Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80

by Tyler Frederick

Regatta racing

Well, it’s been a while! I’ve been somewhat absent from the watch world for the past couple of months, but I can explain. As many know, my heart lies in motorsport, specifically karting. For 30 years, racing has been a part of my life, and I spent 10 of those years behind the wheel of a kart. Over the last year, I’ve been working with the team at Racing Edge Motorsports—traveling, taking pictures, and posting on social media—doing what I do with watches, but now for a sport I love. During my adventures, I’ve been fortunate to have had loaner watches accompany me on my journey throughout the U.S. The most recent watch to grace my wrist, thanks to my friends
at Gem Bijou, is the Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80.

Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80 Watch Review — ^{Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80 @horologyobsessed}

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Key Features of the Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80

Let’s make something weird

Being back around the smell of fuel, exhaust, and hot rubber brings me so much joy, and sets my heart ablaze, and is a constant reminder of why I love karting so much. This trip took me to Houston, Texas, and the beautiful Speedsportz Racing Park for the final round of the ROK Cup Florida Winter Tour and the first round of the SKUSA (Superkarts USA) Pro Tour. When people hear “go-kart,” they often think of the rental karts that go putt-putt, but these are true racing machines that average around 136 km/h (85 mph). It always helps to have a beautiful
companion on your wrist during any trip, and the construction paired with the materials of the Sideral S was the perfect choice to have with me trackside while standing with my camera in the Texas sun.

Did I use the regatta dial to time anything? No. Did I make use of its 300m of water resistance? I mean, considering how hot it was, I was a tad damp (I was drenched). So why did I choose the Sideral S? That stunning forged carbon case with a Blue Marble finish. Another reason for my choice was to match the colours of Racing Edge Motorsports, so that was handy, but ultimately, it was the overall beauty of the watch that drew me in. I thought the watch would be slightly large due to its 41mm case and it being a tad thick at 14.4mm, but it felt surprisingly compact, and I enjoyed having it on my wrist for two weeks.

On that note, I often rotate through watches I have for review when I’m home, so this was the first time I’ve had a review watch on my wrist for a full two weeks, and I’ll be honest, it was refreshing. The same watch, the same experience and getting the chance to fully appreciate a watch and some extended one-on-one time was a real treat. It felt at home, and it put a smile on my face every time I looked at the colourful watch on my wrist, especially when paired with that bright blue rubber strap.

Specs

Case	Stainless Steel /w Forged Carbon 41mm Diameter 46mm Lug-to-Lug 14.4mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 300m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire /w AR Black Dial Coloured Regatta Gauge Printed Markers Baton Handset Super-LumiNova
Movement	Powermatic 80 ETA C07.111 23 Jewels 21 600vph 80-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Blue Quick Release Rubber Strap

Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80

Quibbles

I had such a great time bonding with this watch, but there were a couple of things that stood out to me. The first is the overall dimensions. While it was comfortable to wear, I think a 39mm version would be much more comfortable and appeal to a wider audience. The second is the rubber strap. I had a lot of difficulty doing the watch up due to its securing mechanism. You push two domed pins into the strap, and they lock the strap in place, and I found it difficult to secure them into the strap with one hand.

Final Thoughts

Being back around the sport I love full-time is a dream come true, especially when I get to take photos and do so many other things I’m passionate about at the same time. Having the Tissot Sideral S was fantastic, and if you can check one out, I strongly recommend it. It won’t be for everyone from afar, but when you see the detail and construction of the watch and get to experience it on your wrist, it’s awesome. Thanks again to Gem Bijou for giving me the chance to check this one out!

Pricing & Availability

The Tissot Sideral S Powermatic 80 is available now for $1375USD. Shop it at Gem Bijou.

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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