The Tissot T-Touch is a well known and respected line of tech watches from one of Switzerland’s best known watch manufacturers. Tissot has built its name on crafting well built and affordable time pieces — something of a rarity from everyone’s favorite neutral federal republic. It has been nearly a year since I reviewed the Seastar 1000 and walked away impressed. The T-Touch Expert is the most feature packed model in the brands history and it offers a comprehensive mix of sport styling and easy to use tech.
The T-Touch line is famous for its “touch” ability that turns the regular-old sapphire crystal into a touch sensitive interface for selecting one of the many, many functions. Lets take a look under the hood:
- 43.6mm titanium case.
- Matching titanium bracelet.
- Sapphire crystal.
- Dual time zones.
- Dual Alarms*.
- Barometer (absolute and relative)*.
- Chronograph/Countdown timer*.
- Thermometer*.
- Altimeter (can record difference)*.
- Compass (with Azimuth ability)*.
- Perpetual Counter.
- 100m Water Resistance.
- Integrated LCD with red backlight.
- Touch enabled crystal.
* Touch-activated features.
The above list, while somewhat overwhelming, shows what can be done with modern technology. The kind of tools that would have filled Batman’s utility belt can now be packed into a relatively small 43mm case. I remember seeing the spec sheet and being surprised by both the laundry list of features and the fact that almost every one of the features can be activated on the touch crystal, which has seven touch points. Some of the touch points even have two feature levels (ie. Chronograph/countdown timer) activated by tapping the allocated area twice.
The Case
The case on the Tissot T-Touch Expert is the kind of case (and bracelet) that makes
your brain skip a beat with you pick it up. It looks heavy and solid but the titanium is light and relatively hollow feeling. It doesn’t feel cheap at all — it feels strong and confident while being worn, and is yet another watch that proves titanium is a great case and bracelet material. I am admittedly not the biggest fan of the styling on most Tissot watches, but I consider this to be a very handsome watch that is both cool and sporty without being too nerdy. The T-Touch Expert incorporates a large LCD screen that takes up most of the lower third of the dial and relates data in tandem with the hands based upon which feature you’ve selected. The chronograph-style side buttons are used to manipulate certain functions while the middle button is pressed to activate the touch mode or held down for two seconds to activate the backlight.
When a feature is activated the screen shows fine point data (heading, barometric pressure, lapsed time) while the hands take on a contextual meaning. For example, when the watch is in “meteo” mode the hands group together and depending on their position to the right or left of 12 o’clock, they indicate whether the pressure is rising or dropping. 
can monitor a feature on-screen and still have the time reading on the hands. This is a
great feature and really shows that Tissot knows what they are doing and what is needed in tech a watch. I can activate touch mode, choose the countdown timer by touching “chrono” twice, begin a countdown, and the watch returns to time keeping mode but leaves the countdown information on screen. Great for cooking, driving long distance, etc. Its just an obvious feature for a watch with a screen and I really appreciate it on the T-Touch Expert.
The Bracelet
As 
find the review model to be especially scratch prone (titanium’s Achilles heel). The bracelet is noise free with a firm pushbutton divers-fold release and a nice folding divers extension inside the clasp. The extension is likely not designed for diving, per say, because the watch is
only rated to 100m and the functions cannot be used while submerged. I like to think of it at a jacket extension to get the watch on top of lighter weather protective clothing like jackets and sweaters. I usually have a complaint about the bracelet on almost every watch, but this is a rare exception. It’s light, precise, has a good clasp, and there’s no noise. If you get this watch, get it on the bracelet.
Conclusion
This is a great watch, but it is not without fault. Granted, you can only cram
covered in bumpy plastic. In a world ruled by G-Shocks and a few Suuntos, the Expert has come to the fight with solid build quality, sharp styling, and the easiest user interface of any watch since the single-button chronograph. The T-Touch Expert is a solid performer that is so dead simple to use, its like its powered by magic. Arthur C. Clark would have been impressed.
By James Stacey
Barthel Klein
i just bought my Tissot T Tough Expert with rubber-bracelet, (i dont like the tank-like-chains) and i’m really impressed aubout the style (i wanted a sporty watch with all these compass, altimeterstuff without big sensors etc.) it has got a nice clean look. with 730€ it’s quite expensive, but the only thing i’m really missing is a solar charging or movement charging inside.
Its relativly small compared to Fossile, G-shock, ProTrek watches with identicl abilitys …
I think i will uye it in a rougher way most of the peaple do so i hope it can stand against 😉
Kervin
I have a rubber-bracelet and I really like it. The only think I am missing is fluorescent clock hands in the dark… It seems to obvious, yet in the racing-touch, it is not like that…
Anyway it is a great watch though..
Mode_mv
I purchased TISSOT, 1853,Smart Watch Z253/353, It had problem, the watch died, only five months from the sales date and it was sent to the dealer service center for check up and i was told that water has leaked into it. but it was never used even in a meter depth, just for swimming, and it was with dealer for more than three months and i got the watch back after repair under warranty and again it had problem probably four months time, again they said it has water leak, so again under warranty they did repair ( replaced the glass and the complete machine according to the service center ) and i was told not to use this watch even for shower, well the watch was not used in any water and again the watch had problem even not a month, the first problem was it stopped working the touch part of the chorono, and it does some times work and later it again worked fine. and then later after a month it showed very high altitude very much above adjustment level for correction, 800 meter. well then again another problem, the buttons stopped working. this is my experience, and the dealer did not give me a new watch.
Dickmatz
Is the alarm loud enough to use as a wake up or is it faint and easily goes unheard?
Meaparvitas
This watch
was once my absolute favorite. Until I had to change the batteries and I was
told that Tissot does not supply any spare parts for it any more. So after
replacing the battery a sealing for it being waterproof is not possible.
A mail to
Tissot Switzerland stayed unanswered. But several dealers and watchmakers told
me the very same thing. Tissot does NOT want to repair, so no spare parts available
as well as no warranty. For a watch in this price class that is unbelievable.
So I strongly recommend NOT buying this crab. I won’t any more.
Dickmatz
Is the alarm loud enough to use as a wake up or is it faint and easily goes unheard?
kervin
No. It is quiet… just to remind you of something I think… Not to wake up.
Jorge M. Treviño
In any kind of daytime situation, even the quietest, the ambient noise drowns it, unless you are watching for it to happen.
Martinnash
I purchased a T-Touch less than nine years ago. It died this year and when I sent it in for service at Tissot’s facility, I was told that they no longer support the first generation T Touch watches. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about buying a Tissot product!
Chris
had this watch five years then it stopped working. We sent it in for repair and the company sent it back saying that they do not make parts for this watch any more. They do not support the watch, and will not replace. I paid 1000 dollars for this watch and the company should back up their products but they do not. I bought a cheap Fossil watch to replace this, which came with a 11 year warranty. Its ridiculous that Tissot does not support their products or customers. I do not recommend this watch, use caution when considering purchasing.
Vaggelis
Had the first generation Touch for 8 years. Two times repaired under warranty (the compass stopped working) now a drained battery will make me to bay a CASIO. The company DOES NOT SUPPORT this product even for a battery replacement! They proposed me to buy a new similar one (Touch 2) for 400 euros (retail price 600 euros)! If I knew that these watches have an expire date I wouldn’t buy it in the first place. I don’t recommend buying this watch anymore. Better buy a PROTREK or a SUUNTO, for the half price and better customer support. This is a shame for Swiss watch industry!
jason Smith
I purchased the first generation tissot titanium t-touch and
within the first 2 years the activator switch on it broke off. I spent $200 to have it repaired and within 2
more years the same thing happened. I
recently sent in several complaints to tissot upset that their solution to the
problem was to spend more money for the upgrade which would be an additional
$350. I stated I would not spend any
more money for a timepiece that was supposed to be of the up most quality. I received a prepaid shipping label stating i
could send it back and they could see if they had the parts for the
repair. They then said I would have to
pay over $200 to have it repaired after already stating i would not pay any
additional costs. The SG representative
said “i never said you wouldn’t have to pay to get it fixed.” in the end I have an $800 watch that is now a
paperweight. Poor quality, poor customer
service. I will never purchase tissot
again and urge other shoppers to look elsewhere for quality timepiece.
PG
Bought a Tissot Touch 5 years ago. Used the watch snorkeling twice within that time. I got the alert to change the battery and after the case was opened, it was very dirty. Of course now its not under warranty…but it was when I was snorkeling…I wish I knew then that it was leaking. Tissot has proven to be a poor watch manufacturer. My solar powered Citizen still ticking after 9 years…to bad That Im used to all the features the Touch had. Would not consider purchasing a Tissot after $800 went down the drain.
http://www.zegarek.net/
Great watch i love Tissot. This is a great brad who make watches from Swiss. Who use this watch?
Madan
I purchased t-touch II few days back. On observing I found out that the temperature shown is approximately 4-5 deg C more than the actual one. On discussing with the service center, they mentioned that it is a normal phenomenon that this watch shows 4-5 degC more than the actual temperature. Reference manual shows that the difference should not be more than 1 degC. I dont what to do.