Tissot V8

The V8 series is a collection of watches heavily inspired by motorsport. Traditional Swiss manufacturer Tissot produces mainly sporty chronographs in this collection, but there are also some three-hand watches to be found. All models are offered at affordable prices.

The design language and functionality of these watches center around classic racing chronographs. The retro vibe is transported by the fixed bezel complete with tachymeter scale, subdials that closely resemble the dashboards of vintage sports cars, and mushroom-shaped push-pieces.

The technology inside these timepieces is top of the range. Tissot outfits the majority of models with precise quartz calibers from movement manufacturer ETA. There are also V8 watches with automatic calibers – also produced by ETA – that are particularly affordable thanks to machine assembly and a special synthetic material used for certain components.

Prices for the Tissot V8 Chronograph with a quartz caliber run between 290 and 440 USD. If are looking to buy a V8 Chronograph with a mechanical movement and an automatic winding mechanism, you'll find models for between 490 and 770 USD on Chrono24.

Three-hand watches in the Tissot V8 collection are powered by the automatic Swissmatic caliber and demand around 390 USD.

Tissot equips most of the chronographs in the V8 collection with the quartz ETA caliber G10.212, which allows the wearer to accurately measure time to within 1/10th of a second. The time is indicated by central hour and minute hands, as well as a small seconds dial at 6 o'clock. This is also where the date display is located on newer models, while older versions of the V8 Chronograph show the date in a window at 3 o'clock. The subdials for the 30-minute and 1/10th of a second counters are found at 2 and 10 o'clock. The stop seconds are measured by the central second hand. Its counterweight is shaped like a T, a detail which is often found on Tissot watches.

The collection offers a wide range of colors and dial designs. The 42.5-mm stainless steel case is available in brushed steel or with a black PVD or rose gold coating. The bezel inlay comes in black, blue, or green, while you can choose between dials in black, white, or blue.

One particularly popular and colorful model is the V8 Chronograph Alpine T106.417.16.201.01 produced in honor of Alpine, the French racing car manufacturer. This timepiece features a brushed stainless steel case, a blue bezel insert, and a black carbon fiber dial. The two blue chronograph counters have orange hands, while the central stop seconds hand is blue with an A-shaped counterweight for Alpine. A black rally-style leather strap with blue stitching rounds off the design.

Prices for the V8 Chronograph Alpine on Chrono24 are around 420 USD, making it one of the more expensive models in the series. More affordable options, such as the ref. T106.417.16.262.00 with a stainless steel bezel and white dial, start at around 330 USD.

The V8 Chronograph Automatic is either powered by the ETA caliber C01.211 or its successor, the C01.212. These movements were developed especially for Tissot and are partly based on the popular Lemania 5100. Interestingly, both calibers are mostly machine-produced, with some components even being made of plastic. This lowers production costs, which in turn enables Tissot to offer these watches at fantastic prices. You can find the V8 Chronograph Automatic on Chrono24 for between 490 and 770 USD – it's hard to imagine a better offer for an automatic chronograph.

You can easily recognize the automatic V8 Chronos by the arrangement of their subdials: an hour counter at 6, minute counter at 12, small seconds at 9, and a date window at 3 o'clock.

The case measures 45 mm across and is made of brushed stainless steel. The black or white dial is surrounded by a black bezel inlay with a tachymeter scale. The watch can be paired with a stainless steel link bracelet or black leather strap.

Tissot added a number of three-hand models to the V8 series in 2018. The 42.5-mm V8 Swissmatic is a simple, sporty watch. Similar to the chronographs, the stainless steel case is mostly brushed. The bezel, which is available in stainless steel or with a black aluminum inlay, is fixed and features a 60-minute scale.

At first glance, the dial design seems rather reserved. You have the choice between black and white, both of which feature a printed minute track on the outer edge, applied wedge indices, and a date display at 3 o'clock. However, if you look closer, you'll see a fine, asphalt-like texture.

Inside the case, you'll find the ETA caliber C15.111 Swissmatic. This movement is manufactured entirely by machine and is also found in the Swatch Sistem51, among other timepieces. The automatic caliber offers a power reserve of 72 hours.

If you want to buy a model on a leather strap, plan to spend about 360 USD. Models on a stainless steel link bracelet demand only slightly more at roughly 380 USD.