Tissot Astrolon Wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1973
This Tissot 'Astrolon' gents wrist watch, originating from Switzerland around 1973, represents a notable effort by the Swiss industry to compete with inexpensive international alternatives.
The timepiece is defined by its innovative, injection-moulded plastic movement, which reduced the component count from approximately 90 parts found in standard Swiss watches to 52. Designed with a clear plastic back plate, the watch features a nickel-plated brass case paired with a stainless steel back. The silvered dial is detailed with silvered markers, matching hands, and a center sweep seconds hand, all carrying the 'T' logo.
Engineered as a disposable product, the movement is intended to be replaced rather than repaired upon failure.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Hand-wound wristwatch
- Maker
- Charles Tissot & Sons
- Case materials
- Nickel plated brass with stainless steel back
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Component count
- 52 parts
- Dial inscriptions
- Tissot, Swiss, Autolus, Actualis
- Maker / attribution
- Charles Tissot & Sons
- Registration number
- ST 33046
- Movement construction
- Injection-moulded plastic
Design
- Visible features
- • Silvered dial with 'T' logo in raised square • Centre sweep seconds hand • Clear plastic back plate visible on movement • Nickel-plated case with stainless steel back
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in a brass case that has been plated with nickel, offering a metallic finish that complements the silvered dial. The case back is constructed from stainless steel, providing durability to the primary casing structure. The dial itself is monochromatic, featuring silvered indices to mark the hours and silvered hands, including a center sweep seconds hand for elapsed time tracking. A distinct detail on the dial is the inclusion of a 'T' logo presented within a raised square, identifying the piece as a Tissot product. The dial is explicitly marked with the branding 'Tissot, Swiss, Autolus, Actualis', creating a link between the internal mechanics and the external aesthetic presentation as documented in the museum records.
- Movement Engineering
- The technical core of the Astrolon is its injection-moulded plastic movement, a development introduced by Tissot in 1971. The movement utilizes white plastic for the main train and blue plastic for the components of the lever escapement. The watch includes a clear plastic back plate, which provides visibility into the synthetic internal mechanisms. This movement was engineered with a specific lifecycle philosophy in mind, described as disposable, meaning the watch was designed to be discarded if it ceased to function rather than being disassembled and repaired by a horologist.
- Inscriptions and Registry
- The internal and external markings provide identification for the watch. The inside of the stainless steel back is inscribed with the phrase 'Fond Acier Inoxydable, Chs Tissot & Fils'. This attribution connects the component specifically to the manufacturing firm. Furthermore, a shield found on the watch is stamped with 'Tissot Fab. Suisse, Swiss Made' alongside the serial number '81030-2'. These identifiers are consistent with the object's registration number ST 33046 maintained by the collection, confirming its status as a documented institutional holding. These marks indicate the geographic origin of manufacture as Switzerland.
Identification
- Serial number
- 81030-2
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact production timeline within the circa 1973 attribution is not provided.
- Research required: The discrepancy between 'Astrolon' as a model name and the dial marking 'Autolus, Actualis' is noted in source documentation without further explanation.