Summer – time for diving. Whilst it may seem an obvious pairing, the warmer months call for a diving watch, and when they do, Tissot responds with the new Seastar 2000 Professional. This versatile professional diver’s watch is, in fact, the Le Locle-based brand’s offering to enthusiasts seeking to experience the sea, both in terms of performance and elegance.
Increasingly, in fact, divers are combining a technical core – which makes them reliable in harsh marine environments – with a more style-oriented aesthetic. Whilst the technical side is reflected in mechanical solutions and materials, the stylish aspect is defined by design, colours and an aesthetic that enhances the watch’s performance. It is this dual essence that the Seastar 2000 Professional fully embodies, as we shall explain in the following paragraphs.
TISSOT SEASTAR 2000 PROFESSIONAL: FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE
Firstly, it is worth noting that the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional is a relatively new model, having been launched in 2021. However, five years have been enough for it to become the brand’s flagship diver’s watch, largely due to a series of details and design choices that immediately made it appealing to collectors, as well as to amateur and professional divers alike. And, of course, to the casual enthusiast who simply wants to wear a well-made watch.
That it is well made is evident from the performance it is designed to deliver. Its robust stainless steel case, measuring 44 mm in diameter and 15.29 mm thick, is guaranteed water-resistant to 60 bar – which, in metres, is approximately 600. That equates to around 2,000 feet, hence the collection’s name. This water resistance is ensured by the case back and the screw-down crown (protected by sturdy crown guards) and, together with other features including legibility, resistance to magnetism and resistance to salt water, ensures that the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional complies with the ISO 6425:2018 standard, which certifies the reliability of divers’ watches.
The case is fitted with a helium escape valve, positioned at 9 o’clock; this allows helium accumulated inside the case to escape safely during saturation dives and protects the watch when the pressure drops. A design feature worth noting is the case sides: slightly recessed and with a grené-finished central section, they significantly reduce the perceived thickness, giving the watch a very sleek profile.
Furthermore, like any self-respecting diver’s watch, the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional features a unidirectional rotating bezel. It is made of steel, with a ceramic insert that adds a touch of sophistication. During the presentation of the collection to the Italian press, we had the opportunity to try turning it, and it felt particularly smooth. The domed sapphire crystal, with its anti-reflective coating, contributes to the watch’s durability underwater.
THE DIALS OF THE TISSOT SEASTAR 2000 PROFESSIONAL
It is worth taking a closer look at the dials. As mentioned when discussing the ISO standard, great importance is placed on the legibility of the information, thanks to the large applied hour markers generously coated with Super-LumiNova. There are the traditional rectangular hour markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, the triangle at 12 o’clock and bullet-shaped hour markers. The large hour and minute hands are also luminescent, and the central seconds hand – with its so-called ‘lollipop’ design – features a T-shaped counterweight.
The dial features a wave pattern, as one would expect from a diver’s watch. Tissot has produced it in three colourways: blue, dark grey and orange. The blue version is available with either a satin-finished steel case or a black PVD-coated case; the dark grey version is also available with either a satin-finished steel case or a black PVD-coated case; while the orange version is offered exclusively with a satin-finished steel case.
There are therefore five models, four of which feature a ‘Tropic’-style rubber strap, in black or blue depending on the dial. The model with a dark grey dial and a satin-finished steel case is fitted with a steel bracelet featuring polished centre links, equipped with the new diving clasp, a safety lock with push-buttons and an extension link. In any case, the quick-release system allows for interchangeability with the numerous straps available in the Tissot collection. During the presentation, we were also able to appreciate how the various colours looked on the wrist and, at first glance, the orange and blue PVD versions appeared to be the most striking.
MOVEMENT, PRICES AND CONCLUSIONS
For the movement fitted in the Seastar 2000 Professional, Tissot played it safe by choosing the Powermatic 80 automatic calibre, now the standard for its high-end mechanical watches. We won’t go over the movement’s specifications again; you can find them in this article. The calibre is clearly highlighted on the dial by the ‘Powermatic 80’ inscription beneath ‘Seastar Professional 600 M / 2000 FT’ at 6 o’clock, just above the small date window.
Alongside the Seastar 2000 Professional collection, Tissot also offers the Seastar 1000 with a quartz movement and cases measuring 36 or 40 mm. These two Seastar models, together with the PRX, the PRC 100 Solar and the PR516, are the stars of the summer campaign promoting the Swiss manufacturer’s watches designed for the warmer months.
In keeping with Tissot’s tradition, the Seastar 2000 Professional models also stand out for the brand’s commitment to striking a balance between price and quality. It should be clear from the above that the collection is perceived as being of rather high quality, thanks to the choice of materials and finishes, the precision of the design, and the emphasis on the reliability and performance of the calibre. For this reason, the prices of the five models are all the more impressive: they range from €. 975 for the models with a satin-finished steel case and rubber strap, to €. 995 for the model with a steel bracelet, and €. 1,025 for the two models with a black PVD-coated steel case.
By Davide Passoni