Tissot has built its 2021 Seastar 2000 Professional diver’s watch with the strength to withstand the pressures of 2000 feet (600m) below sea level, but the styling is sure to make it popular with today’s consumer who likes to show a bit of sporty intent via their wristwatch.
The steel watch is not small, at 46 mm in diameter by 16.25 mm thick, but this is part of its armoury in resisting extreme changes in pressure.
A helium release valve is also vital to regulating the insides of the timepiece, as is extra thick domed sapphire glass with a bevelled contour protecting the dial.
Tissot has chosen the Powermatic 80 calibre (ETA C07.111) for the watch, which has a hair-fine Nivachron balance spring that is impervious to magnetic fields.
Tissot describes it as one of the most robust, precise and high-performing movements in existence. It is also efficient, capable of running for 80 hours uninterrupted.
Unusually for a 600m dive watch, the Seastar 2000 Professional has a sapphire crystal case back giving a view of the movement. Most professional dive watches opt for a solid metal back, but if sapphire is good enough for the dial side, there is no reason it should weaken the back of a watch.
Tissot is certainly hoping the watch will appeal beyond the professional divers’ community, and has given its blue, black or teal dial an engraved wave pattern similar to its stablemate Omega Seamaster.
It goes on sale in July with a rubber strap or three-row steel bracelet with prices starting from £895.
