This is one nice piece! Hence, a sort of review is due...
Overview: The watch is available in a variety of bezel/dial styles: silver dial/bezel, blue, or black. Like the black dial of the Zeno Explorer, the black dial Tissot Seastar 1000 looks dark grey rather than black in direct light. It is available either on a metal bracelet [solid link] or a rubber strap with a deployment clasp. I opted for the strap and am not disappointed, although the bracelet was impressive the blackface automatic wasn't available on it at the time. Unlike the blue dial, which has white lettering, the "Seastar 1000" and minute track of the black dial version is red, as is the second-hand tip. The "Tissot 1853" and "Automatic 300m/1000ft" are in white, as is the "swiss made" in tiny letters at the bottom of the dial. Stainless steel case with sapphire crystals front and back and eta 2824 movement. Date at "3" position. Screw down crown and screwed in back.
SIZE: The stated size of the Seastar 1000 uto is Diameter: 9h-3h: 43.9mm. But this doesn't begin to describe the watch.
The first thing you notice about this watch is its wrist presence. The wide bezel is made even wider by sloping ribbed edges, and big shiny numbers every ten minutes. Intermediaties are marked with lines. The watch seems to spread out on your wrist. Size wise, it is bigger than the Seiko skx173, which I regard as the basic "tool" watch -- and, which itself is bigger than that classic of dive watches, the Rolex Submariner. The face of the Seastar 1000 isn't actually that big, but the case and bezel give it an impressive visual impact, and make it comfortable as well; it sits fine on my wrist and I am no giant. 
MOVEMENT: The eta 2824 needs no introduction. Tissot has done this one up with spot polishing and their name line, which is a nice touch considering the display back. The watch hacks and has a smooth second hand as one would expect from a 25 jewel Swiss motor. On my example the date window turned over a minute before the hands hit midnight, but this is a relatively small thing. in day-long function, the timetelling feature of the watch is flawless.
CRYSTAL: Sapphire crystal front and back, with the front domed slightly. This makes the watch! I love the domed look of older watches, and it certainly makes this one a modern classic.
FACE: The face of a watch is often where you observe the most quality (or lack, if applicable). In many cases, it is a source of pleasant surprise. The Zeno explorer dial, the dials of the Seiko skx--- diver's series, and many other reasonably priced watches, both Swiss and Japanese, often reflect unexpected quality touches beyond what is normally found at that price point. In this the Tissot Seastar 1000 is at the head of the class. In addition to the style of the dial, the quality is there; clean, crisp lines, even coloration, proper spacing. The quality of this piece is easily on par with more expensive watches costing twice as much or so, such as the Omega Seamaster. This particular comparison is interesting because Omega and Tissot share a company history. So it is not surpising to see quality in the watch. What is surprising is how it pervades the watch in its entirety. Admittedly, the dial is simple; no radiatin pattern or waves, no texture. But then, a diver's watch of this style should have a flat, one-color dial. And Tissot has executed that requirement so well.
As said in the overview, this piece has a black/dark grey dial and bezel. Minute track is in red but the first fifteen minutes have more indices than the rest of the track. The long, thin minute hand has full lume; the arrow-shaped hour hand has a skeletonized arm but lume on the arrow, which is outlined in red. All metal surfaces on the hands are polished. The second hand ends in a red arrow with a long tip; it has a T-shaped counterbalance on the far end. The Dial markers are shiny and present as tapered rectangles, except for the "12" position which is shield-shaped. Dial lume is sparse but glows; luminous material is present at the end of each silvery indice, save for the "12". The lume at the twelve spot is shaped like a "T". One observation on the face -- Tissot could have bevelle dthe edges of the date window. But this is a minor thing.
CASE: Reversing the usual order, Tissot presents a polished top and brushed sides. Oddly, the brushing on the sides of the case is up and down, not along the edge. It gives the watch a distinctive look which is added to by its size and the sloping sides of the bezel. Two massive squared shoulders guard the crown, which screws in smoothly. The edge of the bezel comes out almost to the edge of the case, which curves along with it. The bezel doesn't have as many "clicks" as the Seiko skx173, oddly, which means it doesn't always line up perfect to the minute. But it doesn't feel cheap either. 1-15 minute positions on the bezel are marked in red line indices. The lugs and crown guards are square, but sloping, and the crown itself has large dep ridges and is signed with a large "T". The caseback glass aperture is asymetrical,offset to one side; the caseback is secured by a series of screws around the edge.
BAND: I like the band, and the clasp, but the hinge underneath the clasp looks rather flimsy. Certainly they could do better for this price point. Also, I am not fond of the fact that one must cut the extra size off the rubber strap, which means it cannot ever be resized to fit a bigger wrist. While this isn't a problem for me [i stopped growing a while ago except in the gut] it seems like something they should have thought of a way around. However, this is my only real criticism of the entire watch. In a nice touch, the clasp is marked "Seastar" and "T" and the folding lock between these lines is marked "1000". The clasp has an entirely brushed finish but the hinge underneath is polished.
Band options: 
While the polished top of the case makes finding a metal band to match difficult, it isn't impossible. I originally got this band for another watch, but it didn't work well with it. However, it goes great on the Seastar.
Overall, this is one great watch. The Seiko has brighter lume, and the Omega with the 300-style dial probably has a more practical layout. But this is one heck of a watch, and for way less than half the list price of an Omega. If you're thinking about pulling the trigger, take my word: You can't go wrong!
-- Elvis, the LoneRider
specs:
Back...
..back to Lonerider's main page!