How to Tell If a Tissot PRX Is Real: 9 Checks a Jeweller Uses
The fastest checks: look closely at the waffle dial (sharp, even squares), turn the watch over (an automatic shows a Tissot-signed rotor through the glass), and read the reference number on the case back. It should start with T137 and match the size, dial and movement in front of you.
And if the price is far below about $550 for a new quartz or $995 for a new Powermatic 80 in Canada, be very careful.
The PRX is one of the most copied watches out there, simply because so many people want one. Some fakes are bad. Some are good enough to fool a casual buyer. We've sold Tissot for years, and these are the things we actually look at when someone asks us to check a watch.
1. The waffle dial
On a real PRX, the little squares on the dial are crisp, deep and perfectly lined up. Look at them at an angle under a light: the edges are sharp and the rows run straight to the edge. On copies, the squares are usually shallow, a bit rounded, or uneven near the edge. Real blue dials also change shade as you tilt them, from deep navy to bright blue. Fake ones often look flat or a little purple.
2. The case back
Turn it over. A Powermatic 80 has a clear sapphire case back, and you should see a rotor with Tissot's name on it and fine striped decoration. A quartz PRX has a solid steel case back. If someone sells you an "automatic" with a solid back, or a visible movement with no Tissot marking, walk away.
3. The reference and serial number
The reference and serial number are engraved on the case back. The engraving should be clean, even and sharp, not blurry or shallow. Then check that the reference matches the watch:
| Reference starts with | Size | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| T137.410 | 40mm | Quartz |
| T137.407 | 40mm | Powermatic 80 automatic |
| T137.210 | 35mm | Quartz |
| T137.207 | 35mm | Powermatic 80 automatic |
A 35mm watch with a 40mm reference, or a quartz watch with an automatic reference, is a fake. There is no public online database to look up a Tissot serial number, so if you want a serial confirmed, an authorized retailer or a Tissot service centre can do it.
4. The ticking
A real quartz PRX ticks once a second, landing right on the markers. An automatic sweeps smoothly. A "quartz" that sweeps, or an automatic that jumps once a second, is not genuine.
5. The power reserve
Tissot's Powermatic 80 runs for about 80 hours when fully wound. That's more than three days. Many fakes use cheaper movements that stop after a day and a half. Wind it fully, put it down, and see if it's still running on day three.
6. The bracelet and case finishing
On a real PRX, the bracelet meets the case with almost no gap, and the brushed and polished surfaces change cleanly at sharp lines. The links feel solid and heavy. On copies, you often see a gap where the bracelet joins the case, links that feel light or rattle, and polishing that looks soft and blurry.
7. The crystal
Every PRX has a sapphire crystal. Breathe on it: on sapphire the fog clears in a second or two. Cheap mineral glass stays foggy longer and scratches easily, so a brand-new watch with fine scratches on the glass is a red flag.
8. The box and papers
A new PRX comes with a Tissot box, booklet and an international warranty card. Good fakes come with good boxes too, so papers alone prove nothing. But a "new" watch with no papers at all, or a warranty card that was never filled in by a retailer, should make you ask more questions.
9. The price and the seller
This is where most fakes give themselves away. In Canada, a new PRX quartz sells for around $550 and a Powermatic 80 for around $995. A brand-new PRX for $150 on a marketplace is not a lucky find. Buying from an authorized retailer is the simplest way to be sure, because the watch comes with Tissot's full warranty.
THE WATCHES IN THIS ARTICLE
Already bought one and not sure?
Bring it in. We're happy to take a look at the dial, the case back and the movement and tell you what we see. If we can't be certain, we'll tell you that too, and point you to Tissot's service centre.
Quick answers
Can I check a Tissot serial number online?
Not on a public website. An authorized retailer or Tissot service centre can confirm it for you.
Do fake PRX watches have a sapphire crystal?
Some expensive copies do, so use the fog test together with the other checks, not on its own.
Is a PRX without box and papers always fake?
No. Lots of real watches lose their papers over the years. It just means the other checks matter more.