While I knew it was coming, the official announcement for the Tissot Sea Touch watch is here. In early January I picked up rumblings on the Internet of a new Tissot T-Touch watch called the Sea Touch (read more about it in the link). Some prototype images and speculation aside, it was pretty obvious what the new diving-centric T-Touch line watch was all about. It is now clear that there will be rubber and steel bracelet versions. The case of the watch will be steel as well (not titanium as I previous speculated, as at the T-Touch Expert is made). That is OK, as steel has proved to be an excellent material for diving watches. As for the sapphire touch screen crystal, I am so happy that it seems to work underwater and with gloves.
The Sea Touch is all about diving looks and diving features. While the T-Touch is a capable diving watch, it's functions are designed for land use. The Sea Touch adds a depth gauge, dive log book, and various important information like rates of ascent and descent. None of these features will be useful on land, but are invaluable to the diving enthusiast. The pushers on the case have a new patented double seal system unique to Tissot. It makes them easy to operate yet water resistant. The watch is resistant to 200 meters, making it worthy for anything you'd need to subject it to. Remember that the case still needs to have sensory openings (through the back of the case) to collect data. I wonder if the compass would work under water. I have no idea if that effects it all, I'll have to consider that... (UPDATE: Compass does work under water).
The movement is similar to that of the Tissot T-Touch Expert save for the different functions. A feature is an End-of-Life indicator. I am not sure what this means exactly. It is either an odd name for a battery life indicator, or it tells you if the movement is about to die and you should not rely on measurements of data anymore when diving. Either is a good feature to have. In addition to the bold orange colored case, the Tissot Sea Touch will be available in white and black. No blue version? Overall I think the techie diving looks works well on the series, and really evolves the Tissot T-Touch line. What is sort of unfortunate - and this is not really a criticism - is that the watch IS so diving focused. I can see myself wanting to get this watch, but feeling that the dedicated diving features aren't ones that I would used too often, or ever. That might preclude me from buying the watch in favor of another Tissot T-Touch model. I have no idea how large the market is for diving watches used only for diving, but I would image it is not as large as the mainstream market for watches. Even though complex features on my Tissot T-Touch Expert are functional on land even if I don't really need them. So I worry a bit about Tissot having backed the Sea Touch into too much of a niche market. Just a thought.
I am excited to see more of these Sea Touch watches soon while playing with them in stores and annoying sales people. The official release is going to be at Baselworld at the end of March. Expect retail availability soon afterward. Prices will most likely be between $1,000 - $1300.
See Tissot T-Touch and related watches on eBay here.
See Tissot watches on Amazon here.
 Tissot T-Touch Watch#T33.1.598.51  US $478.75
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 NEW TISSOT T-TOUCH TREKKER THERMOMETER FUNCTIONS WATCH US $725.00
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 2010's LATEST TISSOT T TOUCH EXPERT COMPASS WATCH US $426.11
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 World Renowned TISSOT T-Touch 100% Titanium Men's Watch US $465.00
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 2010's LATEST TISSOT T TOUCH EXPERT COMPASS WATCH US $431.11
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 TISSOT T Touch Citrus Orange High Tech Compass Watch US $355.00
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I agree re: niche market. The increments on the rotating bezel are especially useless for anything except the very specific dive functions (I’m guessing) – you couldn’t use them with the minute hand like you would a normal rotating bezel. Which makes me wonder: if it can only be used with the specific dive meter, which (presumably) would always start at 12, why have it rotate at all?
I had a look at the bezel at first and wasn’t sure what to make of it. Looks like it is combining markings for more than one function that will use it. I’d have to check out the manual to figure it out fully. If you think about it though, lots of people wear watches with functions they don’t use. We will just have to wait for a product release to learn more.
[...] are some early images of the upcoming Tissot Sea-Touch, also known as the Tissot Atlan-T. No matter the name, it will be the next version of the very [...]
I have a Tissot Seastar dive watch and have had nothing but problems with it. I would not recommend a Tissot to anyone. They are junk, albeit, high priced junk. Tissot does not stand behind its aftersales service either. The Swatch group are a huge con job.
Tissot are notoriously bad watches, especially the dive watches, Seastars for example. Save your money and buy a Casio.
Hi Rick,
I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with a Tissot Seastar watch. Those really have no relation to the Sea Touch line up or the T-Touch lineup in general. No company is perfect, but Tissot has a pretty good record for ‘making good’ on problems.
I own a Tissot watch and know others than do and have had no problems. It sounds like you’ve had a pretty bad experience with one watch, and I can understand how that would taint your perception of a brand, but are you really going so far as to ward off an entire brand (and entire Swatch group) based on an isolated experience?
Look around on the forums and you will see that what I have stated has been echoed by others. The exact same crown problem I had is common.
Rick,
While it is possible for there to be defective models, none of that applies to the Sea-Touch as it is a totally different design (with a traditional crown for that matter). If such and experience exists, what was it like dealing with the Tissot customer service people?
Lousy, they kept the watch for months. It had been repaired by them twice under warranty, the crown they “fixed” went back for the same problem, recessing itself inside the case, so the screw down can’t catch to lock it. Then they wanted $295 to refix what they messed up. Numerous times on other watch forums I have read complaints vis a vis Tissot. The T time also has had problems. Early on, the four retainer screws that hold the movement in the case came loose and the 2824mvmt was wobbling around in the case,I had the watch for about 2 weeks. This is quality control? Pulleeese.
The con job reference to the Swatch group, is that they brand the watch “Swiss” but a certain percentage of parts are outsourced to China.
It’s legal, and then inspected in Switzerland.
Hi Rick,
The issue that you mention regarding watches having parts made in China is not isolated to the Swatch Group, nor is it necessarily a problem. Swatch Group, like other companies are moving toward “complete vertical integration” where they make all the parts themselves. Certain parts currently are just not cost effective to make in Switzerland because you get the same quality in China for much less. So while I totally understand your frustration, it is most likely an educational problem in terms of watch companies educating the consumers. Fully Swiss watches are rare and bear the ‘Seal of Geneva.’ There with that at near Tissot price ranges.
It is unethical and dishonest. They want Swiss made branded on the dial, to charge what the market will bear for a Swiss branded watch. If they were upfront the dial would say, “Swiss and Chinese made”. Quad erat demonstratum.
Rick,
You may be right. Frankly they don’t have to say anything on the dial. Think of it this way: when you see “Swiss made” figure the movement is Swiss, but don’t count on anything else being Swiss necessarily.
[...] addition to the highly anticipated Tissot Sea Touch, this year will see the release of a mildly redone Tissot T-Touch Expert, called the T-Touch Expert [...]
Hello i would like to start off saying that i have had my tissot t-touch for two years now and have to say its my favorite watch in my collection. I purchased the watch on amazon.com for a great price (some reason it is much cheaper than buying in Switzerland). The only problem i have had was while riding a jet ski the minute hand moved 5 minutes off of the digital display. I’m a swiss citizen but live in North Carolina. While i was traveling in Switzerland i took the watch to a retailer and they shipped the watch for free to a Tissot factory and fixed it for free and returned it in a week! I wear this watch everyday i workout in it, play sports, even sleep with it i never take it off…Its a great watch i love the t-touch line. I cannot wait to get the new sea touch model, beautiful watches and great functions!
Hi Jeffrey,
Thanks for your comment. It is good to hear that you’ve had a good experience with the T-Touch line like me. Though I must admit that you get better service a lot of the time when you are in Europe, on a Swiss watch, than in America. I am currently having a frustrating time having a particular German watch repaired. Not going to go into the brand right now, but they make such a good watch, how odd that they can’t seem to get customer service right. Take care and thanks for reading.
[...] T-Touch Expert Watch Review: The King Of Quartz (1740)Tissot Sea-Touch Watch For 2009 (1205)Tissot Sea Touch Diving Watch: Officially Announced (1059)Timex Expedition WS4 Watch Review: A Bit Of Wrist Adventure [...]
There is a nice short video by Tissot on the Sea-Touch on You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eE-bLJAl4U
Yes, the compass is designed to work under water. Shows how some of the other diving functionality is supposed to work. Nicely done.
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the information. I just updated the article with the video you shared. I think Tissot did a good job with it! Take care.
I think this watch is really nice, but I doubt that divers will be using this watch at all. The price it much higher than a standard diving computer and this one is much useful, since it gives you much more data, which is also very helpful and necessary when diving, such as deco-times. Still, it looks really good.
Hi David,
You have a good point as to whether divers will use the watch. I heard somewhere that 0.2% of dive watch owners regularly dive with their watches. Not a lot of people, but the watches should be enough for those few people that make the most of it!
i find tissot very usefull .i think i take it .
I really like my Tissot Sea-Touch! I Just wanted to clarify about the bezel: The bezel is fix and cannot rotate. While in dive mode, the minute hand points to the current depth on the bezel, while the hour hand points to the current descending speed on the left side (not on the bezel but on the inner side). I hope you understand what I’m trying to explain…
Hi Gregor,
Thanks for the addition information. I was not able to test out the Sea Touch watches I saw underwater. Take care.
hi, i am from Turkey. i have a tissot t-touch expert, i bought it like one and a half year ago. all it has given me has been trouble since now. in one year, today it was the fourth time i sent it to the service. i found out that this digital watch is having some problems with its sensitive sensors. even while entering a mall, detectors affect its entire systems.
this time they said they will change it with another one this time but it has to be an another model. it does not sound fair. why would i have to pay for their watch’s faulty manufacture? for a real long time i had dreamed of a tissot and they let me down real bad. nevertheless, i admit that Turkish service is very good. they helped me a lot.
now they say i have to choose another model with a price close to mine. i do not know if they will let me take sea-touch and i do not know if i have similar problems with it as well. but if i do, i will do my best to let people know what i had experienced with tissot, i will comment on all forum sites. a tissot touch expert is $1,000 here. it is a lot of money, brothers:(
sir,
which one would you choose, t-touch expert or sea-touch?
Style-wise you have to choose. If you aren’t going to do any diving, then the T-Touch Expert will serve you better.
I’m wondering if the bezel of the orange sea-touch is glowing orange in the dark? Or is it also glowing whitish-green?
Hi Gregor,
I’ve handled the watch before, but not in the dark. There may be lume in the bezel, but I am not sure. Not something you find too often, especially at prices this range.
i just bought one of these. it is still in the mail. i sure hope it is a good watch. i am not a scuba diver…but i go snorkeling sometimes. i need the watch for everyday use and sport activities. i have two breitlins but only wear them on nice occassions. i haven’t heard anything bad about the sea touch but i have read lots of bad reports by pissed off people about the t touch serious. i would like to here more positive or negative reports on the sea touch but i cant find any on line. that might be a good thing though. i hope all is well with it. i will write a report here when i get it and if any problems arise. joe
Thanks Joe. I look forward to hearing about how it goes with the Tissot Sea-Touch.