That ‘70s Show: Tissot Unveils the New PRX Automatic Variant with UFO Robot Grendizer

Watch brands often team up with pop culture icons to create special-edition pieces or exclusive collections and boost brand visibility. In fact, these collaborations are more than just marketing strategies; these are artistic partnerships that are forged to bring together the world of watchmaking and popular culture. The new Tissot PRX UFO Robot Grendizer (Ref. T137.407.11.041.02) variant is certainly one of the finest examples of how such creative collaborations can result in exceptional timepieces. 

In this reference, Tissot's star of the 1970s meets another icon of that era, UFO Robot Grendizer, a Japanese Super Robot anime television series and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. This was the third instalment in the Mazinger trilogy. It was aired on Japanese television from October 5, 1975 to February 27, 1977; it had 74 episodes. 

The robot made its first appearance in the United States as part of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line of super robot toys in the late 1970s, followed by Jim Terry's Force Five series, both titled Grendizer. After nearly 50 years, the Grendizer robot has made its way to the dial of the Tissot PRX series.

The Grendizer warrior robot, housed in the iconic 40 mm stainless steel case, is depicted on the deep blue dial with a Super-LumiNova outline. The blue outline looks subtle, matching the dial’s vibe in daylight. However, in low-light settings, the distinctive Japanese figurine appears as a yellow silhouette.

Green Super-LumiNova inserts offer contrast to the hour markers surrounding the Grendizer depiction and the steel Harken-style hands. The front is finished with an inscription on the sloped flange that surrounds the dial. The upper flange of the dial reads ロボ グレンダイザー, the original title for the Grendizer. The rest of the watch aesthetics follows the staple PRX elements, including the tonneau-shaped case.

This timepiece is powered by Powermatic 80 for an 80-hour runtime; the movement is now embellished with a second Grendizer image and the words, Tissot x Grendizer, on the oscillating weight, while ‘Special Edition’ is mentioned on the sapphire skeleton caseback. The movement has the patented Nivachron balance spring. Finishing this time-only watch is a stainless steel bracelet. This comes with an interchangeable quick-release button and a butterfly clasp with push-buttons. The watch box gets a special design created after the Spazer, Grendizer UFO.