I am a pretty big fan of Tissot as a value option, it began with the PR100, it was the quartz version but I didn’t end up wearing it much. The PR100 went to my father along with a Visodate, so now he has a quartz and an automatic Tissot. I then started looking at another vintage inspired Tissot, the Telemeter 1938 was a model that really interested me.

So what do I like about the Telemeter 1938? I looked at the vintage styled hand-wound Petite Seconde, that was such a simple yet elegant that resonated with me. The next vintage inspired timepiece I am looking at is the Telemeter 1938 as a stylish vintage design chronograph. The Reference T142.462.16.032.00 is a nice looking chronograph, it looks great, the larger style pushers work here. The 42 mm 316 case with display caseback has a great curve for a nice wrist fit as well, this is important, the curved lugs.

I had previously looked at the PRS516 as well, the chronograph was a pretty decent design, but I was not going to make the purchase. I also have to look at what I get as value for money within the Swatch Group such as a chronograph from Union Glashütte, a Longines or even a Hamilton. Style wise, the other options are not close to the Telemeter 1938 I believe. I like the Telemeter 1938 over the other options so I am definitely looking at this as a chronograph for my collection.

The dial on the Telemeter 1938 is busy, there is a lot going on here and that is ok. That silver dial with red and blue printed scales on the dial, the blued baton hands really contrast well on the dial. The two sub-dials have great balance on the dial with the inner scale running through the sub-dials with printed Arabic numerals at major index markers. This watch is very hard to view, hardly any of the retailers have sitting in their display cases so I cannot just wander into a retail outlet and try on, this cannot be a big seller for Tissot.

The A05.231 movement has a Nivachron balance spring developed within the Swatch Group that is resistant to magnetic fields. The 68 hour power reserve is pretty high, but generally comes at a cost with a lower frequency. This time the 4Hz 28,000 vph is retained so accuracy is not lost for power reserve. The A05.231 is an up-spec Valjoux 7750 with 29 jewels, first released in the early 1970s, the 7750 is a robust design that has stood the test of time.