Tissot Ballade C279/379C

Tissot Ballade — Case & Dial with Silver Guilloché Detailing

The 1994 Tissot Ballade embodies vintage Swiss watchmaking elegance with a harmonious blend of polished stainless steel and gold-plated accents. Its 36 mm round case is crowned with a fluted gold-tone bezel, lending depth and refinement to the silhouette. The silver-tone dial features a central guilloché-textured medallion surrounded by a smooth chapter ring, offering an exquisite play of textures under changing light. Gold-tone baton hour markers are applied with precision, accompanied by a bold Arabic “12” for visual balance. A framed date aperture sits at 6 o’clock, enhancing symmetry. The gold-tone dauphine-style hands and slender central seconds hand ensure legibility while complementing the two-tone design.

Tissot Ballade — Dial Layout and Finishing

The guilloché center captures light in intricate patterns, framed by a printed minute track along the outer edge for precision time reading. Applied indices, paired with the large Arabic numeral at 12, provide instant recognition. The hands are polished to match the markers, creating cohesion, while the date window’s beveling underscores Tissot’s attention to detail in this era.

Automatic Caliber Eta 2824

At its heart, this Ballade is powered by the Swiss-made automatic Eta 2824 caliber, a workhorse of mechanical watchmaking renowned for its reliability and serviceability. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, it delivers smooth sweep seconds and precise timekeeping. The movement’s robust architecture, coupled with Tissot’s finishing standards, ensures dependable performance whether worn daily or reserved for special occasions. The automatic winding system efficiently stores energy with wrist motion, offering a practical power reserve for modern use.

Accuracy 

This example has been fully serviced, ensuring that the Eta 2824 movement operates within excellent accuracy tolerances. Fully serviced and ready to wear, this watch will provide reliable performance for years to come. The movement’s proven durability makes it a trusted choice among collectors seeking both mechanical excellence and everyday usability.

Heritage of the Tissot Ballade in the 1990s Dress Watch Segment

Introduced during a period of renewed appreciation for classic dress watches, the Ballade line reflects Tissot’s ability to marry traditional aesthetics with modern engineering. In the 1990s, the collection stood out for its meticulous case finishing, balanced proportions, and mechanical movements during an era when quartz still dominated the market. The two-tone stainless steel and gold-plated construction captured the decade’s taste for versatile elegance, while the guilloché dial drew inspiration from earlier mid-century designs. This heritage underscores the Ballade’s enduring appeal to enthusiasts of vintage Swiss timepieces.

Tissot Ballade — Condition, Originality

This 1994 example remains in excellent condition, preserving its original dial, hands, bezel, and crown. The crisp guilloché dial shows no signs of moisture damage, and the gold plating on the bezel retains its luster. The brown leather strap complements the watch’s warm accents, though it can be easily swapped to suit personal style. All components are original, and the movement has been professionally serviced. Collectors value this model for its combination of wearable proportions, Swiss-made automatic movement, and timeless dress watch styling. For those seeking a vintage Tissot with an Eta 2824 automatic movement from 1994 or a dress watch with silver guilloché dial and fluted gold-tone bezel, the Ballade offers both heritage and daily wearability.