The Tissot Seastar Wilson WNBA Powermatic 80

With a more than consolidated reputation for producing well-built, fully equipped watches at competitive prices, Tissot is Swatch Group’s entry-level gateway to mechanical watches. The latest release, a customised 40mm Seastar model, marks a three-way collaboration between the Swiss brand, Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). With the WNBA draft taking place today, this timely alliance highlights Tissot’s role as the official timekeeper of the NBA and the WNBA shot clocks. The special edition Seaster Wilson WNBA is powered by the latest-generation Powermatic 80 calibre, delivering an unbeatable mix of resilience, power, and price.

The Seastar collection, trademarked since 1952, is the brand’s dive watch category. Its models range from the ISO 6425-compliant Seastar 2000 Professional, with its 600m/2,000ft water resistance, to the competent Seastar 1000, with its 300m/1,000ft depth rating.

The new Tissot Seastar Wilson WNBA belongs to the Seastar 1000 category and shares the same characteristics as the new 40mm Seastars equipped with the Powermatic 80. It has a 40mm diameter stainless steel case with a thickness of 12.5mm and is predominantly brushed for a sportier look, with a matte finished recess on the sides. As a diving instrument, the watch is equipped with a screw-down crown protected by crown guards and a notched unidirectional rotating bezel with the countdown area highlighted in a different colour. Inspired by the colours of Wilson’s Official Basketball of the WNBA, which is orange, white, and black, the mineral bezel is black with an orange countdown area for diving times. Underscoring the brand’s important role in American basketball, the countdown area is calibrated to 24 minutes, to mark the 24-second shot clock time.

The black dial, which has a circular-brushed finish, plays with the colours of Wilson’s official WNBA basketball. In keeping with its dive watch credentials, the applied indices and hour and minute hands are treated with Super-LumiNova. The central seconds hand is orange, with a luminous pip and a T-shaped counterweight. Completing the dial is a framed date window with a black background at 6 o’clock.

The two straps delivered with the watch are made of Evo-NXT Premium Composite, the material used to make Wilson’s official WNBA basketballs. They are embossed with a white “W” and have a steel pin buckle. Fitted with a quick-release system, they can be interchanged quickly without tools.

The steel area of the caseback is engraved with WNBA, Tissot and Wilson, while the see-through glass over the movement features the silhouette of a basketball. Equipped with the Powermatic 80 calibre and operating at a frequency of 21,600vph, the movement delivers a robust 80-hour power reserve. Additionally, it features a Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring for enhanced reliability.

The Tissot Seastar Wilson WNBA Powermatic 80 is a special, non-limited edition that retails for CHF 695, EUR 795 or USD 750. There’s also a quartz model available with a white dial. For more information, please consult tissotwatches.com.