Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80
The Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 is an affordable Rolex submariner alternative that comes with the rich Swiss heritage of the Tissot brand (founded in 1853). This particular Powermatic version was introduced at Baselworld in March 2018. We love the model T1204071704100, which has a gorgeous black/blue sunburst dial. We can find in this watch some subtle influences of the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Seamaster, but it is a timepiece that has its own identity. The Tissot Seastar might be the perfect entry-level luxury dive watch for you, let's find out why.
- Ref: T1204071704100, T1204071105100
- Diameter: 43.00 mm
- Thickness: 12.70 mm
- Lug width: 21.00 mm
- Caliber: Tissot Powermatic 80
The design of the case is very classy and elegant, making it work well with casual outfits while not looking out of place in more formal occasions. The case is made of 316L stainless steel, which has a diameter of 43mm and is 12.7mm thick. This gives the Seastar a generous wrists presence, the 12.7mm thickness is definitely to be appreciated, giving the watch a slimmer appearance and feel. It is polished on crown guards, lugs, and the extruded sides of the case. The rest has a brushed finish. The lugs are long and slender and contribute to the refined look of this watch, the lug-to-lug distance is 47.3mm, which might feel too big for some of you. The good looking crown at 3 o'clock is signed with a “T” (for Tissot) and is protected by crown guards, that have a similar style to the ones of the Rolex Submariner.
- Ref: T1204071104100, T1204071103100
- Diameter: 43.00 mm
- Thickness: 12.70 mm
- Lug width: 21.00 mm
- Caliber: Tissot Powermatic 80
The lug width of this watch is 21mm, which is not as popular as 20mm or 22mm, meaning it will be less easy for you to find a replacement for the bracelet. Nevertheless, 21mm looks good with the 43mm case. The lugs are not drilled: which helps maintain the sleek look, although it will make it harder to change the bracelet.
Through the transparent case back you will be able to admire the automatic movement at work. This one comes with a luxurious looking engraved rotor. The Tissot Seastar is powered by the automatic movement Powermatic 80, which as its name suggests provides an impressive 80-hour power reserve. This movement is based on the well-known ETA 2824-2.
The dial of the Tissot Seastar is clean and elegant, but let's not forget this is a Swiss luxury watch: the sunburst black and blue dial is very attractive. This dial contributes to the timeless and very versatile design of this watch. Dark-colored dials tend to make the watch look more professional yet refined and understated. The Tissot 1853 text is present at 12 o'clock. The Seastar font is different and good looking, probably to highlight the heritage coming from the previous Seastar models. “Powermatic 80” is proudly displayed below it. Overall, the amount of text is limited compared to other luxury timepieces like the Rolex Submariner or the Omega Seamaster: the depth rating is not indicated on the dial for example.
The lume on the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 is Super-LumiNova, which is known to perform well in low light conditions: this is no exception here. The simple yet well-executed applied hour indices contrast gracefully with the dial. They catch the light nicely and their lume ensures good legibility in all conditions. The date window at 6-o'clock is relatively simple-looking, with no frame. The date is printed on a black background making it look uniform with the rest of the dial. The hands are thick batons and are impossible to miss, they look simple and are designed to facilitate legibility. The second hand has a base in the shape of a “T” (for Tissot) and has a lumed lollipop, of which the lumed dot looks rather small compared to the chunky hour and minute hands.
The bezel is made of ceramic, it has a lume pip at 12 o'clock, in the triangle marker. All the markers have a silver color and include large and bold Arabic numerals. They are not engraved so you might not see them all at once unless you face the watch directly: the light reflecting on the ceramic material can hide them. In a way, this helps to keep the balance between the functional and formal aspects of a timepiece.
The Tissot Seastar is available on a black rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet that is made of 5 links the design takes cues from the Royal Oak. The links have a mix of brushed and polished finish and the result looks very elegant. Once again, the mix between brushed/polished finishes suggests well it's both a tool and a formal watch. The bracelet is equipped with a deployment style clasp that has a brushed finish with an embossed “T”.
Conclusion: Is the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 worth it? Yes, it is very worth it: it's sold at a great price point and is of high quality. It is retailing around the $500 mark on eBay and could become your perfect entry-level Swiss luxury watch. An affordable Rolex Submariner alternative for sure.
Here are 8 suggestions on eBay for the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80:
- $569.99
- Watchcount754
- Score60520
- $569.99
- Watchcount340
- Score27400
- $529.99
- Watchcount261
- Score21095
- $929.99
- Watchcount234
- Score18843
- $609.15
- Watchcount148
- Time left21h 34m 46s
- $564.99
- Watchcount140
- Score11402
- $843.00
- Watchcount133
- Score10775
- $585.13
- Watchcount109
- Score8915
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