Tissot Touch

Tissot presented the first T-Touch model in 1999. The watch sent ripples through the watchmaking industry; it offered the possibility to control various functions like an altimeter, compass, and perpetual calendar just by touching the sapphire crystal, long before tech giants such as Apple and Samsung presented their own smartwatches. The traditional watchmaker from Switzerland thus spearheaded the market for watches with touch screens.

The T-Touch series is one of Tissot's most successful collections, spanning over five generations. Current T-Touch models are solar-powered and can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

All T-Touch watches are quartz-powered, analog timepieces. The lower half of the dial is reserved for the additional functions. All models in this series have three push-pieces on the right side of the case, which you can use to activate and control the touch functionality.

Special quartz calibers from movement supplier ETA provide the watch with its wide range of functions. They are usually housed in stainless steel cases. However, the outer shell of some models is made of titanium or aluminum. Current models offer water resistance to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), so you can take them to the swimming pool. Older versions, on the other hand, are only water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar, 98 ft) and are therefore only splash-proof.

The most affordable watches in this collection are older models such as the T-Touch Classic or Racing-Touch. These models are listed on Chrono24 for between 300 and 400 USD. Prices for a T-Touch II average around 590 USD. If you are interested in a solar-powered T-Touch Expert Solar from the first or second generation, plan to spend between 780 and 880 USD. The T-Touch Solar Connect – the latest addition to the T-Touch collection – will set you back around 840 USD.

Tissot produced the first edition of the T-Touch in different sizes and materials. You can choose from watches with diameters between 38.5 and 42.7 mm in stainless steel or titanium. These watches offer the same features.

One example is the ref. T33.7.898.92. At the heart of this 42.7-mm titanium watch is the ETA quartz caliber E40.305, which provides the watch with functions such as a chronograph, an alarm, an altimeter, a barometer, a thermometer, a compass, and, of course, an analog time display. To display the corresponding information, the T-Touch uses the hands of the watch as well as a single-line LCD in the lower part of the dial. You call up the individual functions by tapping the touch-sensitive spots on the edge of the sapphire crystal. The three push-pieces on the right side of the case allow you to delve deeper into the features; for example, to set an alarm or start the various chronograph modes. The dial is surrounded by a rotating compass bezel.

You will find listings for these watches on Chrono24 for around 350 USD. If you opt for a stainless steel version, prices will drop to roughly 320 USD.

T-Touch II and T-Touch Expert

In the early 2000s, Tissot replaced the original T-Touch with the T-Touch II and the T-Touch Expert. The former is a 42.7-mm stainless steel or titanium watch that offers water resistance to 100 m (328 ft). It is powered by the ETA caliber E48.311, which expands the features of the original T-Touch by a second time zone and perpetual calendar. The display is also backlit for better legibility. You will find the T-Touch II on Chrono24 for around 590 USD.

At 43.6 mm, the T-Touch Expert is larger than the T-Touch II. It is outfitted with the ETA caliber E48.351, which is slightly more efficient than the E48.311, and offers a timer function, among other extra features. The overall design and operation is otherwise the same as the T-Touch II, but this watch is more expensive at around 710 USD.

In 2014, Tissot unveiled the T-Touch Expert Solar. As the name gives away, this timepiece has solar cells to harness solar power. Once the watch is fully charged, it can run for up to one year thanks to the ETA solar caliber E84.301. The range of functions this movement offers has once again grown considerably compared to previous calibers. The altimeter, for example, is now able to record differences in altitude – great for when you're out in the mountains. The chronograph now has a logbook function for lap times, and you also get a regatta timer and charging indicator.

The Expert Solar also stands out visually from its predecessors. Firstly, the titanium case has grown to 45 mm, and secondly, the LCD has two lines and displays the information via bright text against a dark background. This makes the watch look sportier and signficatntly more modern.

Tissot offers the T-Touch Expert Solar in numerous versions, including some with a black or rose gold PVD coating. You'll need to budget between 760 and 880 USD, depending on which version you decide on.

T-Touch Connect Solar

The newest and most modern T-Touch is the T-Touch Connect Solar released in 2020. Again, this model is solar-powered. What is new, however, is the fact that you can connect it to your smartphone. This gives you an even wider range of functions at your fingertips, including a step and calorie counter, as well as incoming call and push notifications. The watch displays the information on a color memory-in-pixel display in the lower third of the dial.

The Connect Solar is the largest watch in the T-Touch series to date: Its titanium case measures a generous 47.5 mm across. Tissot offers the watch with a brushed finish as well as a black or gold PVD coating.

Depending on which variant you choose, prices for the T-Touch Connect Solar run between 810 and 920 USD.