The Tissot Ballade enters 2025 with not one, but two distinct options that widen its appeal. Alongside the well-established Ballade Powermatic 80 COSC, Tissot introduces the more accessible Ballade Powermatic 48, creating a tiered collection that combines refined aesthetics with a choice of technical performance. This dual release underlines Tissot’s strategy: offering Swiss quality at multiple price levels without compromising on design.
Tissot’s positioning in the Swiss landscape
Since its founding in 1853 in Le Locle, Tissot has consistently pushed to make Swiss Made horology available to a wide audience. Within the Swatch Group, it plays a crucial role: delivering mechanical watches that balance affordability and technical credibility. The Ballade has long been Tissot’s more elegant proposition, a dress watch that manages to remain understated yet equipped with advanced features. With the addition of the Powermatic 48, the collection now speaks to both the seasoned enthusiast who values chronometer precision and the newcomer seeking a stylish Swiss automatic at a lower entry point.
Powermatic 80 COSC vs Powermatic 48: the technical split
The Ballade Powermatic 80 COSC continues as the flagship. It houses the Powermatic 80 calibre, enhanced with a silicon balance spring to fight magnetism and temperature variations. Certified by COSC, it offers chronometer-level accuracy and an extended 80-hour power reserve, ensuring strong reliability and weekend-proof autonomy.
By contrast, the Ballade Powermatic 48 brings a simpler but still respectable proposition. Its calibre provides a 48-hour power reserve and skips the silicon balance spring and chronometer certification, helping reduce costs while retaining the charm of a Swiss automatic. Both versions come in 41 mm stainless steel cases, with polished and brushed surfaces, sapphire crystals, and a transparent caseback to showcase the movement. Water resistance is rated to 50 meters—sufficient for daily wear, though clearly focused on urban environments.
Elegance tailored to modern lifestyles
The Ballade’s design remains consistent across both versions, characterized by a guilloché-style dial center, sharp dauphine hands, and applied indices. Dial colors range from silver-white to black and blue, paired with either leather straps or five-link stainless steel bracelets. The overall aesthetic balances traditional refinement with a versatile modernity that feels appropriate in both business and casual settings.
For buyers of the COSC model, the appeal lies in knowing they’re wearing one of the most affordable Swiss chronometer-certified watches available. For those drawn to the Powermatic 48, it’s the opportunity to step into the same elegant design language at a more approachable price, ideal for a first mechanical watch purchase.
Closing thoughts and availability
By splitting the Ballade line into two technical tiers, Tissot manages to broaden its reach without diluting its identity. The Powermatic 80 COSC will continue to satisfy collectors and accuracy-focused buyers, while the Powermatic 48 opens the door to a wider audience who may not yet demand chronometer performance but still value timeless Swiss design.
Prices start at $725 USD for the Powermatic 48 and $1,075 USD for the Powermatic 80 COSC, making the Ballade one of the most versatile offers in the entry-level luxury space. Both versions are available now through Tissot’s network of boutiques, authorized retailers, and online channels. And if you are into affordable swiss watches, check out another recent gem from the Swatch Group : the Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer !
