Ballade 34mm Tissot's fluted two-tone dress watch returns in quartz

What is new about the Tissot Ballade 34mm?

The Ballade name goes back to 1994, and Tissot has been bringing it back in stages. The 34 mm quartz models arrived first: US retailer Teddy Baldassarre lists the release date of this reference, T156.210.22.031.00, as 23 April 2025. Later in 2025, Tissot added automatic COSC-certified Ballade models in 39 mm and 30 mm, which Senatus reported in November 2025.

This version is the two-tone one. The 316L steel case and the centre links of the bracelet carry a yellow gold PVD coating, and so does the fluted bezel. The dial is silver, with a guilloché sunburst pattern, gold-tone baton indexes and a date window at 3 o'clock. Tissot's UK store lists it at £365. The all-steel versions are £320, so the gold-tone finish adds £45.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Tissot lists the case at 34 mm wide and 8.25 mm thick, with 16 mm lugs. The watch weighs 85 g on its bracelet, according to Tissot. Tissot doesn't publish a lug to lug figure.

At 34 mm this is a small watch by modern standards. It sits in the middle ground between the traditional ladies' sizes of 26 to 30 mm and the 38 to 40 mm of most men's dress watches, so it will suit slimmer wrists of any kind, and anyone who likes the look of a vintage-sized watch. The slim 8.25 mm case and fluted bezel give it the shape of a classic dress watch that will slide under a cuff.

What movement does it use, and how accurate is it?

The movement is a Swiss quartz with hours, minutes, seconds and date. Tissot doesn't name the calibre on its UK page. Teddy Baldassarre lists an 11½ ligne quartz calibre powered by a Renata 371 battery. Tissot does not publish an accuracy figure for it.

A useful touch is the end of life indicator. When the battery is running low, the seconds hand changes the way it moves, so you get a warning before the watch stops. That matters on a watch you might not wear every day.

How well is it built?

The specification is strong for the price. The crystal is sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on the underside, the hands carry Super-LumiNova, and water resistance is 100 m (10 bar), which is more than most dress watches offer. It is fine for swimming, though the bracelet would need a rinse afterwards.

The bracelet is a five-link design in steel and yellow gold PVD, with a butterfly clasp opened by push-buttons. It has Tissot's quick-release system, so you can swap it for a leather strap without tools. Tissot lists compatible straps on the same product page. The PVD coating is a thin surface layer rather than solid gold, so expect the polished gold-tone links to show wear over time, as with any plated finish.

Is it good value against its rivals?

The closest rival is Tissot's own all-steel Ballade 34mm at £320. It shares the case, movement, sapphire crystal and bracelet design, and comes in blue, green, silver and other dial colours. If you don't want gold tones, it saves £45.

The second is the Tissot PR 100 34mm, which Tissot lists at £285. It has the same 34 mm width and 8.25 mm thickness, sapphire crystal and 100 m water resistance, but a plainer, sportier look with a smooth bezel and a different bracelet. The Ballade is the dressier of the two, and the fluted bezel and guilloché dial are what the extra £80 buys.

Against similarly priced quartz dress watches from Swiss brands, the sapphire crystal, 100 m rating and quick-release bracelet put the Ballade on the stronger side.

What is the catch?

The two-tone, fluted bezel and five-link bracelet combination is a familiar look, and it will remind many people of far more expensive watches. Some buyers will love that. Others will find it too derivative. It is also a quartz watch, so if you want a mechanical movement in a Ballade, you need the newer automatic models, which cost more.

Finally, this reference is too new for meaningful owner feedback. There are no long-term reports yet on how the gold PVD coating holds up or how the quick-release bracelet fares with daily use. We will add owner themes when there are enough to report.

“A fluted bezel, sapphire and 100 m of water resistance for £365.”