With a turnover of estimated 1,5 billion CHF Tissot ranks among the big five in Switzerland. In 2016 François Thiébaud introduces a silicon balance-spiral and Tissot´s first connected watch.
Tissot today surprised me! The brand belonging to the Swatch Group introduces a silicon balance spring in an official certified Swiss chronometer (COSC) for 950 CHF. You now get the newest technology and in terms of precision an absolute accurate wristwatch for almost no money. Please compare what others offer for 950 CHF!
The Tissot Smart-Touch is the brands first connected watch. It is endowed with over 30 functions and it communicated with your smartphone.
Listen to my interview with François Thiébaud, a big mover and shaker, he will tell you more about these two new developments…
Dear Speedy,
You seem to work in the industry and many thanks for your in depth clarification. Yes I mixed up the silicon hairspring with the silicon escapement. Alex you were right was my mistake. But at least now I do understand the main difference of the two parts. Sorry I am only a watch freak not a technical engineer. But the silicon hairspring is of significance since it is antimagnetic. Also believe the majority of people do not know the importance of a watch which is antimagnetic.
Alex, great interview and I did not know that they use a Silicon balance spring in one of their new watches. That indicates that the Swatch Group is able to include parts like that into entry level mechanical watches and not only for the high end watches. That means the watch would not need to be serviced regularly since no lubricats are needed; correct? Also would you actually know who was the first one who introduced Silicon balance spring and escapement? Was it JLC, PP or UN?
You seem to be mistaking silicon hairspring with silicon escapement (lever+escapement wheel). This Tissot uses a silicon hairspring but no silicon escapement.
The silicon hairspring was developped by a consortium composed of Patek, Swatch Group and Rolex. I don’t remember who implemented it first in a watch but it was either Breguet, Omega or Patek. It has good properties for isochronism, mechanical fatigue, temperature compensation, and, above all, as compared to a metallic hairspring, it is antimagnetic. However, it doesn’t change anything concerning friction or lubrication.
The silicon escapement, on the contrary, is used for its lubrication properties as well as its light weight and antimagnetism. Ulysse Nardin was the first to use it in the Freak, because this architecture needed light components.
I don’t confuse this at all and I only write about a silicon balance spring. If it was said during the interview this was a mistake of course and not said due to the fact that we did not understand what the difference is…