatch, Tissot kept the overall concept intact but changed a few details. First, the new Tissot RockWatch will be produced in a limited run of 999 pieces. So, if you want one immediately, you can get one for CHF 1,095 as we speak. If you want to know more first, let’s discuss the details. The new version features a granite case made from stone from the Jungfrau summit, located at 4,158 meters in the Bernese Alps. Granite was extracted during the renovation of the Jungfrau tunnel. These large blocks were then milled and cut into smaller pieces to reduce internal stress within the stone. As a result, it is also easier to handle the granite during the machining stages.
A cool detail is that Tissot entrusted the same artisans who created the original watches in 1985 to create the modern cases. As a result, the creation of these new watches is authentic and faithful to the original ones. The craftspeople turn the granite blocks into 38mm cases that look as spectacular as they did four decades ago. The smooth feel of the stone surface is wonderful, and I love the look of the granite from the Jungfrau. As you will understand, each of the 999 examples will have a case cut from a different piece of Jungfrau granite.
The new RockWatch is slightly different from the original one
This watch’s construction is similar to that of the ’80s versions. The dial side has a simple handset consisting of hour and minute hands. But if you know the original watches, you will immediately see the difference. Alpine trail markers inspired the original combination of a red hour hand and a yellow minute hand.
For the new version, the designers at Tissot decided to use nickel-plated hands. They make their rounds beneath a sapphire crystal with an antireflective coating. This is an upgrade from the original mineral glass. Another upgrade is the legibility and quality of the branding on the upper half and “Swiss Made” text on the lower half of the dial. It cleans things up nicely.
If you turn the watch around, you will see a construction similar to that of the original model. The backplate is affixed with six screws and features the “lugs” that connect to the leather strap. Furthermore, the backplate holds the info on the watch, including the unique LE number out of 999 pieces that Tissot will produce. Behind the backplate is an ETA quartz movement that powers the watch. The lightweight caliber includes an End of Life indicator and displays the hours and the minutes.
Wearing the new Tissot RockWatch
On the wrist, the RockWatch is incredibly fun to wear. Granted, it has a huge nostalgic flair that I love. I nerded out over the color of the stone compared to the original versions, for instance, because I remember that the ’80s versions were more marbled. Then again, each watch has a distinct presence.
The one we had in for review was distinctly less marbled and darker, but I loved that. The granite from the Jungfrau is relevant, making the watch not look dated at all. If anything, I think it looks as relevant as ever.
That’s also why I think the new RockWatch will be a huge hit. For the people who know the original watch, it is a great trip down memory lane. But for the younger crowd, it would make a perfect off-the-beaten-path dress watch. So, even for those unaware of its history, the RockWatch has great appeal.
I felt that while I was wearing the watch. Besides the colors and relevance of the 38mm granite case, the tactility also stood out. The watch’s smooth sides are delightful. Where stainless steel can feel cold and distant, the feel of stone is completely different.
Final thoughts on the Tissot RockWatch
One thing I would do immediately is switch straps. The black leather strap that the watch comes with is decent at best, but better options are available in terms of color and quality. But if you figure that out, it’s smooth sailing from there. I loved spending a bit of time with the new Tissot RockWatch. It took me back to the 1980s and our many great family holidays. It’s easy to love a watch that is a storyteller like that, so I applaud Tissot for bringing the RockWatch back.
All in all, I think all 999 pieces will fly off the shelves in no time. Many people would love to have a modern version of the classic RockWatch. But why would they not buy a vintage one? Well, Tissot has ensured that this new version has its own story. By creating the watch from granite from the famous Jungfrau, there is an extra appeal for many familiar with Europe’s high peaks. This aspect alone adds a nice modern chapter to the story of the RockWatch. Hopefully, this isn’t the end of that story!
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