A connected watch where tradition and innovation coexist! A hands-on review of the Tissot "T-Touch Connect Sport"!

We review Tissot's latest connected watch, the T-Touch Connect Sport. Combining the look of a sports watch with high-tech functionality, this ambitious watch embodies the company's philosophy of "Innovators by tradition."

Not just "PRX"! Tissot's diverse collection

　Without further ado, the watch I'll be reviewing today is the Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport. At first glance, it appears to be a simple sports watch. It's actually a connected watch that can be controlled by touching the sapphire crystal. Tissot, a long-established brand founded in 1853, offers a wide range of collections, from the classic Gentleman and Chemin des Tourelles to the sporty PRX and Seastar, but they're also focusing on cutting-edge connected watches like this one.

　Connected watches, or smartwatches, are often made by manufacturers of communication devices. Although they are called "watches," they are equipped with a wide range of functions, such as receiving smartphone notifications, managing activities, and displaying calendars. The time display, the domain of watches, is only a part of the overall functionality, and the watch is packed with electronic components rather than gears. However, some watch brands are also jumping into this new genre. Seeking to achieve the coexistence of luxury watches and high-tech technology, these companies have applied their own know-how to connected watches, which previously had a strong consumer electronic feel, and succeeded in elevating them into luxury watches.

　It's no exaggeration to say that Tissot was a pioneer when it released the world's first touchscreen watch in 1999. At the time, it wasn't a connected watch, but it has since evolved and gained the ability to connect to smartphones. This time, we'd like to focus on their latest model.

Operation is by touch panel and push button

　First, let's briefly touch on the controls. As a connected watch, the controls directly affect how comfortable the watch is to use. As the name "T-Touch" suggests, this model can be operated by touching the sapphire crystal with your fingertips. The structure is such that the hands are located below the sapphire crystal, and the LCD is housed in a dial below that. As a result, there is a physical distance between the part that your fingertips touch and the part that displays the results of your operations, but there is no difficulty in operation or any delay in response. In fact, the display is unlikely to be obscured by your fingertips, making it possible to operate it without stress.

　There are push buttons at the 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, which can also be used to operate the watch. This is more convenient for detailed operations such as setting the timer or using the chronograph.

Simple sports watch design

　The more features a connected watch or smartwatch has, the further it moves away from the analog watch form, and conversely, the more limited its functions, the more watch-like its design tends to become. For example, hands can only be used to point to something that is a certain distance from the axis, but with an LCD display, these are freed from physical constraints, dramatically increasing the versatility of the display. This watch looks just like an analog watch. Under normal circumstances, it's hard to even notice the LCD, and it just looks like a simple three-hand watch. We'll go into more detail later on about how much functionality this watch can provide, but let's start by looking at its appearance.

　The dial is mostly solar-powered, with a logo at 12 o'clock and a horizontal LCD at 6 o'clock. Luminous indexes are attached to the flange that serves as the minute markers, giving the watch the appearance of floating above the dial.

　The hour and minute hands are luminous at the tips and openworked at the middle. The second hand, equipped with a T-shaped counterweight, is painted red, letting you know at a glance that the watch is in working order.

　The bezel is made of ceramic and is engraved with bars or numbers every five minutes and filled with white. Because it is fixed, it cannot measure elapsed time like a diver's watch, but it adds to the sporty impression.

　The case is made of titanium, which is lightweight and has excellent corrosion resistance and anti-allergy properties, making it suitable for everyday use. The sides and top of the case are all satin-finished, with chamfered edges to create a clear outline. The flowing case lines are smooth and free of snags. The square push buttons on the side of the case are also chamfered, providing a comfortable grip, which is a nice touch. The case back is equipped with sensors for measuring heart rate and other parameters, as well as a charging connector, and the watch can be powered not only by the solar cell in the dial but also by a household power outlet.

　The bracelet is made of the same titanium as the case. It consists of three links, with a polished central row and satin-finished ends. The polished finish of the bracelet complements the sleek ceramic bezel, creating a luxurious look. The clasp is a three-fold type and can be opened by pressing a push button. The clasp also features a second pair of small push buttons, which are used to extend the extension. By pressing these buttons and pulling the bracelet, it can be gradually extended up to a maximum of approximately 18 mm. To shorten the extension, simply push the bracelet into the clasp. A quick-release mechanism allows the bracelet to be easily removed from the case by pulling the lever at the base with your fingernail. Switching to a rubber strap, sold separately, will make the watch even more comfortable to wear.

Lightweight titanium case that can withstand long-term wear

　I put it on my wrist. Not only does it look substantial, but it also feels light and comfortable to wear, making it suitable for long periods of wear. The biggest factor in this is probably the titanium exterior. I also appreciate how the case size is kept to a mere 43mm in diameter, despite the fact that it houses not only gears but also LCD screens and other electronic components.

　The black dial, combined with white indexes and hour and minute hands, provides excellent visibility, and the luminous paint makes it easy to read the time even in the dark. If it were just an LCD screen, it would be difficult to read the display in bright sunlight, and if it were always on, the battery would quickly drain. The fact that this model is essentially powered solely by solar cells is likely due to the energy-saving nature of analog.

　Each link of the bracelet is flexible, making it comfortable to wear. However, I felt that the extension could use some improvement. When extended, sharp edges appear, which can dig into the inside of the wrist and cause pain. Also, the extended extension is not flexible, which can be a bit of a nuisance when doing desk work. However, the official description states that this is a diver's extension. While this model is not a diver's watch, it may be designed with the expectation that something might get caught between the watch and the skin, such as when worn over sportswear while running.

Physical buttons provide comfortable operation

　The operation is excellent. Pressing either push button moves the hands to 10:10 or 1:50, and the LCD at 6 o'clock lights up. The fact that the hands are positioned to give the watch the most balanced appearance is very much in keeping with the brand's philosophy.

　The first thing displayed is the date, day of the week, and step count. Swiping left or right from there will bring up a menu for activating various functions such as the chronograph, alarm, and timer, checking notifications, turning Bluetooth, sound, and vibration on and off, and for various settings. A wide range of languages ​​are supported, including Japanese. You can navigate through the menus not only by swiping, but also using the push buttons. Because the LCD itself is small, the text is also small, but the display is bright and easier to read than you might expect. To return to the time display from here, simply press both push buttons simultaneously, or touch the entire sapphire crystal with your palm. The hands will rotate busily to indicate the current time.

　The great thing about this app is that it has physical buttons. For example, when using the chronograph, you start/stop it with the button at 2 o'clock, just like an analog watch, and reset it with the button at 4 o'clock. You can also set the timer using the buttons. Touch operation is convenient, but sometimes the direction of the swipe is not recognized properly, and the intended operation does not work. These small inconveniences pile up and become a big stress with each passing day. With this app, you don't have to worry about that.

　You can also manage your activities by pressing the push button once from the time display screen, then swiping down while the date and day of the week are displayed. Icons for hiking, running, cycling, and workouts will appear, and then you can simply touch the one you want to do.

　Activity results and chronograph logs can be checked using the dedicated smartphone app "T-Connect." Daily steps and calories burned are clearly displayed, making health management a breeze.

A connected watch that truly takes the best of both worlds

　This may come as a surprise, but I regularly wear a smartwatch. It's a so-called double-wristwatch: an analog watch on my left wrist and a smartwatch on my right. With a smartwatch, I'm less likely to miss important notifications, and features like timers and alarms make everyday life more convenient. However, there are some inconveniences when trying to use it properly as a watch. The most notable of these is the poor battery life. The model I use lasts for several days with normal use, but if I keep the LCD screen on so I can check the time at any time, it only lasts for a day. Of course, I understand that this usage is probably not recommended, but having to take one action just to check the time is just too cumbersome.

　In this regard, the T-Touch Connect Sport we reviewed is ideal. Despite being equipped with various functions that allow it to be linked to a smartphone, it always displays the time and has a battery life of several months on a full charge. What's more, in addition to charging via cable, it also has a solar-powered function, so it can generate power while in use.

　The high-quality ceramic and titanium exterior and the design of a sports watch are also appealing. This is sure to be the best option for those who are interested in connected watches and smartwatches but have been put off by their cheap appearance.

　Given that it is such a luxury watch, I was concerned about the difficulty of double-watching, but that thought was quickly dispelled. This watch combines the best of both analog and smartwatches, so you can get enough satisfaction and functionality with just one watch.