Tissot Seastar: Modern Photo voltaic-Powered Timepiece

Watch lovers typically exhibit a mode deficit that they try to compensate for with fabulous timepieces. We are saying ‘fabulous’ right here within the sense of a selected watch lending the wearer the luxurious magnificence of a well-groomed mane…or maybe halo could be extra apt.

And sure, luxurious can be a key phrase for the watch-buying public, however extra on this in one other story, maybe. The difficulty with this sense of being trendy is that it’s typically paired with excessive casualisation; the concept right here is which you can indulge within the severe consolation of a singlet whereas exhibiting your web price in your sneakers and ticker (with maybe a series or 5 within the combine).

Do you’ve gotten a picture in thoughts from all of the descriptive colors? Maybe one thing strengthened by a wholesome (or not) dose of bias… Nicely, Tissot invitations you to take these ideas and shove them as a result of it’s amongst a choose group of Swiss watchmakers that understands that watches ought to work together with a, let’s consider, ensemble.

In different phrases, the Tissot watch isn’t a token nod in direction of aestheticism, particularly not when you think about the inherent innovation (extra on this shortly). Equally, it’s not a bit of jewelry masquerading as a device.

Maybe we will enterprise to counsel that the Tissot watch goals to be a mode anchor of kinds. We’ve this concept in thoughts not merely as a result of Tissot has a watch referred to as the Stylist however from the model’s varied communication visuals and promoting campaigns. Additionally it is one of many causes that Tissot led the best way in making the watch small once more.

Foreshadowing

Contemplating that Tissot is the model answerable for the immodestly proportioned Seastar and T Contact fashions, our proposition may shock you. When the editor proposed this concept, it was additionally a bit puzzling.

Then once more, Tissot is most lately well-known for the PRX (shock) and that household of watches, which is exactly the place the model confirmed superior acumen in, first, going mechanical, after which smaller in gender impartial types. In each quartz and mechanical variations, Tissot provided a spread of sizes, with the smaller fashions constantly incomes reward. Now the model goes one higher and ropes within the solar for good measure!

After all, Tissot additionally has one thing for everybody, so we’re taking part in into the model’s energy there to faucet into a few angles. As for gender neutrality, the model has ambitions to enchantment equally to women and men, so a variety of choices and sizes is to be anticipated.

This brings us to our lead-in watch right here, which is the brand new Seastar 38mm chronograph. Now, as you may nicely know, Tissot had the Seastar in thoughts fairly early on, registering the title in 1952 and releasing the primary fashions within the Fifties – exact particulars on specs are mild, however we do know that it was waterproof and dust-proof. The 38mm quartz chronograph could also be equally sized as the unique time-only mechanical watches, however the brand new decreased measurement is just the tip of the iceberg right here.

The actual meat of this seaside picnic is selection and daring colors. The teal dial model, with matching bezel and silicone strap is a standout, though the PVD rose gold therapy for the case helps make the case. Past this admittedly fashionable watch, it’s vital that there are six variations of this new watch. The straps are additionally interchangeable so the purpose is clearly to encourage experimentation but in addition flexibility to match one’s sartorial wants. To return to the teal chronograph, not all the pieces will work nicely with this watch so the potential proprietor will want an excellent eye for color coordination.

Let There Be Gentle

Every part we famous above for the Seastar is true of the PRX, the place there’s even a bimetal choice, however that is well-known, so we are going to transfer on instantly to the PRC 100 Photo voltaic, which Tissot makes obtainable in 39mm and 34mm variations. There are a number of variations right here – 5 in 39mm and 4 in 34mm – however right here the attire is powered by some very intelligent industrial pondering.

The ‘Photo voltaic’ a part of the title explains loads, together with all of the foreshadowing we now have been doing. However, for the document, it is a correct large deal as a result of the solar energy on present right here is not only rented from the Japanese. As an alternative, Swatch Group – of which Tissot is a component – has delivered one thing no producer in Switzerland has.

The Lightmaster expertise (as Swatch Group calls it) permits Tissot to supply the PRC 100 Photo voltaic with beautiful dials that don’t exhibit a touch of the photovoltaic cells that mark such watches. You may need seen different examples of this, true, however that is the Swiss Made stuff proper right here – our friends at Fratello have already seen the ins and outs of the manufacturing and got here away impressed. We’ve each expectation that our Autumn cowl story may certainly revolve round this new expertise as a result of the PRC 100 Photo voltaic may be a very essential watch – and never only for Tissot.

With this in thoughts, we are going to preserve a few of our ammunition for that (potential) story in reserve, however we are going to give Tissot a pat on the again forward of our innovation tales in Autumn. All of it comes down to look at manufacturers needing to maintain their dials away from technical muddle – watches shouldn’t have a considerable amount of actual property, so giving this essential piece over utterly to technical wants is an enormous sacrifice.

Tissot has neatly circumvented this with its in-house (Swatch Group) ingenuity; it’s only becoming that Tissot will get first dibs on this, given the historical past of chronometric experimentation right here, starting from mechanical to quartz and solar energy. Watch consumers who’ve been lamenting the dearth of innovation in quartz fashions or complaining about exorbitant pricing, the PRC 100 Photo voltaic is simply what you’re searching for. Costs begin at $620 for the 39mm fashions, though we now have not but seen the place the 34mm fashions will match primarily based on what’s on the web site at press time. Fortunately, updates might be coming quickly!

This story was first seen as a part of the WOW #79 Summer time 2025 Problem

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