Stone dials, as we’re all aware, have been having a moment over these last couple of years. Time, I suppose, will tell if the prevalence of stone dials across more affordable price ranges is a trend, or just a new part of the watch landscape that we’ll all just accept and live with, like green dials, or carbon cases. With the renewed popularity of this inherently 1970s/80s inspired design cue, it was really only a matter of time before we saw the return of a watch that takes the use of stone to a different level entirely. The Tissot Rock Watch, an artifact of the 1980s if ever there was one, is back, albeit in a limited edition that might be tough to acquire depending on your geography (more on that in a bit).
First, a little background on the Rock Watch. Launched in 1985, Tissot claims that the Rock Watch was the first ever watch with a case and dial made entirely from granite procured from the Swiss Alps. I’ll admit here that I haven’t done a ton of scholarly research on the topic, but I’m willing to take Tissot at face value here simply because granite is a particularly difficult material to work with, requiring highly specific machines and tooling. It’s a watch that doesn’t make a ton of practical sense from a production standpoint, but naturally was quite popular in the mid 80s and eventually spawned an entire collection for Tissot that featured a huge variety of exotic stones.
The new version of the Rock Watch remains close to the original in spirit but is not quite a one for one remake. For one, it’s been upsized to 38mm from the original’s 35mm case size. It also now features nickel plated hands, which replace the colorful red and yellow hands of the original (those colors, incidentally, were apparently inspired by Alpine trail markers, according to Tissot). The new watch also gets a sapphire crystal where the 1980s version had a mineral crystal.
The broad strokes, though, are familiar. The case and dial are carved from a single piece of granite, and it’s still sourced from the Swiss Alps. To make the case, blocks of granite are precisely shaped and ground until the surface is completely smooth and free of imperfections. The most challenging part of the process is hollowing out the center cavity where the movement is held. The difficulty in shaping the material is likely the reason for the non-integrated lug design – a simple circular form for the case makes sense both aesthetically and in terms of simplifying a difficult production process as much as possible. I really like the ornate design of the lugs on the Rock Watch – it lends the piece a distinctly formal, and now retro, vibe that I think is appropriate.
I have a feeling that this watch will prove to be quite popular with collectors. I’ve talked to many enthusiasts and fans of watches from this period who are, frankly, a little obsessed with original Rock Watch. For a long time it’s felt like one of those designs that was both way ahead of its time and perfectly timed for its 1980s debut. In 2025, the Rock Watch is a true curiosity, and I think the opportunity to acquire a modern version will be something many collectors try to take advantage of. That said, it might not be easy. This release is a limited edition of 999 pieces, and Tissot states that it will only be available at their New York City boutique on Fifth Avenue. The retail price is $1,225. Tissot
Zach Kazan
2025-09-17 17:00:00