Introducing: The Tissot Sideral Regatta Timer Returns With Fun Summer Colors
What We Know
For all the use of unique materials in watchmaking nowadays, how many of you know what the first fiberglass timepiece was? Well you’re looking at that watch’s modern successor, the new Tissot Sideral, now with a forged carbon and stainless steel case and some strong vintage vibes.
Back in 1971, the original Sideral S launched featuring the brand’s lightweight fiberglass case from 1969 but made in a bright new yellow color which (apparently) became an iconic design that I somehow missed in my years of reading about watches. I can’t believe it took me this long to see the incredible punchy color of the original Sideral S but Tissot is giving everyone a new shot at the model range with many of the same things that made the original great.
Like the original, the new Sideral is a regatta timer, with red and green indicators on the dial (and five-minute countdown indicators on the bezel) letting you track the start of a sailing race. The watch also comes with a date, eye-catching red seconds hand, and the straight stick hands as the vintage inspiration. But now, in addition to the carbon and stainless steel case, the watch comes with even more color on the dial, with a black main section and yellow, grey, or blue rings. Those dial accents bring back a bit of color that was lost from the iconic yellow fiberglass case of the vintage model, but blue dial comes with a carbon case that has blue carbon inside as well.
The vintage Tissot Sideral S, left, that inspired the new Sideral.
If that’s not enough color, Tissot has paired each watch with a yellow, blue, or red strap with a unique fastening system. Instead of a true tang buckle clasp, one strap has a pin that fits into the perforations on the other strap, keeping everything in one integrated design with less moving parts. The watches are out now and retail for $995
What We Think
It seems like 70s-inspired watches are having a moment right now, maybe they have been for a while. Tissot’s new Sideral definitely plays into the ‘70s vibes and more than digging into its archives, it seems like a fun summer watch for a great price.
Regatta timers are odd ducks. They’re often super colorful and have interesting designs (some of my favorite vintage chronographs were regatta timers) made for counting down to the start of a sailing race so you don’t cross the start early. But there are far more vintage regatta timers than there are new models on the market right now and if you value your vintage watch, it’s probably not best to take it near water. So while the new Sideral has a niche use case, if you like racing your Flying Scot or Laser, this watch is a great choice.
Sneak preview of how I plan to use a regatta timer this summer.
Who knew you could look so chic in a regatta timer?
Suppose you’re better on dry land (or underwater) than in a sailboat. In that case, the carbon fiber and stainless case with 300m water resistance and colorful accents still make a great argument that a regatta timer, just like a dive watch, doesn’t need to be used for its “intended purpose.” The mix-and-match option of colored bands with their perforated strap and pin in the integrated buckle means there’s plenty of combos for how you can get some summer color.
Then there’s the lume on the dial. Who doesn’t love some cool lume? The treatment here gives the Sideral that extra retro look in the dark.
While the blue accents in the carbon fiber case of the blue-dialed watch are really interesting, my gut leans toward the bright colors of the yellow Sideral – harkening back to the original 1971 Sideral S – and I’m really hoping I can get my hands on one soon to check it out.
The Basics
Brand: Tissot
Model: Sideral
Reference Number: T145.407.97.057.00, T145.407.97.057.01, T145.407.97.057.02
Diameter: 41 mm, 46.5mm lug-to-lug
Thickness: 14.5mm
Case Material: Forged carbon and stainless steel case; Black PVD unidirectional, watersports look bezel
Dial Color: Black with yellow, blue, or grey main center ring with green and red indices
Indexes: Dial with multi-coloured luminescent hour and minute markers with regatta countdown using Super-LumiNova®
Lume: Hour and minute baton hands coated with Super-LumiNova®
Water Resistance: 300 m
Strap/Bracelet: Perforated rubber strap with unique bracelet fastening system
The Movement
Caliber: Powermatic 80 Nivachron
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 4.6mm
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 bph
Pricing & Availability
Price: $995
Availability: Immediately
Limited Edition: No
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For more information on the Tissot Sideral, visit the Tissot website. Hodinkee is an authorized retailer of Tissot watches. Explore the collection here.
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