Tissot Vs Rado

With the global luxury watches market valued at $28.43 billion worldwide, two brands are gaining a more significant market share and revenue. [1] These are Tissot and Rado. 

The two high-end brands may differ from the epitome of luxury and strong marketing strategy as that of Rolex. However, both have a long historical lineage and cater to the younger generation. 

Furthermore, spotting them around the wrists of A-list celebrities and stars is easy. But which of the two is better regarding build quality, design, and pricing? Find out in this ultimate Tissot vs. Rado comparison. Keep reading to know which brand is worth your time.

TL;DR: Tissot vs. Rado

Tissot 

Founded: 1853

Tissot is a Swiss luxury brand that started as a family-owned business. However, their watches are more reasonably priced. It also expanded and remained competitive in an evolving market gradually.

Today, the watch brand focuses on providing traditional but impeccably precise watches. They also gained partnerships in the sports industry, including the F1 racing circuit. No wonder many of their timepieces have a sporty “racecar” aesthetic.

Additionally, Tissot similarly produces some excellent tools and dress watches.

Related: Is Tissot A Good Watch?

Pros

• Unique timepieces or solid designs
• Excellent timekeeping
• Uses out-of-the-box materials, like stone and wood
• Reliable brand
• Reasonably priced without sacrificing quality

Cons

• Warranty repair of twenty-four (24) months seems to pale with other brands
• One of the most widely counterfeited brands worldwide (although this is not exactly a knock on the original Tissot watches)

Is it worth it?

Definitely yes. Tissot watches are worth your money. I’ve spent countless hours researching their collections, and I believe they have great styles and quality materials.

Rado 

Founded: 1917

Rado is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer known for its ceramic watches and well-known models, including True Thinline, HyperChrome, and Captain Cook collections.

As a member of the Swatch Group, Rado uses materials that play a significant role in its contemporary offerings.

Two Swiss brothers started Rado by creating watch movements in their parent’s home. The duo soon quickly expanded their work to factories. Later on, the watch brand became famous for its water-resistant automatic timepieces.

Despite being less prevalent in the US, Rado’s stronghold has been in Asia.

Related: Is Rado A Good Watch? 

Pros

• Materials are hardened for increased resistance
• It offers a fascinating historical collection
• Watches have a blend of modern and classic silhouette appearance
• Ultra-modern designs
• Their wristwatches are as good as their price
• The watch brand has a century’s worth of experience
• They provide both automatic, quartz, and mechanical watches 

Cons

• Most of its watches are on the larger side (42mm or more), which is fine for those with larger wrists or who prefer larger watches.

Is it worth it?

Hands down, Rado watches are worth it. They are good watches with top-notch craftsmanship, reliable materials, and excellent movements.

And despite what others may think, Rado is a massive company. It produces around 400,000 pieces each year. This number is already quite significant compared to watchmakers like IWC, Patek, and Vacheron.

In-Depth Comparison: Tissot vs. Rado

Build Quality

Building quality is one of the most critical factors. It’s also nice to find a balance between affordability and quality.

Tissot Watches

Tissot demonstrates that balance. Their watches include a luxury build and use high-quality materials. 

Over the years, the luxury watch brand experimented with different materials for their watches, including rock and wood. Later on, they discovered that once the high-quality materials come together, they create longer-lasting and the best timepieces.

Tissot watches are water-resistant. Some can withstand pressure ranging from 3 bar (30m or 100ft) to 30 bar (300m or 1000ft).

Rado Watches

Rado watches tend to look more unusual than other watch industry pieces, but they are certainly durable. The brand uses materials beyond titanium and ceramic. They also use a high-tech diamond, a synthetic sapphire crystal, and hard metal.

In most of its watches’ extendable folding clasp, Rado uses stainless steel that’s been hardened for increased resistance. I believe Rado has a better build for overall build quality because of their proprietary Ceramic material.

Lastly, all Rado watches are water-resistant and can withstand water pressure of at least 30 meters (3 bar) depth.

Winner: Rado (Uses pure, simple, and rugged materials. Its high-tech ceramic is durable, innovative, and skin-friendly).

Design

One of the first things that attracted watch buyers to Tissot was its design. They’re not mind-blowing, but they’re solid. They also have straightforward collections (i.e., Tissot Everytime) and classics. 

Undoubtedly, Tissot knows how to design high-quality timepieces with top-notch construction. Similarly, Rado offers good-looking watches, making them unique pieces with ultra-modern designs. 

Meanwhile, its current flagship diver, Captain Cook, is stunning. It is a simple yet elegant reissue of the 1960s diver, and the brand nailed it with the design and function. Some Rado watches beautify their dials with priceless stones.

Winner: Tie (Watches from both brands possess unique features)

Movements

Something cool about Tissot watches with beating hearts is that they are handmade and unique. And that’s what Tissot watches are. However, not all of their watches use in-house movements. Some are equipped with high-quality ETA movements.

Tissot also uses other movements like Powermatic 80, Valjoux, Swissmatic, and mechanical. Rado similarly features excellent movements. The True Thinline is one of Radio’s most stunning quartz watches. They also have other models that are powered with automatic movement.

Winner: Tie (Both brands use high-quality movements and are pretty accurate in timekeeping)

Pricing 

Tissot’s pricing is fair, considering it’s a mid-level luxury brand. Its price ranges from US$1,300 to $6,000.

Meanwhile, Rado’s price point is one of its advantages. They are legit Swiss watches with top-notch craftsmanship, but you can purchase most for nearly US$2,000. The price of Rado range from US$1,200 to 2,800, which is remarkable!

Winner: Tissot (More consumer-friendly)

Best Watches from Tissot and Rado

Some of the best watches from Tissot include the PR 100 Men’s Chronograph, Seastar 1000, Tradition Men’s Chronograph, and Everytime Swissmatic. 

In contrast, some of the best models from Rado are Rado DiaStar Original Quartz, Rado Centrix Automatic Watch, and Rado Diamaster Automatic Ceramic.

What Do People Say About Tissot and Rado?

Amazon 

Let’s compare two chronograph watches from Tissot and Rado:

Julian from the US purchased the Tissot Mens Seastar 660/1000 Stainless Steel Casual Watch. He reviewed, “Indeed, it looks a bit big. However, I love how it looks. Then, I decided to keep it. The watch feels and looks well-built. I have had it for about a week already, and it keeps the time very precise. I love that it has a big second dial and a small one.”

A buyer of the Rado D Star Chronograph Automatic Yellow Gold PVD and Black Ceramic Mens Watch reviewed, “[It is] a big man’s watch but elegant at the same time, very nice.”

YouTube 

Watch enthusiasts also shared their experience with Tissot and Rado watches. Teddy Baldassarre talked about the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium. 

He wrote, “When wearing this piece around, I actually got quite a few compliments. Even if I’m known as kind of the watch guy,’ I don’t typically get actual compliments. So, I think that speaks volumes for what this piece is delivering. It catches attention without seeming like it’s over the top.

If you look at its indices, the beveled lugs, the handset, and the date execution, all of them look premium to me.”

Meanwhile, Ariel of aBlogtoWatch focused on the Rado HyperChrome Automatic Chronograph Watch.

 

He shared, “It is one of the most popular models that the brand has for now. It has a brownish cast to the ceramic case, which goes quite the rose gold tone on the sides and accents on the dial. It’s meant to be very sporty. It’s a chronograph, and I like [the] three-dimensional elements.”

Reddit

Rado watch owners enjoy their timepieces. For instance, one Reddit user shared, “I love Rado… I think that they are primarily underrated amongst watch connoisseurs. 

Their firm, light, and scratch-resistant ceramic-metal alloy made ceramic watches a significant trend in the ‘80s. I love the retro-chic, high-tech aesthetic of their black ceramic pieces, and their Automatic Ceramica has long been on my list because it looks so damn cool.“

Meanwhile, another Reddit user praised Tissot and wrote, “For the money, selection, and watch’s quality, Tissot is a great choice. Better yet, if the watch you would like to buy is a T[i]ssot, it’s a good investment; that you could wear and two years later [would] still do pretty well on a re-sale, same with a Rolex.”

Don’t miss our ultimate comparison to Bulova Vs. Tissot.

Let’s Answer the Frequently Asked Questions About Tissot and Rado

Is Tissot a luxury watch?

Yes, it is considered an “entry-level” luxury brand. It was founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, and is famed for its heritage and expertise. Such an association elevates the brand’s luxury status in the watchmaking market.

Is Rado a luxury brand?

Yes, it is a luxury brand well known for its innovative use of material. While it is a luxury brand, its watches are relatively more affordable than other high-end luxury watches.

What brand is better than Tissot?

A few luxury watch brands are “better” than Tissot in terms of quality, brand identity, and popularity in the market. These include Rolex, Longines, Audemars Piguet, and Omega, to name a few.

Is TAG Heuer better than Rado?

It depends on the model you’re comparing. Although generally, yes, TAG Heuer triumphs in terms of brand recognition.

Furthermore, TAG provides better quality watches than Rado. It also has a better historical advantage than the other. Still, Rado offers a better aesthetic and high-tier timepieces as well.

The Verdict: Which One Should I Buy?

So, this wraps up our Tissot vs. Rado watches comparison. 

Both are good brands, and their watches match the “good watch” criteria. They also use suitable materials (even the outsourced parts are good quality), are reasonably priced, and have good craftsmanship.

If you prefer a classic sports watch design, opt for Tissot. It’s a brand you can’t help but respect and has a reputation for offering high-quality timepieces. Check one of its bestsellers, the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80.

Meanwhile, opt for Rado if you enjoy a watch with a throwback to history but are innovative simultaneously. Their timepieces also have a unique signature style.

Check out Rado Golden Horse Automatic, an all-time favorite of many watch collectors and a reimagined reissue of the original 1957. The True Thinline and Captain Cook collections also appeal to different buyers.

Whichever brand you pick, you can be sure you buy a good watch from a trusted watch company. Furthermore, the Swiss watches you buy have quality parts and unique materials. Tissot and Rado’s watches are a worthwhile investment.

If you’re looking for your next dream timepiece, you might want to read our other reviews at EvesWatch.com.

Article Source:

[1] https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5639752/