Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Tissot Seastar, Tropical-Style Dial, Manual Wind, Date Function, circa 1970
- Maker / attribution
- Tissot (maker)
- Date
- c. 1970
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws4135
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws4135)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Tissot Seastar - Tropical-Style Dial - Manual Wind - Date Function - c.1970 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws4135), this is a wristwatch by Tissot, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A charismatic Tissot Sea Star with a rich tropical-style dial and bold 1970s cushion case, c.1970 The Tissot Sea Star was introduced in the 1950s as the brand’s answer to the growing demand for robust, water-resistant wristwatches. Designed for everyday wear with added durability, early Sea Star models combined elegant styling with practical case construction suited to active lifestyles. Over the decades, the collection evolved to include sportier dive-oriented designs, while retaining Tissot’s reputation for accessible Swiss reliability and clean, functional aesthetics. What's on Offer A wonderfully characterful Tissot Sea Star from the early 1970s, this piece is all about that rich, tropical-toned brown dial. The warm gradient effect gives the watch huge presence on the wrist, beautifully complemented by the crisp applied hour markers and date aperture at 3. The lume remains clean and well-balanced, adding just the right amount of vintage charm without distraction. The stainless steel cushion case wears superbly, offering that unmistakable 70s silhouette with strong lines and a confident stance. It shows only light, honest wear consistent with age, retaining sharp edges and plenty of character. The plexiglass crystal keeps the look period-correct while presenting nicely overall. Paired with a brown leather strap, this is a striking yet versatile vintage Sea Star — a superb everyday piece with just enough individuality to stand out from the crowd.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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