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Comparison

Tissot PRX vs Orient Bambino

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Short answer

The Tissot PRX is a Swiss sport-luxury watch with a 1970s-style integrated steel bracelet and 100 m water resistance for around $800 to $850. The Orient Bambino is a classic domed dress automatic on leather with 30 m water resistance for under $300. Pick the PRX for one watch that does everything, and the Bambino for a low-cost dress watch.

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

Verdict

Buy the Tissot PRX if you want one slim steel automatic you can wear daily and swim with; choose 35 mm for smaller wrists. Buy the Orient Bambino V7 or No Date if you want a classic dress watch under $300 and will keep it out of the water.

This page is for people buying their first nice mechanical watch who keep coming back to two very different options: the Tissot PRX and the Orient Bambino. One is a steel sport watch you can swim in, the other a vintage-style dress piece that costs about a third as much. We compare the PRX 40 mm and 35 mm with the Bambino Version 7 and Bambino No Date, using listing facts only and noting what the listings leave out.

Sport-luxury steel versus classic dress

The Tissot PRX has a 1970s-style steel case and integrated bracelet. Both listings here describe 316L stainless steel, a date, an interchangeable bracelet with a push-button butterfly clasp and 100 m water resistance. Our is the Tissot PRX worth it page covers its strengths and weak spots.

The Orient Bambino is a traditional dress watch: a 38.4 mm steel case, a domed mineral crystal, a leather strap and 30 m water resistance. It uses Orient's in-house automatics with hand-winding and hacking. See are Orient watches good and what is a dress watch.

Spec table: PRX 40, PRX 35, Bambino V7 and Bambino No Date

Facts come only from the Amazon listings. Missing details are marked.

ModelMovementCaseThicknessLug to lugWater resistanceCrystalListed price
Tissot PRX 40 mm, blackSwiss automatic (caliber not named)40 mm10.93 mmNot stated100 mNot stated$850
Tissot PRX 35 mm, blackSwiss Powermatic 80 automatic35 mm10.93 mmNot stated100 mNot stated$795
Orient Bambino V7 RA-AC0M02B30BF6724 automatic, hand-winding, hacking38.4 mm12.5 mm44 mm30 mDomed mineral$280
Orient Bambino No Date RA-BB0003Y30BF6524 automatic, hand-winding, hacking38.4 mm12.5 mm44 mm30 mDomed mineral$265
Listing facts only

Note.The Bambino No Date listing says 30 m withstands splashes or brief immersion but is not suitable for swimming or bathing. The PRX listings say 100 m suits short recreational swimming and showering, but not diving or snorkeling.

Movement and daily use

Both Bambinos list in-house Orient automatics with hand-winding and hacking, so you can wind them by the crown and stop the seconds hand to set the time. The V7 adds a date and an exhibition caseback; the No Date model keeps the dial cleaner.

The PRX 35 mm listing names Tissot's Powermatic 80, a caliber named for its 80-hour power reserve, which lets the watch sit through a weekend and keep running. The PRX 40 mm listing only says Swiss automatic, so check the reference before buying if the long reserve matters. The Bambino listings do not state a reserve figure. Read what is Tissot Powermatic 80 and power reserve explained.

  1. Wrist motionYour arm moves.
  2. RotorA half-moon weight spins on its axle.
  3. Reversing wheelsTurn both swing directions into winding.
  4. Mainspring barrelStores the energy as a coiled spring.
  5. Gear trainCarries the power to the hands.
  6. Escape wheelReleased one tooth at a time.
  7. Pallet forkLocks and unlocks the escape wheel.
  8. Balance wheelSwings back and forth at a steady rate.
Wrist motion turns the rotor, which winds the mainspring. The escapement lets that power out in even steps to the hands.

Size, thickness and fit

Both PRX sizes list 10.93 mm thick, slimmer than the Bambino's listed 12.5 mm. The Bambino's height comes partly from its domed crystal, which is part of its vintage look. At 38.4 mm with a 44 mm lug to lug, the Bambino suits a wide range of wrists.

The PRX 40 mm wears larger because the integrated bracelet extends the case line. The 35 mm version is the safer choice for smaller wrists. Check your numbers with the wrist fit calculator and our Tissot PRX sizes page.

flat wrist widthlug to lug
FitsLugs end inside the flat top.
flat wrist widthlug to lug
BorderlineLugs reach the edge. Try it on.
flat wrist widthlug to lug
OverhangLugs float past the edge.
The flat top of a wrist is roughly 30% of its circumference wide. Lugs that end inside it sit flat; lugs past it overhang.

Which makes a better first nice watch

If you want one watch for everything, including showers and pool days, the PRX is the stronger pick. Its steel bracelet works with casual and smart clothes, and its 100 m rating covers recreational swimming per the listing.

If you mostly want a dress watch for work and events, the Bambino gives you a classic look for about a third of the price. You could buy a Bambino and still have budget left for a sports watch later. Explore more in our automatic dress watch guide, Orient automatic picks and Tissot automatic picks.

  • Swims, travels, wants one watch: Tissot PRX 40 mm or 35 mm.
  • Wears shirts and suits, tight budget: Orient Bambino V7.
  • Wants the cleanest dial: Bambino No Date.

See automatic dress watches →

Care and long-term costs

Both are mechanical automatics that will drift by seconds per day and need periodic service. Keep the Bambino away from water beyond splashes, and on either watch make sure the crown is pushed in after setting. A leather strap on the Bambino will wear and need replacing over time, while the PRX's steel bracelet mainly needs occasional cleaning. See how to care for an automatic watch and how often to service an automatic. Weighing the PRX against another dress option? Read Tissot PRX vs Seiko Presage.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tissot PRX worth three times the Bambino? It is if you need water resistance, a steel bracelet and a Swiss movement with a long reserve. If you only want a dress watch, the Bambino covers that for much less.

Can I swim with an Orient Bambino? No. The Bambino No Date listing says its 30 m rating is not suitable for swimming or bathing.

Which is thinner? The PRX, listed at 10.93 mm, against 12.5 mm for the Bambino models here.

Do Bambinos hand-wind and hack? Yes, both Bambino listings here state automatic, hand-winding and hacking movements.

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