Thoughts on Tissot/Aqua Terra Alternative

bondfan10bondfan10 Posts: 79MI6 Agent
To watch owners and enthusiasts.

I'm considering purchasing this Tissot model as an Aqua Terra alternative as it is my first/entry-level watch. Would you all recommend Tissot and/or have experience with this company?

Cheers

tissot.jpg

Comments

  • Alex1995Alex1995 France/GermanyPosts: 339MI6 Agent
    edited May 2020
    I am not a watch expert but I'm wearing one for the last ten years. Not perfect watches but really decent.

    Overall really happy with it

    DSC-1358.jpg

    20200521-193018.jpg

    Cheers
    - François
    1.GE 2.FRWL 3.CR 4.FYEO 5.LALD 6.TSWLM
    7.GF 8.TLD 9.TND 10.SF

    "Where’s Fekkesh?” “Pyramids.” *thwap* “AHHHHHHH!”
  • bondfan10bondfan10 Posts: 79MI6 Agent
    Ahh. I should've worded that differently. I appreciate the response!

    Alex1995 wrote:
    I am not a watch expert but I'm wearing one for the last ten years. Not perfect watches but really decent.

    Overall really happy with it

    DSC-1358.jpg

    20200521-193018.jpg

    Cheers
    - François
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    edited May 2020
    Tissot have a very good price/quality ratio.

    Generally speaking, you are getting 65% of an Omega for 25% or less of the Omega price.

    If you don‘t want to spend Omega money, Tissot would be my #1 choice.

    As a general advise:
    When I wanted a certain watch, I never was totally happy with a cheaper substitute and in the end, I‘ve forked the cash and bought the real deal later.

    Lost a lot of money for „alternatives“ or substitutes.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • CommandantCommandant Posts: 1,367MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    Tissot have a very good price/quality ratio.

    Generally speaking, you are getting 65% of an Omega for 25% or less of the Omega price.

    If you don‘t want to spend Omega money, Tissot would be my #1 choice.

    As a general advise:
    When I wanted a certain watch, I never was totally happy with a cheaper substitute and in the end, I‘ve forked the cash and bought the real deal later.

    Lost a lot of money for „alternatives“ or substitutes.

    So true!
  • JellyfishJellyfish EnglandPosts: 462MI6 Agent
    Bondfan10, I was looking for a watch four or five years ago, with similar features to the Aqua Terra: steel case and bracelet, plain bezel, black dial and small size (I have very thin wrists). The sort of thing that wouldn't look out of place in most situations. I came up with a list of possible watches, at all different prices, including these two out-of-production Omegas - essentially the same model but with different movements:

    Quartz: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/watch-omega-seamaster-aqua-terra-quartz-25185000
    Automatic: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/watch-omega-seamaster-aqua-terra-mid-size-chronometer-25045000

    They were both available online, but as it was my first (and so far only) £1000+ watch purchase, I wanted to be able to actually see it and handle it first, so kept an eye on local jewellers. The quartz one appeared in a jewellers near me, with a price of £1495. I went to have a look and asked about a lower price, and they offered it to me for £1400, so I bought it and have worn it nearly every day since, other than when I had it serviced by Omega.

    I am completely happy with it, and sometimes I look at it to check the time, and then when I put my arm back down I realise I still don't know what time it is, because I had only paid attention to how nice it is - and this for a watch I have worn daily for years!

    I would repeat what Higgins said above and give you the same advice: if you have your heart set on an Aqua Terra, then don't bother with alternatives that will not satisfy you and still leave you wanting; you may end up spending more in the long run.

    WOO! This is my 300th post!
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Jellyfish wrote:
    Bondfan10, I was looking for a watch four or five years ago, with similar features to the Aqua Terra: steel case and bracelet, plain bezel, black dial and small size (I have very thin wrists). The sort of thing that wouldn't look out of place in most situations. I came up with a list of possible watches, at all different prices, including these two out-of-production Omegas - essentially the same model but with different movements:

    Quartz: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/watch-omega-seamaster-aqua-terra-quartz-25185000
    Automatic: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/watch-omega-seamaster-aqua-terra-mid-size-chronometer-25045000

    They were both available online, but as it was my first (and so far only) £1000+ watch purchase, I wanted to be able to actually see it and handle it first, so kept an eye on local jewellers. The quartz one appeared in a jewellers near me, with a price of £1495. I went to have a look and asked about a lower price, and they offered it to me for £1400, so I bought it and have worn it nearly every day since, other than when I had it serviced by Omega.

    I am completely happy with it, and sometimes I look at it to check the time, and then when I put my arm back down I realise I still don't know what time it is, because I had only paid attention to how nice it is - and this for a watch I have worn daily for years!

    I would repeat what Higgins said above and give you the same advice: if you have your heart set on an Aqua Terra, then don't bother with alternatives that will not satisfy you and still leave you wanting; you may end up spending more in the long run.

    WOO! This is my 300th post!

    I really like those: the quartz is actually the most handsome of the two I think! I prefer that to current ATs in fact.

    I do like this sort of Rolex Explorer-ish style of watch. I must say, although I like the Aqua Terra my head has been turned by the Tudor Black Bay 36. That seems spot on to my eye and I think I'll go for one once we're out of all of this.
  • bondfan10bondfan10 Posts: 79MI6 Agent
    I really appreciate all the advice fellas. Think I might start saving up for an Aqua Terra! Haha
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    bondfan10 wrote:
    I really appreciate all the advice fellas. Think I might start saving up for an Aqua Terra! Haha

    I think that Tissot looks really nice though: I especially like the proportions of the bezel. As an Aqua Terra is a lot more it looks pretty great value. And as we've seen on another thread, Bond even wore a Tissot! :)
  • CheverianCheverian Posts: 1,446MI6 Agent
    bondfan10 wrote:
    I really appreciate all the advice fellas. Think I might start saving up for an Aqua Terra! Haha

    I agree about not buying a substitute. That’s a hard lesson I also have learned. The AT is always going to be more expensive than the comparable Tissot, but if you look at preowned and are open to the quartz versions you don’t have to pay and arm and a leg for one.
  • JellyfishJellyfish EnglandPosts: 462MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    I do like this sort of Rolex Explorer-ish style of watch. I must say, although I like the Aqua Terra my head has been turned by the Tudor Black Bay 36. That seems spot on to my eye and I think I'll go for one once we're out of all of this.

    The Tudor Black Bay 36 is a great watch. Tudor released it after I had bought my Aqua Terra, and I went to try it on just to have a look at it. It was a perfect size on my small wrist, and if I was still looking for a watch at that time, there's a good chance I would have gone for it. The only problem for me would have been the lack of date, but I know some people prefer a watch without it. One of the good things about the Tudor is that they are still available to buy new.

    Another fairly recent watch that would have caught my eye is the 36mm version of the Longines Legend Diver. It's lovely: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/longines-legend-diver-36mm-hands-on.
    Ignore the "for the ladies" comment!
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Yes I know what you mean about the date function: it is something I do use on my watches so it would be a bit of a shame.

    That Longines is very nice isn't it? Very cool- I've not seen it before, thanks. I rather like the Longines Heritage Conquest too: that's quite Aqua Terra-ish.

    PSX_20180814_172744.jpg
  • JellyfishJellyfish EnglandPosts: 462MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    Yes I know what you mean about the date function: it is something I do use on my watches so it would be a bit of a shame.

    That Longines is very nice isn't it? Very cool- I've not seen it before, thanks. I rather like the Longines Heritage Conquest too: that's quite Aqua Terra-ish.

    PSX_20180814_172744.jpg

    I've seen the Longines in your picture in shops, and I've always thought it's a lovely watch but the date position is a bit weird. There might be some reason for it being up there but to me it looks like the sort of thing a designer would do simply to make the watch different from others, and in my opinion looks worse for it. A bit like how some suit jackets now have two buttonholes on the lapel, or one cuff button with brightly-coloured stitching; seemingly completely arbitrary decisions not motivated by any purpose.

    Bondfan10-Have you had any thoughts? I've known a couple of people who have had Tissot watches and been really pleased with them, and from what I've seen on watch websites, it's a really good value for money brand, as Higgins said above.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    I dunno, it makes the watch face symmetrical to have the date there. Doesn't upset me.
  • JellyfishJellyfish EnglandPosts: 462MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    I dunno, it makes the watch face symmetrical to have the date there. Doesn't upset me.

    I get the symmetry bit, but think having it at six would be better.
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