2021 marks a big milestone for Seiko. Founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori, the brand is celebrating its 140th anniversary with the release of the Astron GPS Solar 140th Anniversary limited edition. The past year has been eventful for the brand, as Seiko also celebrated the 160th birthday of its founder. The new Astron model celebrates the long heritage of Seiko and pays homage to the beauty of Japanese nature.
The first-ever Seiko Astron was released in 2012. At the time, the watch was the world’s first GPS Solar watch. It seems only fitting that Seiko has decided to mark both anniversaries by adding these limited edition pieces to its portfolio. The Astron combines the longevity and dependability of a solar-powered watch with the heightened precision of GPS technology.
Inspired by the beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms at night, the watch’s dial highlights the natural world. The design of the watch strives to capture the unique beauty of Japan in a way it has never been before. The dial is a warm purple and features a subtle glitter. The colour of the dial is gradient, getting darker towards the 6 o’clock marker. This gives the dial the appearance of the night sky moments after sunset in the spring. The dial’s design is enhanced by the faceted black indices and the pointed luminescent hands. A date display is placed at the 4 o’clock position.
The case of the watch and the bracelet are made of stainless steel. A black super-hard layer coats both and gives the watch extra durability for long-lasting wear. Purple detailing on the push-pieces enhance the overall appearance of the model. The case measures 42.7 mm in diameter. Encasing the beautiful dial is a dual-curved sapphire crystal. The crystal is coated in a super-clear layer. The bracelet closes securely with a three-fold clasp with push-button release.
Functions of the watch include a perpetual calendar, a dual-time function as well as a world time function. Alongside the reception result display, the power reserve display, the watch has a daylight saving time feature, automatic hand position alignment and a power save function. To ensure the proper function of the movement the watch has an overcharge prevention function and a function to prevent the GPS signal reception. The model is water-resistant up to 100 metres or 10 bars.
The movement on the model is GPS Solar with a calibre 5X53. The watch is accurate to ±15 seconds per month, without receiving a GPS signal and at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C. When fully charged the watch has a power reserve of up to 6 months. With the power save function, the watch will function for up to 2 years.
The Astron GPS Solar 140th Anniversary limited edition has been highly anticipated by Seiko fans and is a must-have in any enthusiasts collection. Only 1500 models are available for purchase.
What do you think of the Astron GPS Solar 140th Anniversary limited edition? Let us know in the comments.
