Tissot PR-516 'Roger Moore'

Often times in the hobby of watch collecting, there can be a bit too much focus on what the hot watch of the moment might be - the piece that no one can get, or the watch that everyone wants to own purely so they can say they own it. 

But in this frenzy of emphasis on what the next big windfall investment piece might be, there are literally tons of watches and brands which slip woefully under the radar.

Tissot is among those brands.

Even a piece like this, a PR-516 skin-diver from circa the 1960s, is somehow largely overlooked, especially given its provenance of having been worn by the one and only Sir Roger Moore in 1973s Live And Let Die.

It's no secret that Bond wore a Submariner in this film, but what is seldom talked about, even amongst watch enthusiasts, is the presence of this wildly cool diver from Tissot.

This particular example features a 36mm stainless steel case with 'holey lugs', an acrylic crystal, a signed crown and a bidirectional rotating 'bakelite' bezel with Tritium numerals. It houses a very funky, green/blue 'mirror' dial with Tritium markers, a matching handset with an orange seconds hand, a date at the 3 o'clock position, and Tissot's Calibre 786-2 automatic winding movement. It comes fitted to a correct stainless steel 'expanding' brick-link bracelet with a signed blade clasp.

There are a few theories about why and how this piece came to appear in the film, albeit for just a few shots: One is that this was simply Rogers personal piece. There are plenty of photographs of him wearing it in behind-the-scenes photos after-all. Another theory, is that this piece was used as a vaguely look-alike substitute for the Rolex Submariner, which may not have been ready in time for certain shoots. This would explain why there was no definitive introduction to the watch.

Do with that what you will, but for us, this ones a hit!

Established in 1853 in Le Locle, Switzerland by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son, Charles-Émile Tissot, Tissot quickly contributed several notable innovations to the watch industry, including the first dual-time pocket watch in 1853 and the first commercially available anti-magnetic watch in 1929-1930.
In 1930, the firm merged with Omega SA to form the SSIH (Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère). This would prove significant in the 1980s, when SSIH merged with ASUAG, a holding company, eventually becoming the SMH (Société Suisse de Microélectronique et d’Horlogerie). In 1998, SMH would become the Swatch Group, with Tissot poised as one of the conglomerate’s mid-range offerings.
Today, Tissot watches are distributed in over 160 countries, with brand ambassadors who include many basketball players, cricketers, actors, and more. They have previously sponsored Formula One teams and functioned as the official timekeeper for downhill skiing competitions, while their horological and design innovations, which include the Rock Watch of the 1980s the the brand’s T-Touch technology, have since made them a household name.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.