Preliminary identification

Vintage Tissot Visodate Seastar Seven, c.1970s

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

This is a classic Swiss-made Tissot Visodate Seastar Seven wristwatch featuring a distinctive gold-plated cushion-shaped case and a warm champagne dial. It represents the era's transition toward bolder, more geometric watch designs while retaining traditional mechanical craftsmanship.

Story

In 1853, a father-son duo founded Tissot in the Swiss Jura mountains. By the 1970s, they designed the Seastar Seven to survive the active lifestyles of a new generation, combining ruggedness with sleek, space-age styling.

Maker / Origin

Tissot was founded by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile in Le Locle, Switzerland. Known for pioneering innovations, including the first mass-produced pocket watch and the first anti-magnetic watch, Tissot established a reputation for high-quality Swiss engineering accessible to the everyday adventurer.

Condition & Value

The watch shows honest wear consistent with age, including minor scratches on the acrylic crystal and light wear to the gold plating on the case edges. The dial has developed a lovely, warm patina.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Build on this identification

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.