Tissot Heritage Memphis Limited Edition: A tribute to Italian design master Ettore Sottsass

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Memphis group, a group of designers led by Italian architect and industrial designer Ettore Sottsass, Tissot has announced the Tissot Heritage Memphis Limited Edition. This homage to that era features four limited edition quartz models for men and women, based on a sketch by Ettore Sottsass in 1988.

A watch that embodies the essence of 1980s design

　In 1988, designer Ettore Sottsass collaborated with Tissot to release a watch that expressed his own design style. Ettore Sottsass was an Italian architect and industrial designer who founded the Memphis group of designers, a group that typified postmodernism, and had a major influence on industrial design.

　Like the furniture he designed, this watch was free from convention and convention. Indeed, the original Tissot Sottsass was round, but appeared lenticular from the side, with a sloping caseback and bezel.

　The watch's unique design featured an innovative case shape with no lugs, but with protrusions that served as the bracelet attachment point. The indexes were thick and prominent, which was unusual for the time, and were full of playfulness. Another unique feature was the notch on the side of the case, which prevented the crown from interfering with the perfectly circular shape of the case.　

　Tissot has now announced the Tissot Heritage Memphis Limited Edition, a reissue of the Tissot Sottsass. It consists of four references, all of which are limited editions. The dials are larger in diameter while retaining the aesthetics of the original.

　The case has been redesigned with sleeker, more modern lines, and the crystal has been redesigned, now curved to blend in with the lines of the case and crystal.
　
　Another distinctive feature is the use of a small disc with a dot instead of a central seconds hand. The case back features a seemingly random geometric pattern reminiscent of Memphis design, a pattern that is also carried on the inside of the rubber bracelet.

The two Heritage Memphis Limited Edition models are women's models, both 34mm in diameter. One features a white dial and a stainless steel case, while the other features a stainless steel case with a yellow gold PVD-coated bezel and black center lugs. Each is limited to 1700 pieces worldwide.

　The men's model is 41mm in diameter. One features a stainless steel case with a yellow gold PVD-coated bezel and black PVD-coated center lugs, and, along with the two women's models, it has the same specifications as the original, a white dial with black indices. It is limited to 2500 pieces worldwide. The other model is made of black PVD-coated stainless steel and features a black dial with white indices, creating a contrast in keeping with the Memphis design code. This model is limited to 3000 pieces.

　All are quartz models and come with a black synthetic leather strap, with each strap available in a different color.