We are also known as the Tissot Atlan-T. No matter the name, it will be the next version of the very popular T-Touch line of tactile operation watches from Swatch Group's own Tissot brand. In 2000 when the T-Touch line up came out I was instantly in love with the line. The techie good looks reminded me of a Swiss G-Shock style timepiece. What is so cool about the watch is the touch screen interface. You activate the touch receptive sapphire crystal and then tap the area's function you wish. The readout is a combination of analog hands and a small LCD screen. I never got one of the original Tissot T-Touch watches, or the Navigator, or the Trekking, but I did eventually get a Tissot T-Touch Expert, which is their latest and greatest model with an updated movement that has more functionality and a slightly larger screen.
Tissot recently announced the Sea-Touch line, which will be a more diver friendly line of T-Touch watches. Early concepts of this watch also bore the name Atlan-T, so we will have to see what name Tissot ends up going with (probably Sea-Touch). The styling of the Sea-Touch is wildly different than the futuristic compass like looks of the standard T-Touch line, there is also some different functionality. Swatch took the ETA E48.351 movement of the Tissot T-Touch Expert and modified it to make the ETA E48.301 for the Sea-Touch. The main difference being the removal of the barometer and altimeter, and replacing it with a underwater depth gauge and diving log meter. The new features will indicate three pieces of information useful to a diver including, instant depth, dive duration and a variometer indicating the speed of descent and resurfacing. Good stuff to have, but perhaps not as useful if you don't plan on diving too often.
The Sea-Touch looks really sharp, with standout arrow hands, and a strongly angular case. It looks like Tissot opted for a steel body construction as opposed to Titanium which has been a favorite on recent T-Touch watches (actually the watch will likely be available in both steel and titanium). The bracelet now looks like a hybrid between that of the T-Touch and a Rolex Submariner, with a slightly less angular look. It also has a lot of styling from the Tissot Sea Star diving watch. The Watch itself is very "tall," but that makes sense given all that goes into it. Notice the open area near the back of the case. This is where the internal sensors have access to the elements. Despite this opening, the Sea-Touch is a true diver with 100 meters of watch resistance. The dial and bezel look very "instrumental." I can tell they are made for function, though I haven't studied the manual, so i can't comment on that too much more. This is an interesting step for Tissot that has made wonderful gadget watches, which the Sea-Touch falls in line with. I've always felt that the T-Touch line had a limited but strong appeal. Meaning that you either love them a lot, or think they are childish looking. I happen to realize they are sometimes a bit much, but I still love them.
While I knew it was coming, the official announcement for the Tissot Sea Touch watch is here. In early January I picked up rumblings on the Internet of a new Tissot T-Touch watch called the Sea Touch . Some prototype images and speculation aside, it was pretty obvious what the new diving-centric T-Touch line watch was all about. It is now clear that there will be rubber and steel bracelet versions. The case of the watch will be steel as well (not titanium as I previous speculated, as at the T-Touch Expert is made). That is OK, as steel has proved to be an excellent material for diving watches. As for the sapphire touch screen crystal, I am so happy that it seems to work underwater and with gloves.
The Sea Touch is all about diving looks and diving features. While the T-Touch is a capable diving watch, it's functions are designed for land use. The Sea Touch adds a depth gauge, dive log book, and various important information like rates of ascent and descent. None of these features will be useful on land, but are invaluable to the diving enthusiast. The pushers on the case have a new patented double seal system unique to Tissot. It makes them easy to operate yet water resistant. The watch is resistant to 200 meters, making it worthy for anything you'd need to subject it to. Remember that the case still needs to have sensory openings (through the back of the case) to collect data. I wonder if the compass would work under water. I have no idea if that effects it all, I'll have to consider that...but Compass does not work under water.
The movement is similar to that of the Tissot T-Touch Expert save for the different functions. A feature is an End-of-Life indicator. I am not sure what this means exactly. It is either an odd name for a battery life indicator, or it tells you if the movement is about to die and you should not rely on measurements of data anymore when diving. Either is a good feature to have.
In addition to the bold orange colored case, the Tissot Sea Touch will be available in white and black. No blue version? Overall I think the techie diving looks works well on the series, and really evolves the Tissot T-Touch line. What is sort of unfortunate - and this is not really a criticism - is that the watch IS so diving focused. I can see myself wanting to get this watch, but feeling that the dedicated diving features aren't ones that I would used too often, or ever.
That might preclude me from buying the watch in favor of another Tissot T-Touch model. I have no idea how large the market is for diving watches used only for diving, but I would image it is not as large as the mainstream market for watches. Even though complex features on my Tissot T-Touch Expert are functional on land even if I don't really need them. So I worry a bit about Tissot having backed the Sea Touch into too much of a niche market. Just a thought.
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