The “Star” Of Your Collection, 1000 ft Under The Sea Or At Your Desk.

When searching for my daily wearer, I had several criteria in mind. Firstly, it had to be a watch capable of taking a beating. Whether it be throwing the ball around with my pup in the park, hauling groceries across the bustling streets of Montreal, or heading out on a hike at one of the various mountain trails encircling the city, the watch had to keep up. Secondly, it had to be a dive watch, as my fascination with space is equalled only with the vast ocean depths here on the surface. There is just something about knowing that the companion on your wrist could follow you 1000 ft down, (if the situation were ever to arise!). My initial instinct lay with some form of Seiko diver, however as luck would have it, my choice made landfall far from the shores of Japan, in Switzerland.

I happened to fall upon the Tissot Seastar 1000 Chronograph as I was walking past a jeweller’s window downtown. The murky gradient blue dial immediately caught my eye, as if inviting me in for a swim to explore what else lay beneath. The bulky 45mm case with scratch-resistant sapphire dial, aluminum bezel ring, and screw-down crown and pushers rang all of the right bells when thinking of a tough daily watch. The sturdy rubber strap with indented Tissot “T” would also mean that I would not have to worry about scratching a steel bracelet, or wearing through an animal leather strap. With 300 m / 1000 ft of water resistance, the Seastar would also be able to go toe to toe with the very best divers on the market.

With that being said, a sudden pang of hesitation ran through my body as the word “Quartz” was uttered by the jeweller. It should have been obvious! A sub-$1000 chronograph with all of the above stats, AND with an automatic movement was almost too good to be true. However, a true automatic version of the model was just lurking offshore in the display cabinet over. This extension of the Seastar family had a time and date only dial, but lacked the rugged charm of a chronograph. Ultimately I shrugged off my hesitation and threw caution to the wind, I would set sail with the Quartz version, which, powered by a ETA G10 13 1/4″ caliber was no slouch. In hindsight, having my daily wearer sporting a Quartz movement has proven to be a great decision, with the “set it and forget it” mentality aiding in getting my day started efficiently.

After owning this deep blue beauty for nine months, I have to say it is an exceptional piece. Tough as nails high quality construction, Swiss movement, and a depth rating rivaling my Submariner, it has proven to be an excellent addition to my collection. It is absolutely a watch that I would feel comfortable taking with me on a deep-sea dive one day, all I have to do now is pray that the opportunity will present itself.

-Mister Wrist(er)