Spent Some Time - with the Tissot Sideral S

A Useless Complication Which Adds Fun To The Ultimate Summer Watch

Released at the beginning of the summer of 2023, the Tissot Sideral S takes a modern stab at re-introducing a classic line lost in the archives. Originally launched in 1969 then updated in 1971 with a fiberglass case and a funky strap reminiscent of one that would plague current dress attire, the Tissot Sideral was made with then cutting edge materials meant to be a summer adventure watch ready to hit the sand and surf. Now, the Sideral is back. This time making use of new modern materials with a funky design language setting it apart in a crowded market, all for under $1,000. Now that I have had the opportunity to spend some time with it on the wrist, let’s dive into it. 

The Facts

At first glance you might be taken aback by the colorful display set forth by the overall playful design. Starting with the case, Tissot has opted to swap the now outdated fiberglass for a modern forged marbled carbon cushion-shaped case with hooded 20mm lugs. Measuring in with a case diameter of 41mm paired with a thickness of 14.6mm and a lug-to-lug of 46.5mm, the watch wears smaller than you may expect thanks to its overall case shape. Side walls slanted towards the domed caseback changing angles slightly before doing so are interrupted at 3 by the 6.9mm polished steel screw down crown cut with deep ridged providing ample grip adorned with a polished domed top signed with a Tissot T. A see-through caseback provides a view of the movement while combining with the crown to achieve an impressive 300 meters of water resistance, a spec that most dive watches can not achieve especially so at this price point. Returning to the dial side of the watch, a domed case top showing subtle signs of the marbling surrounds a steel inner case shroud protecting the movement while laying under the PVD coated 120-click unidirectional bezel. Despite the shallow grooves around its perimeter and somewhat aluminum feel, the bezel turns with solid action and minimal back play lending to accurate setting of the unusual minute track. This is where a departure from a tradition dive watch format starts you will see Arabic numerals starting at 15 marking every 15 minutes thereafter with large bars marking every five minutes except for a triangle at 60 set apart by small minute ticks in between. Starting after the 50 minute mark, two 5 minute countdown timers are marked off on the bezel meant to be used in conjunction with a unique dial addition. All of the bezel markings are painted with Super LumiNova lending to the stunning overall night time display, which we will get to later. Stepped up slightly by way of a cut chamfer, the domed sapphire crystal sports several layers of anti-reflective coating that does a decent enough job in most situations of keeping light from gather on its surface does fall flat slightly in very bright direct sunlight which happens when on a sailboat, the use this design was intended for. Peering through the crystal you follow the brushed steel case interior down to a matte black dial setting the backdrop for a complicated dial design. A painted block minute track runs inside of Arabic numerals marking every 10 minutes while a white frame divides the block into individual minutes and framing the 3 o'clock faceted window giving way to a white date wheel. Going one step further in, two minute blocks sit from 60 to 5 and 5 to 10 colored green and red pair with the countdown bezel to aid in creating a regatta countdown timer used to time both the starting line of a sailboat race and individual legs going forward. Minimal dial text of the Tissot T and name rests at 9 while the Powermatic 80 sits at 6. At its center, white baton hands hold a strip of lume while a thin red second hand counterbalanced by a large T all stand out well against the slightly busy backdrop allowing for excellent legibility. As for the big party trick, the entire display of the dial and bezel use different colors of Super LumiNova creating, as Tissot describes it, an illuminated animation. The other standout visual comes from the familiar yet original strap design. A vibrantly colored rubber strap sits under the hooded lugs using quick change spring bars to swap to a more subtle color if desired while sporting circle perforations aiding in breathability and pulling double duty as fastening points. While it may be clunky at first, the tail passes through a rectangular pass through before pressing in a tab on both the male and female ends into the strap. On its underside, a wavelike pattern helps shed water while calling back to the original pattern on the 1971 Sideral case underside. Looking through the see-through case back we take up a view of the housed Powermatic 80 movement, an ETA C07.111 base used in many other Swatch Group family watches like the Tissot PRX and Certina DS Powermatic 80. The movement lacks decoration though given the utilitarian nature of the watch that shouldn’t be a sticking point for many. Being a Powermatic movement, the Sideral takes advantage of the slowed down beat rate helping to achieve the 80 hour power reserve while also including the Nivachron balance spring helping to improve the watches antimagnetic properties. The movement features hacking and handwinding and while it may not be a top of the line movement for the price category, it is a solid workhorse being heavily used in the industry with great feedback across the board. Regulation on these movements tend to be better than expected as well with this example running at +1 to +9 seconds per day. 

My Time

After spending some time with it, I can confidently say that this is my release of the summer. As a hobby sailor, the fact that a large swiss brand like Tissot released a regatta timer puts an immediate smile on my face. Flashy coloring feels right at home when on the boat or at the yacht club and although a regatta timer may be a fairly useless complication for modern sailboat races, it makes for a fun addition to immersing yourself in the race as well as keeping your own personal log. On top of that, 300 meters is quite the heft water resistance rating and when paired with the Powermatic 80 movement specs, lends to a lot of peace of mind when it comes to a full fledged sports watch. Lightweight materials and a secure strap make this watch virtually disappear when faced with the day-to-day while bringing color and fun to a typically drab colored watch category. Though the movement may not be a top of the line movement for the price category and being one that is surrounded by negativity from the community for including plastic components, it is important to remember that this is one of the most used movements in the Swatch Group with a great track record of reliability and a very reasonable service cost from Tissot should an issue arise. Furthermore, the model that I have been wearing has kept excellent time with no noticeable downside while testing with excellent regulation both out of the box and after a break in period. I can not fully explain why I connect with the Tissot Sideral so passionately, but it has firmly planted its place in my collection while making for a compelling companion on every wednesday night race and the days inbetween. 

The Basic Specs

Case Diameter: 41mm

Thickness: 14.6mm

Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm

Lug Width: 20mm

Crystal: Sapphire

Water Resistance: 300 Meters

The Movement 

Powermatic 80 (ETA C07.111)

Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 VPH

Features: Hacking & Handwinding 

Power Reserve: 80 Hours

Pricing & Availability

Price: $995

Buy It Here: https://teddybaldassarre.com/products/sideral-s-red?variant=41045652308061