Suunto X6 vs. Vector

I have a Suunto Vector. I thought it was a cool gadget, then I saw the Tissot T-Touch Titanium. Now I have both and like the simplicity of the T-Touch and it fits any setting professional or casual.
Granted the T-Touch is a bit more $$, is only 2.2 ounces more and does not have the tracking capability, but the Vector’s lens scratches quite easily and can make for harder reading over time.
I also like the T-Touch’s lower profile compared to the huge dial the Vector has. I find that pressing the crown button for 2 seconds then touch any of the 6 positions on the lens to access the thermometer, barometer, altimeter, chronograph, compass or alarm.. then press the center to go back to date/time is a very easy ‘menu’.

Wow, I checked out the T-Touch. That is a pretty impressive watch. But it costs more than twice the Vector. You said it costs just a little bit more. How much did you pay for yours?

It was on a RC cruise to Puerto Rico, St Johns and St Thomas… On ship you avoid the import taxes and I paid $375

I wish you hadn’t told me about the tissot t-touch titanium. Buying it from an authorized dealer in the US costs $650. That’s too rich for my blood. You can buy it from a shaddy online dealer without the warranty for $450, but that doesn’t seem like a great idea either. The Vector at $215 is sounding like a pretty good deal.

Okay, I’m seeing them online for $450 to $525. I have not found any dealers locally that sell the watch. The warranty card comes in the box with the watch, so you still get the warranty. Again, I got on a cruise ship for $375 which subtracted the import tax. I won’t argue that the Vector is less expensive, but I know it’s lens (on mine) has gotten harder to see thru with scratches. The Tissot has a sapphire crystal that hides scratches naturally.

I first saw the Tissot quite a few years ago, when it first arrived on the market here in Europe. As I remember it, its only 3 atm waterproff which actually is only weatherproff. A 10 atm waterproff watch, like Suunto, Casio, etc, is waterproff for swimming, shower and maybe also snorkling but NOT SCUBA diving.! Really diving you need a 20 atm = 200 meters (600 feet) waterproff
watch even that you only go 30 feet below as a PADI basic something.

Conclusion. Tissot nice design, inovative espacially about the compass!!, but heavy and not waterproff.!!

Am I right.??

The Tissot T-Touch Titanium is water resistant to 30 meters. I wear it constantly and shower or swimming has never had an issue. If I were diving, I wouldn’t wear it for other than snorkeling.

as i recall from reading info that came with a digital watch (it was either a Casio or a Timex – my “old-timers” is acting up & i forget which), the booklet discussed three level of water-resistance/waterproofness.

here is basically what was said in the booklet:

30m = you can shower with it, or wash your hands with it on, but shouldn’t operate any buttons on the watch while showering or washing. also, you shouldn’t swim with it.

100m = you can swim with it, but shouldn’t dive with it or operate any of the watch’s buttons while swimming.

200m = you can SCUBA dive with it AND operate the buttons.

this is not to say that you might not be able to swim with a 30m water resistant watch, but for obvious reasons, the manufacturer of the watch wants to avoid any problems.

also, some waterproof watches don’t remain waterproof after the batteries are replaced. sometimes it’s difficult to get the back cover’s gasket to seal properly. …but, that’s a different issue.

Did you find an online dealer that sells the T-Touch with the manufacturer’s warranty? Tissot requires that the warranty card be signed and dated by an authorized dealer. Otherwise it does not honor the warranty. Some of the online dealers will provide their own warranty for the Tissot. Seems kinda shaddy. Did you find a website that is an authorized Tissot dealer? If so, please let me know as I am very interested.

Thanks

i don’t know for sure, but the product being sold by some merchants described in some of the posts in this thread sound like so-called “grey”-market products.

“grey”-market is typically defined, if i am not mistaken, as products actually manufactured by the real manufacturer, but manufactured for another market – e.g., the far east for instance. that is, these “units” were mfr’d for sale in China, for example.

[NOTE: “grey”-market is therefore different from so-called “knock-offs”. “knock-offs” appear to be the actual product, but are NOT mfr’d by the actual Brand-Name Mfr., but rather by someone else using cheaper mat’ls & constuction (e.g. gold paint instead of gold plating and non-diamond jewel movements in “knock-offs” of some expensive watches, e.g. “knock-off” Rolex watches).]

they (i.e., “grey”-market) are purchased very cheaply there (e.g, China, etc) and then sold in another market, i.e. a higher priced market – like the good ‘ole USofA.

that’s why they don’t come with a mrf’s warranty. also, those who participate in “grey”-market sales are NOT authorized dealers of those products – hence they cannot offer a mfr’s warranty.

it’s a good deal if you never need warranty service, but if you do, you’re probably out of luck.

bottom-line: buyer beware.

Hi Mike.

How about nighttime. Does it glow and/or is there light in the dispay.??

Just visited the http://www.tissot.ch

The T-Touch also come with a rubber bracelet and then its under 0.2 oz more than Suunto X6. The T-Touch is endeed really cleaver and intuitive to operate.!!

As Im going to St.Marteen/Martin later this year, I will buy one. :-)

As far as online vendors of the product, I cannot vouch for their authenticity. I did not buy mine online and I trusted the Royal Caribbean onboard shop. I know that the warranty card was in the big blue box and I sent it in without a problem. The serial number of the watch matched that on the warranty card.
I am sure in today’s world where less scrupulous individuals may take advantage of others by selling ‘knock-offs’, one will have to use caution and your best judgement.
With the water resistance of 30M, I don’t believe I will be hiking anywhere where I will need to go in water deeper than the swimming I usually do. I certainly would not check my altimeter under water… Yes, with a 30M watch, you do not want to press any buttons while under water of any type as the seals will likely leak. The owners manual does suggest having the battery replaced at a reputable jeweler that can pressure check the new seal before going into water again.
The T-Touch does not have a backlight, but the phosphorescence on the hands and hourly increments can easily be seen in low/no light conditions through the night. Of course, if you shine a light on it a few seconds it is even brighter.

This has become a big problem for certain watches and watch brands, but I wouldn’t be terribly concerned about a unique and tech-y watch like the T-Touch. It would take a LOT of reverse engineering and a very sophisticated production line to duplicate its many unique functions. Frankly, it’s probably not expensive and desireable enough to be worth someone’s while, not while there are fake Rolexes and Tiffanys to be built!

Grey market seems much more common on line, but a lot less so given how much the Dollar has tanked in recent years. Given what the T-touch seems to cost in Pounds and Euros, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out they’re being grey-marketed from the States back to Europe.

Anyway, it (the T-touch) is a very slick watch. If it had altitude memory and graphing I’d be all over it.

–Rick

good to know. thanks for contributing.

clearly NOT “knock-offs” – my point exactly, but “grey-market”? possibly not – you make some good points. but…

if not “grey”-market, why isn’t a factory warranty provided by some of the merchants, offering lower prices, mentioned in the prev. posts (viz. anon. post on 04/04/2005 07:54:37 MDT)?

also, how does a non-authorized dealer come by the legitimate product – if not “grey-market” (see same post mentioned above)?

i don’t have a reasonable ans. to these questions. can you think of another reason? if so, please let us know. i for one am still curious about this.

Hi Paul,

I should have said that I agree with your previous post that these are grey market watches, I just don’t have any idea where they’re coming from–perhaps China or some country where the currency hasn’t gained against the dollar. Or, for “Sopranos” viewers, there’s always the random boxes that “Fall off da back o’ da truck.”

I’m more versed in grey market camera gear, which has become a lot more rare in the States the last two or three years as the Dollar has declined.

In the case of cameras, grey market dealers are generally willing to supply their own service warranty through a third-party source. My experience with watches has been that if it works coming out of the box, it will keep working until (a) the battery wears out or (b) I smash it. I’ve never had warranty work done on a watch, something I can’t claim about cameras.

To try to answer the first post

I am a ex owner of a Suunto X6. The first one I got was from the first generation (pre 2002). It got major “sofware” problems and tend to reset by itsel. I return it and suunto sent me the new generation wich as work flawlessly since then. The X6 is really easy to use. All the functions are pretty intuitive. Although, there is a lot of functions. You have to be a “data freak” to fully benefit from the watch. I have never really used the cumputer interface. It is easy to used, but you still have to download info, and HAVE A INTEREST in analysing it. The “graphical” interface that show trends on the watch is a joke. Resolution is not high anough to have real value. I have used the Sunnto mainly for high altitude mountaineering. I have found out that I have absolutyly no interest in all the possibility that the X6 offer. My main used was the barometer function to guess weather.I have never used the “log book” features. Even the actual altimeter, when you are on a long trip needs regular recalibration, so you still HAVE to know where you are to clibrate the watch. So the actual used that I made of that watch was about 10% of its function. Also, the compass is a pain to calibrate, and I have a hard time considering its utility for REAL field condition. I think a really small, simple and cheap regular compass is MUCH better. Also, the compass take A LOT of juice from the batterie. Expect 2 months of life for normal watch used, 3 weeks of life for barometer and altimeter daily use and one week for regular compass use. On most of my trips (2 to 5 weeks in the field), I always carried a extra battery. Finaly, although the X6 is much smaller than the Vector, it is still a pretty fat watch. While most of my use was in cold weather, i found the wrist location to be a pain. So I took of the band, and put a lightweigth sling to use as a neck lace. I finaly sold my watch because I did not use it to full potential. My next similar instrument will either be the simpliest altimeter/barometer I can find, or, most probably, the Garmin Greko 301 GPS, wich combine all the function that you need in one package that CAN BE used in REAL condition. (I dont think the SUUNTO X9 as a real interest form now). I also own a Garmin Etrex GPS wich I really like. Is as all the functions you need, none that you dont need, REALLY easy to use and can be operate with big gloves or mitts. So my next move will be to try to concentrate all the electronics I need in one simple instrument.

Sory for the broken/bad english…I am on of those french canadian!

Matt, Thanks for the info on the X6. And don’t worry about your English. I didn’t think anything of it till you mentioned something.

hey mike storesund i have a question i have read that you own a t touch tissot can it really be used in a swimming pool if use in a pool can i use its function inside the pool and its a t touch right and it is made of sapphire crystal will it damage the functions if pressed hard or scratched because i am planning to buy one can u also mail me ur response at jkiong2001@yahoo.com tnx a lot

hey somebody which is better a tissot or a tag watch

Mathieu,
have you found the “all you need in one instrument” yet
I’d be interested at what kind of devices you were looking
Roland