Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional Limited Edition: Automatic Chronograph

Saying that dive watches are a dime a dozen is a gross understatement. Sometimes it feels like we get over inundated with dive watch models and new releases to the point where we start to become horologically numb to it all (#HorologicalEnnui).

But even though dive watches are always coming at us from every angle like a plague of mosquitoes, there are inevitably a handful of traditional and microbrand offerings that always capture the watchfam’s attention. For some reason though the Tissot Seastar is never one of those divers.

It’s something that’s baffled me for a while now. The Seastar collection is diverse*, functional, aesthetically pleasing (for many tastes), empowered by history, and usually featuring top of the line ETA movements; and yet folks don’t seem to focus the Tissor Seastar. Regardless of this seeming watchfam apathy, the brand continues to release Seastar, and this new model has some incredibly noteworthy features.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional Limited Edition is an ISO 6425 style dive watch that seems to have hit on an interesting balance between “dress dive watch” and “functional dive watch.” An ocean-themed dark blue ombré dial, polished center links, and ceramic bezel offer visually appealing and striking features that most folks would love to see in a dress diver.

However a locking bezel, screw down crown/chronograph pushers, and 300 meters of water resistance obviously aren’t traditional dress diver offerings. What intrigued me most here was the bezel lock. You see the crown at 10 o’clock? That’s part of a patented Tissot design that’s performs double duty: (1) locking your bezel in place and (2) providing a helium escape valve.

Of additional and particular note here is the movement. The Valjoux A05.H21 is an automatic chronograph movement that’s based on the well-known 7750. Valjoux A05.H21 features a 60 hour power research and a 12, 6, and 9 o’clock sub-register format in the following configuration:

• 9 o’clock: Running seconds
• 12 0’Clock: 3 minute chronograph register
• 6 o’Clock: 12 hour chronograph register

I will say however that the one aspect of this watch that’s losing me is the size. It’s listed at 49mm in diameter, which is quite large. I’m assuming that’s 49mm with the crown, however it’s a bit unclear from the info provided by Tissot. I also haven’t been able to find any notes on the MSRP of this new Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional.

But the fact that it’s limited edition probably means that it’s going to be a bit more than the average Seastar price (which can range anywhere from 400 to 1500 USD)*. For me though, this piece is just another reminder that Tissot is still trying to do great things with the Seastar. Whether it’s a result of poor marketing on their part or possibly just a general dislike by the greater watch community (excluding myself from that), people still haven’t taken notice.

Anyone else like the Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional as much as me? I mean, if we’re going on looks alone, it’s a winner. The deep ocean themed dial with the overall robustness of the watch should put it on most people’s radar (that size though…).

Kaz Mirza

Co-Founder and Senior Editor

Kaz has been collecting watches since 2015, but he’s been fascinated by product design, the Collector’s psychology, and brand marketing his whole life. While sharing the same strong fondness for all things horologically-affordable as Mike (his TBWS partner in crime), Kaz’s collection niche is also focused on vintage Soviet watches as well as watches that feature a unique, but well-designed quirk or visual hook.