Review: Tissot’s Seastar 1000 40mm Powermatic 80 Might Be The Best Entry-Level Swiss Diver

Founded in 1853 in Le Locle, Switzerland, Tissot has spent over 170 years mastering the art of accessible Swiss watchmaking. Unlike some of the higher-end brands that focus solely on luxury, Tissot sits in this beautiful intersection of history, affordability, and modern innovation. And, being a member of the Swatch Group, Tissot benefits from access to ETA-based movements (like the Powermatic 80 seen here), anti-magnetic technology, and cutting-edge materials—all at much more accessible price points.

Speaking of innovation and anti-magnetism, Tissot is actually credited with producing the first ever non-magnetic wrist watch with the commercial release of the Antimagnetique in 1930.

In the early 1950s, Tissot collaborated with the Swiss Laboratory for Watchmaking Research of Neuchâtel to develop water-resistant timepieces. This partnership led to the creation of models like the “Camping” (1938) and “Aquasport” (1939), which were anti-magnetic, shockproof, and dust-tight, featuring stainless steel cases with unbreakable glass. Building upon these innovations, Tissot introduced the “Seaster” in 1952, a name that would become synonymous with the brand’s commitment to producing reliable water-resistant dive watches.

The Seastar moniker has since gone on to see several iterations over the ensuing decades including a completely revamped design of the Seastar in 2003 (the Seastar 660), followed up in 2004 with the revered Seastar 1000 –– a name that directly references the timepiece’s 300m water resistance.

Fast forward all the way up to 2018, where Tissot made a splash with the modernized 43mm version. And, while the 43mm Seastar Powermatic 80 has been a solid option for larger-wristed collectors, Tissot recognized that not everyone wants a full-sized dive watch.

Enter the Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm Powermatic 80, a more compact, versatile version of the Seastar that keeps the same hard-wearing specifications, but in a more wearable, everyday-friendly 40mm case size. It’s still got 300 meters of water resistance, an 80-hour power reserve, and an upgraded fumé dial housed beneath a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal – all for well under $1,000.

Sounds promising, right? But how does it stack up in real-world use? Let’s break it down.

At a Glance

Unboxing the Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm Powermatic 80, the first thing that stands out is its understated but refined presence. We’re huge fans of dive watches (even if they end up merely being desk divers), typically overly aggressive with bold colorways or oversized markers –– but the black dial Seastar 1000 eschews these design aesthetics. It feels measured, sleek, and deliberately designed. 

And unlike the larger 43mm Seastar, which felt just a bit too large and chunky for many enthusiasts, this new 40mm version immediately feels more wearable, more versatile, and just a bit more thought-out in its execution.

Right away, the fumé dial draws attention; it’s definitely the star of the show, visually speaking, at least. Tissot could have easily played it safe with a flat black dial, but instead, they opted for a vertically brushed texture that subtly fades from deep black at the edges to a smoky charcoal tone at the center. 

This finishing choice isn’t something you see on many divers at this price point. It elevates the watch beyond the typical entry-level Swiss diver and into a realm of refinement that’s more akin to pieces from brands like Oris or Longines.

Then, there’s the bracelet and case finishing, which feel immediately more premium than expected. Having handled plenty of watches in the sub-$1,000 category, there’s often a tendency for brands to cut corners on finishing, opting for overly polished surfaces that attract scratches or an uninspired brushed finish that lacks depth. But here, Tissot has executed a thoughtful mix of satin brushing and high-polish bevels that feel like they could easily belong on a watch at double the price.

In terms of weight, the Seastar 1000 has just enough heft to feel substantial but remains comfortable and balanced (it weighs roughly 148 grams for reference). It doesn’t have the weightiness of something like a Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight, but it does give a satisfying feel on the wrist.

With dive watches, case proportions make or break wearability, and Tissot absolutely nailed it here.

At 40mm in diameter, 12.6mm thick, and with a 46mm lug-to-lug, the Seastar 1000 hits the sweet spot, and felt great as a daily-driver dive watch on our wearer’s 6.75” wrists here. Unlike its larger 43mm sibling, which felt bulky and overpowering on smaller wrists, this version wears compact and balanced. It has just enough wrist presence to feel substantial without being overbearing.

The 316L stainless steel case is mostly brushed, giving it that tool-watch ruggedness, but Tissot added just enough polished accents along the case edges and bracelet center links to keep things refined. The slightly curved lugs ensure it hugs the wrist properly, meaning no awkward overhang even on smaller wrists. And, of course you have 300m of water resistance and a screw-down crown at the 3 o’clock position.

Now, let’s talk about the bezel, since this is where opinions get divided. The 120-click, unidirectional bezel has an excellent, crisp action without any noticeable play. Although, it is worth noting that the bezel didn’t align perfectly with the numerals. It’s also devoid of any lume, save for the lume pip found at the 12 o’clock marker.

The bezel insert itself is mineral crystal, rather than ceramic or sapphire. We do understand how this could be a dealbreaker for some —especially when considering many other divers offer ceramic at this price point. But, mineral crystal does have its advantages; it has a vintage-inspired glossiness similar to Bakelite, which gives the watch a classic aesthetic that we think pairs well with the fumé dial.

Flipping the watch over, the exhibition screw-down caseback showcases the Powermatic 80 movement. It’s not heavily decorated, but you do get a Tissot-branded rotor and a peek at the Swiss engineering inside. 

As previously mentioned, the fumé dial is what separates this watch from the sea of entry-level dive watches. Unlike flat, standard black dials, Tissot’s brushed gradient effect catches light beautifully, shifting between deep black and smokey charcoal depending on the angle.

The sapphire crystal features anti-reflective coating on both sides, which translated to fantastic legibility here in bright Los Angeles sunlight. 

The applied indices are bold, polished, and generously filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova, which we found provided excellent nighttime readability. The sword-style hands are proportionate and well-finished. And the 60-second track on the surrounding concave rehaut is a nice touch.

The 6 o’clock date window is another big win. Instead of throwing in a mismatched white date wheel, Tissot color-matched it to the dial, keeping the design cohesive and symmetrical. Like many others before us, we aren’t huge fans of the 3 lines of texts located just above the date window as it can start to feel a bit cluttered.

As the name of the watch suggests, this particular Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm is powered by the Powermatic 80 automatic movement, a heavily modified version of the ETA 2824-2 that’s best known for its 80-hour power reserve –– nearly double what you’d get from a standard ETA 2824 (which offers around 38 to 42 hours).

Unfortunately, that extended power reserve means some sacrifices have to be made elsewhere. With a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour, the sweep of the seconds hand isn’t as fluid as a traditional 28,800 VPH movement, but the tradeoff is far less winding and better longevity. While that tradeoff isn’t a big deal for us, your mileage may vary.

Accuracy-wise, you’re looking at about -1 to +5 seconds per day, which is respectable for an entry-level Swiss automatic. It also features a Nivachron balance spring making it highly resistant to magnetic fields.

The bracelet is a three-link, Oyster-style stainless steel design, featuring polished center links and brushed outer links for some nice contrast.

While we are fans of the stainless steel bracelet, the quick-release spring bars make swapping the strap for a rubber, NATO, or leather version a breeze.

The clasp, however, is functional but somewhat outdated. It features three micro-adjustments, but lacks on-the-fly adjustments or a dive extension. And, while dive extensions might not be as practical for desk divers, on-the-fly micro adjustments are something we’ve become quite fond of, and something that would have been a welcomed improvement.

So as we wrap up our review, we once again ask ourselves, is the Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm Powermatic 80 worth it? 

For well under $1,000 (retailing at $750), you get a stunning fumé dial, balanced proportions, 300m of water resistance, and an 80-hour power reserve — specs that are almost unheard of at this price point. 

There are a few areas for improvement, like upgrading the bezel insert to sapphire or ceramic and refining the clasp for better adjustability, but these are small nitpicks in an otherwise fantastic package; the Tissot Seastar is an excellent entry-level Swiss diver that’s well worth the price tag.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the Certina DS Action Diver, which is powered by the same Powermatic 80 movement. And while we’re huge fans of Certina, and the ISO 6425 certification gives it a slight edge when it comes to dive pedigree, the 38mm version will set you back just north of $800, and we do think it ultimately comes down to personal preference as both watches pack a ton of value for the price.

If you dig the value proposition offered by Tissot but micro brands are more your thing, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300, which starts closer to $900 for a non-metal bracelet.

Recap

Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm Powermatic 80

With a beautiful fumé dial, balanced proportions, 300m of water resistance, and an 80-hour power reserve, the Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm offers immense value for just $750.

Pros

• Striking fumé dial
• Satisfying weight and wrist feel
• Mix of satin brushing and high-polish bevels give it a more premium feel
• Superb legibility
• Movement gives you 80 hours of power reserve
• Bracelet can be swapped easily with quick-release spring bars

Cons

• Bezel has alignment issues
• Bezel could use more lume
• Mineral crystal bezel has vintage charm but might not be preferred over ceramic
• Bracelet design is a bit outdated, lacking on-the-fly adjustments or a dive extension

Learn More: Tissot