Tissot
Classic Sixties - Swiss Made

“On Madison Avenue, a watch was not merely used to arrive on time. It already revealed where you belonged around the table.”

Vintage men’s Tissot, reference 41024/42024-1, approximately 34 mm gold-plated case with steel back, silver dial, hand-wound Tissot calibre 781-1, acrylic crystal and new black leather strap with pin buckle.

New York, circa 1965. Behind the Venetian blinds of a Madison Avenue office, the last lights of Manhattan are reflected across a table covered with layouts, slogans and client files. A campaign still has to be defended, an idea is waiting to convince and the working day will probably continue well beyond reason. This 1960s mechanical Tissot belongs naturally to the world brought back to life by the television series Mad Men: tailored suits, white shirts, modernist furniture and an elegance controlled enough never to become ostentatious. It is not associated with any character from the series, yet it could easily have accompanied one of those men for whom appearance was already a language and a watch a discreet expression of punctuality, precision and confidence.

The Tissot reference 41024/42024-1, stamped inside the case, identifies this watch as a classic dress Tissot produced during the mid-1960s. Its production can reasonably be dated to around 1965, a period when the Swiss manufacture offered slim, dependable and accessible mechanical watches designed to accompany both professional life and more formal occasions. Its approximately 34 mm round case combines a yellow gold-plated body with a removable steel back. The long straight lugs visually extend the watch and give it more presence than its historical diameter might suggest, while its slim profile allows it to slip naturally beneath a shirt cuff. These restrained proportions, now particularly appreciated by collectors of vintage watches, accurately express the masculine elegance of the mid-1960s.

Beneath its domed acrylic crystal, the silver dial organises time with remarkable economy. The framed “T” Tissot logo, fine baton hour markers and dark hands create a clear, balanced and immediately recognisable display. The gold central seconds hand echoes the colour of the case and brings an almost imperceptible yet essential movement to the dial. Its gentle visible patina reminds us that this watch has travelled through almost six decades without losing the character of its period. The design retains the distinctive restraint of Swiss dress watches from the 1960s: elegant enough for formal clothing, discreet enough for regular wear and sufficiently characteristic never to be mistaken for a contemporary watch.

Inside is the Tissot calibre 781-1, a hand-wound mechanical movement fitted with 17 jewels, operating at the traditional frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour and providing approximately 49 hours of power reserve after a complete winding. Slim, straightforward and proven, this calibre belongs to a generation of movements designed for durability and continued servicing by a watchmaker. Winding this watch each morning is an integral part of experiencing a genuine vintage mechanical watch: a few turns of the crown are enough to restart a mechanism produced almost sixty years ago. This daily gesture creates a special relationship with the watch, a discreet appointment that automatic movements and electronic watches have gradually made less familiar.

This gold-plated vintage Tissot is naturally suited to professional use. Its slim case and light-coloured dial complement a suit, jacket or shirt without attracting unnecessary attention, making it an excellent watch for meetings, appointments and business lunches. It is equally appropriate for ceremonies and evening occasions, where the combination of gold plating, a silver dial and black leather provides classic elegance without ostentation. Worn with flannel trousers, a blazer, a fine-knit sweater or a denim shirt, it becomes a more relaxed weekend watch. Its approximately 34 mm diameter also makes it suitable for different wrists: it will appeal to a man seeking the authentic proportions of a 1960s watch as well as to a woman who appreciates restrained mechanical watches with a discreetly precious character. It is also an excellent introduction to watch collecting, offering the experience of hand winding, an acrylic crystal and genuine historical proportions without the constraints of a piece that has become too valuable for regular wear.

Its new black leather strap, secured by a pin buckle, emphasises the contrast between the warmth of the gold-plated case and the restraint of the dial. It restores the appearance of a period dress watch while allowing it to be worn immediately. Like any vintage watch fitted with an acrylic crystal and a removable case back, its use should remain appropriate to its construction: it is intended for everyday, professional and formal wear but should be protected from water, significant shocks and sporting activities. This precaution does not diminish its appeal; it simply reminds us that wearing a vintage watch requires a degree of care that also contributes to the pleasure of preserving it.

Buying this pre-owned Tissot from Mostra means looking beyond the immediate aesthetic appeal of an older watch. The watch has been opened so that the internal case markings could be examined, its correct reference established and the consistency of its construction verified. Its Tissot mechanical movement is inspected by our watchmaking workshop before the watch is offered for sale. This approach allows us to distinguish the normal marks of time from alterations that may compromise the identity of a watch and to provide the most accurate possible description of its condition and configuration. Every watch selected by Mostra is supplied with a certificate of authenticity, a horological registration document containing the information required for its identification and future transmission.

The watch is delivered in a Mostra presentation box and is covered by a three-year warranty, supported by our in-house watchmaking workshop in Aix-en-Provence. Buying this Tissot from Mostra also provides the opportunity to try it on, understand its proportions and discuss it with specialists in vintage and collectible watches. Drawing upon more than forty years of experience, Mostra selects coherent pieces that are interesting to wear and capable of conveying a story beyond their market value alone. This Tissot recalls a period when masculine elegance depended on very little: a precise cut, a confident word and a dial discreet enough to suggest that time was under control. A vintage 1960s watch for anyone who appreciates objects capable of evoking an era without ever appearing to recreate it.