2011 Seastar 1000 (blue) gripes, complaints, and Tissot has a new bezel?

[wluttrell]

Hey all..

I posted some pictures a week or so ago about how my Seastar 1000 chronograph (blue) had "smudges" that appeared when you touched the bezel although the smudges come right off if you run it under warm and soapy water. I took it back to my AD and they contacted Tissot about it.

The AD informed me that this has been a complaint that Tissot is aware of. He said Tissot has a new bezel that it will be fitted with that does not smudge when you touch it. (I'm not sure if they have new bezels for the black/blue and black/orange ones.)

So it is being sent back to Tissot and will take 2 weeks for it to get back.

I'm getting pretty fed up with the watch at the moment. You would think that the quality of a 1200.00 watch ( I paid 1146.00 - out the door) would be non-issue. I mean, Jesus, I have a Citizen Calibre 2100 Chronograph Eco-Drive (420.00) that I wear everyday and the quality of it is a non-issue when it comes to its fit and finish. In fact, my only gripe about it is that it doesnt have a sapphire crystal.

I'm thinking now that I should of just saved my money and gotten an Omega Seamaster even though they are twice the cost.

Here are pictures of the smudges......




Chris

[wluttrell]

Also another complaint. I tried on the Blue Chronograph Seastar in the AD before purchasing (still had to order it though since the one they had, had the rubber band on it and I wanted the SS bracelet) and the one in the store had the Rotor (the swinging peice on the movement) with the waved design on it. After I recieved my watch, it is the plain steel rotor.

WTH. Does Tissot just pick and choose what they put on the watch at the factory?

Chris

[nhimert]

Let us know how the new bezel works out. I noticed this issue the first day I bought my watch but when the smudges went away I thought nothing of it. I don't mess with the bezel much so it hasn't been an issue with me but if they are replacing them, I may send it back to ensure this won't piss me off down the road.

[seoulseeker]

Also another complaint. I tried on the Blue Chronograph Seastar in the AD before purchasing (still had to order it though since the one they had, had the rubber band on it and I wanted the SS bracelet) and the one in the store had the Rotor (the swinging peice on the movement) with the waved design on it. After I recieved my watch, it is the plain steel rotor.

WTH. Does Tissot just pick and choose what they put on the watch at the factory?

Chris

I believe that the first few runs of the watch that came out used the streel rotor instead of the gold rotor. That said, the steel rotor should still have Geneva stripes on it, the same as the gold. Mine did at least, and I preferred it to its gold counterpart. You would probably have had to specify specifically which colour rotor you wanted, otherwise it was luck of the draw unfortunately. My personal opinion is that while a gold rotor is preferable on a dress watch, gold is a little too blingy for a diver, and throws off the sporty presence a bit.

Tissot actually gave me the wrong watch back when I took mine in to have the bezel serviced, and I only noticed because somehow the bezel became gold on me!

Let us know if the new bezel from Tissot includes a fix for the lume issue as well, and, if you are really unsatisfied with the watch, I would really push for a refund, and put the money towards a watch that has been properly finished... it worked for me, but they really didn't want to give me that refund.

Good luck

[wluttrell]

I believe that the first few runs of the watch that came out used the streel rotor instead of the gold rotor. That said, the steel rotor should still have Geneva stripes on it, the same as the gold.
Let us know if the new bezel from Tissot includes a fix for the lume issue as well, and, if you are really unsatisfied with the watch, I would really push for a refund, and put the money towards a watch that has been properly finished... it worked for me, but they really didn't want to give me that refund.

Good luck

Thanks guys. Yeah, we'll see how the new Bezel is and if its any different. I would think they would of put some type of clear coat on it from the start.

Mine doesnt have the Geneva Stripes on it (im guessing your referring to the wavy lines on the rotor). It has a flat finish with the Tissot 1853 stamp.

I totally agree with you on the "blinginess". Im not much of a gold person either, but it does give some style that you dont rarely see since its on the underside of the watch.
And yeah, Samuel Gordons doesnt seem like they're that interested in giving a refund.

Chris

[seoulseeker]

That's a bummer about the rotor not being decorated - you could probably send it in for service through your AD and request a change to a gold or steel rotor that has been decorated, I assume it wouldn't be more than $100 out of pocket, but I don't know for sure.

That said, I had to petition at the service center (luckily I had a service center located near my house) for a refund - the dealership that I purchased it through, although they initially told me that I had 30 days for a refund regardless when I purchased the watch, changed their minds and claimed they never said such a thing.

They only gave me a refund because the regional sales manager at the service center called them and told them to give it to me. I would suggest that you try this route, if you can. I had to force my dealerships hand through the service center.

[wluttrell]

Update **

It has been 2 weeks since I took the Seastar in and they were sending it off to replace the bezel with a new one (presumably one that didnt smudge when you touched it). Well.. AD just called, and said that Tissot is waiting on some parts from Switzerland to attach the bezel and that it was going to be another month! W... T....F..

I am so fed up with this experience.

[Jeffy-pie]

Aww, bad luck.. I just got mine back yesterday after it was at the service centre for 4 days. The new bezel is instantly noticably a lighter blue and the finish is less textured. The rachet indents are nowhere near as strong now either; as in the bezel is much easier to spin, bordering on too easy but it doesnt feel sloppy. The lume dot is white and glowing again and I am satisfied with the new bezel overall.

Unfortunately mine had some kind of issue with the movement too and suddenly was losing 30+ secs per day so they regulated it again. This is the second time it's needed it since I bought it 5 months ago.

I must say that I was treated very well by the local Tissot sales rep.. Kathy came and got the watch from the store and took it to the service centre herself and got it done fast. Very good. Now the only thing to do is watch this movement. I set it to the watch widgets at the top of this page 12 hours ago and it appears to have gained 6.5 secs..Not so good for a freshly regulated movement but I do question the accuracy of those. I just set it to the nist clock and I'm really hoping it's within 5 seconds per day.

[pablomiguel]

Hey Jeff,

Any chance of some pics of the new bezel please?

Thanks!

[wluttrell]

Aww, bad luck.. I just got mine back yesterday after it was at the service centre for 4 days. The new bezel is instantly noticably a lighter blue and the finish is less textured. The rachet indents are nowhere near as strong now either; as in the bezel is much easier to spin, bordering on too easy but it doesnt feel sloppy. The lume dot is white and glowing again and I am satisfied with the new bezel overall.

I must say that I was treated very well by the local Tissot sales rep.. Kathy came and got the watch from the store and took it to the service centre herself and got it done fast. Very good.

Hey Jeff... yeah, you got any pictures of the new bezel? I just got off the phone today with AD. Said they would have it by Tuesday (3/20). If not, i'm asking for a refund. PERIOD.
I was also told that the new bezel is done entirely with a different paint when asked what the difference in the bezels were that didnt smudge.

Chris