Swiss watchmaker based in Le Locle, producing wristwatches and pocket watches in the mid-price segment
Tissot SA
Le Locle (CH)New on Amplifa
About Tissot
Tissot SA is a Swiss watchmaker headquartered in Le Locle in the canton of Neuchâtel and belongs to the Swatch Group. Founded in 1853 by Charles-Félicien and Charles-Émile Tissot, the company manufactures wristwatches and pocket watches; in 2024, around three million watches were produced and sold via approximately 250 single-brand stores as well as distribution in 160 countries. Production encompasses the assembly of quartz and automatic movements, whose ébauches have since been sourced predominantly from sister companies such as ETA SA; case components are supplied, among others, by Georges Ruedin SA. In-house developments such as the Powermatic 80 automatic movement, co-developed with ETA SA and featuring an 80-hour power reserve, document the company's engineering competence. Cases are made of 316L stainless steel, titanium, solid 18-karat gold, platinum and other materials; surfaces are coated, among other methods, by PVD processes. In addition to watch production, Tissot develops and operates timekeeping systems and serves as official timekeeper for, among others, the NBA, WNBA, FIBA, the Tour de France and MotoGP.
- Site
- Le Locle
- Processes
- Watch production (wristwatches and pocket watches, in-house movements historically until 1977,, PVD coating (e.g. gilding of cases), Lacquering of leather straps (up to seven coats of lacquer), Development of watch movements (e.g. Powermatic 80 with ETA SA, 80 h power reserve), Official timekeeper for sporting events (NBA, WNBA, Tour de France, MotoGP, FIBA)
- Materials
- Stainless steel 316L, Solid 18-karat gold, Titanium, Platinum, Plastic, Granite, Wood, Mother of pearl
- Certificates
- Swiss Made
- Founded
- 1853
- Industries
- Watch industry, Sports timing, Luxury goods / mid-price segment
- 01
Engineering / movement development
- 02
Case and component manufacturing (sourced from Swatch Group companies)
- 03
PVD coating / surface finishing
- 04
Leather strap lacquering
- 05
Assembly
- 06
Quality inspection
- 07
Distribution via boutiques and retail
Materials & Processes
Stainless steel 316L
Standard material for Tissot cases and bracelets in daily use.
Solid 18-karat gold
Material for cases and gold elements of the T-Gold jewellery watches.
Titanium
Lightweight case material, among others for the 38-mm PRX models.
Platinum
High-quality case material for selected models.
Damascus steel
Material for the 38-mm PRX models announced in November 2025.
Plastic
Material for movements and cases, first used in 1971 on the Astrolon with 52 parts.
Granite
Case material of the RockWatch (1985).
Wood
Case material of the WoodWatch.
Mother of pearl
Dial material, first used on the Pearl watch (1987).
Sapphire glass
Watch glass, touch-sensitive on T-Touch models.
Leather
Strap material with a hypoallergenic inner layer and up to seven coats of lacquer.
PVD coating
Process for coating cases, e.g. gilding.
Locations
Le Locle
CHHeadquarters and production (assembly)
- Lot size
- approx. 3 million watches/year
- Materials
- Stainless steel 316L, titanium, gold, platinum
- Assembly
Watches & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watch production (wristwatches and pocket watches, in-house movements historically until 1977,Assembly | – | – | – | approx. 3,000,000 watches/year (2024) | Stainless steel 316L, 18-karat gold, Titanium, Platinum, Plastic, Granite, Wood, Mother of pearl |
| PVD coating (e.g. gilding of cases)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Gold |
| Lacquering of leather straps (up to seven coats of lacquer)Surface | – | – | – | – | Leather |
| Development of watch movements (e.g. Powermatic 80 with ETA SA, 80 h power reserve)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Assembly is carried out according to Swatch Group standards; stainless steel cases meet at least the specifications of the 316L alloy. As official timekeeper of major sports federations, Tissot also operates highly precise timekeeping systems with sensors and computer connectivity.
| Evidence | Le Locle |
|---|---|
| Swiss Made |
History
- 1853
Founded by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile in Le Locle; first mass-produced pocket watches and first two-hand pocket watch
- 1858
Charles-Émile Tissot opens up Russia; Russia becomes the most important export market
- 1915
Start of wristwatch manufacturing
- 1929/1930
Alliance with Omega; founding of the SSIH holding; first antimagnetic watch
- 1938
First engagement as official timekeeper at ski races in Villars-sur-Ollon
- 1957
New factory building; timekeeping for the Davis Cup
- 1971
Astrolon: watch with plastic movement of only 52 parts
- 1977
Closure of the branch factories in Peseux and La Chaux-de-Fonds; discontinuation of in-house movement manufacturing
- 1983
Merger of SSIH/ASUAG (later SMH)
- 1985
Founding of the Swatch Group under Nicolas Hayek; RockWatch made of granite
- 1999
First tactile watch with T-Touch technology
- 2015
Official timekeeper of the NBA since the 2015–16 season
- 2020
Sylvain Dolla takes over management
- 2021
Re-release of the PRX becomes a great success
- 2023
First German monobrand boutique opens in Frankfurt am Main
- 2024
Production of approx. three million watches; approx. 250 single-brand stores worldwide in early 2025