A mechanical chronograph on a steel bracelet is one of the most useful watches you can own, and the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Chronograph T139.462.11.038.00 does the job with real refinement. The silver dial, Roman numerals and three counters give it a classic, almost 1940s chronograph look in a modern 42mm case.

The engine is the Valjoux A05.231, a Swiss automatic chronograph caliber with up to 68 hours of power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring for resistance to magnetism. It times events up to 12 hours with subdials for hours, minutes and running seconds, and its works are on show through the sapphire caseback.

A gently domed sapphire crystal sits over the dial, and the steel case alternates brushed and polished surfaces to match the bracelet. Water resistance is 50 meters. As with every Chemin des Tourelles, the name points to the Le Locle street where Tissot’s factory was founded in 1907.

Tissot T139.462.11.038.00 chronograph specifications

• Case: 42mm stainless steel, about 15mm thick
• Dial: silver with Roman numerals and baton indexes; 12-hour, 30-minute and small-seconds counters
• Movement: Valjoux A05.231 automatic chronograph
• Power reserve: up to 68 hours
• Balance spring: Nivachron
• Crystal: domed sapphire; caseback: transparent
• Water resistance: 50m
• Bracelet: brushed and polished stainless steel

Classic in looks and genuinely mechanical inside, this steel Chemin des Tourelles Chronograph is ready for every day and every occasion.