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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11In a 2021 Fratello feature, Nacho Conde Garzón recounts buying a battered Tissot Seastar Navigator Chronograph for €100 including shipping, then having it professionally restored. The watch returned to his wrist in early 2019; the article is a personal account of that earlier project, not a current service quote or valuation.
The watch and the deal
Conde Garzón found the watch on German classifieds platform eBay Kleinanzeigen, where it was initially listed for €120. He agreed to pay €100 including shipping. It arrived in poor condition, with a lower chronograph pusher missing, but it still had its signed crown and original bracelet.
He identifies the watch as a Tissot Seastar Navigator Chronograph, reference 40522, powered by a manual-winding Valjoux caliber 7734. The author dates this particular example to 1974 using an online Tissot serial-number decoder; that is his attribution, not an independently confirmed production date.
What makes the Seastar Navigator distinctive
Case and movement
According to the article, the brushed stainless-steel case measures 41 mm across, 13 mm thick, and 42.5 mm from lug to lug. Its reported lug width is 20 mm, which is the measurement to check when choosing a replacement strap.
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- Tissot Chrono XL Quartz Khaki Dial Men's Watch T116.617.36.092.00
Yachting-style dial
The dial has silver vertical brushing, tritium lume on baton hands and square markers, running seconds at 9 o’clock, and an elapsed-minutes counter at 3 o’clock. The counter has a blue first-five-minute section and a red first-15-minute marker. An orange chronograph hand and date window sit above 6 o’clock, while a tachymeter scale runs around the dial beneath a high-domed acrylic crystal.
The original bracelet
The five-link bracelet is signed “Tissot 2025-40522.32 All stainless steel.” Conde Garzón says he found it uncommon among the listings he reviewed and liked its comfort, despite its flexible, rattly feel. He also tried the watch on leather; the article does not describe a generic strap as part of the restoration.
Rank #2
- Case Size: 45.00 mm, Band Width: 22, Case Thickness: 11.02 mm
- Swiss quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case with black PVD coating, Arabic dial type, Date
- Leather strap, interchangeable quick release bracelet, standard buckle closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
What the restoration involved
Conde Garzón sent the watch to his watchmaker. The work he reports included addressing rust and replacing the crystal, seals, mainspring, and both pushers. The watchmaker also performed a full movement teardown, cleaning, lubrication, and reassembly. The watch came back after roughly three months, with the wait spanning the Christmas period.
This was more than a cosmetic refresh: the missing pusher and deterioration meant replacing parts as well as servicing the movement. For another vintage chronograph, the actual work and cost would depend on that watch’s condition, originality, parts availability, and service needs.
Rank #3
- Case Size: 40.00 millimeter; Band Width: 12 millimeter; Case Thickness: 10.40 millimeter
- Swiss quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type, date
- Stainless steel bracelet, butterfly clasp with push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 meter / 330 feet): Suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
What the project cost—and what the figures mean
| Figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| €100 including shipping | The price Conde Garzón reports agreeing to pay for this watch, in Fratello’s 2021 account. |
| About €200 including parts and labor | His approximate reply in the article’s 2021 comments about this individual restoration; it is not a current service quote. |
| €750–€1,200 | His 2021 estimate for the model and black, blue, and panda variants, depending on condition and whether the original bracelet was included. It is a historical observation, not a verified current valuation. |
The purchase and service figures together suggest a roughly €300 outlay for this specific project, but neither figure should be treated as a price available to another buyer today. The author also mentions seeing some old Tissot, Doxa, or Alpina watches for €30–€50 and paying about €100 on average for services in his own collection. Those are personal observations, not market-wide data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What another buyer can take from the story
The account shows why a low asking price alone does not establish whether a vintage chronograph is a bargain. Missing parts, movement condition, originality, and the bracelet can change both the restoration plan and the overall value. Conde Garzón’s example retained its signed crown and original bracelet despite arriving with a missing pusher, and its restoration included several replacement parts.
Rank #4
- Tissot T-Sport Chronograph Quartz Black Dial Men's Watch T116.617.36.052.02
The article does not provide a universal inspection checklist or a method for avoiding fraud when buying online. It also does not compare independently inspected watches or establish today’s prices. Treat the €100 purchase and approximately €200 service as one owner’s experience, and assess any other example on its own evidence—including its condition, completeness, service history, and total expected cost.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PROFESSIONAL DIVE PERFORMANCE – Water-resistant up to 600 m / 2,000 ft for demanding underwater use.
- POWERMATIC 80 MOVEMENT – Swiss automatic movement with up to 80 hours of power reserve.
- CERAMIC ROTATING BEZEL – Features a durable ceramic bezel ring with an anti-clockwise rotating bezel.
- SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL – Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective coating for enhanced clarity.
- BUILT FOR ADVENTURE – Stainless steel case, screw-down crown, helium valve, and durable black rubber strap.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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