Meet the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Watches in Blue, Black & Grey
Wednesday - 24 May 2023
Last year Seiko celebrated ten years of its technically advanced Solar GPS watch from the Astron range. Three models were released to mark the occasion, along with a limited edition model. The watches featured a lightweight titanium case and flawless GPS-controlled time and time zone adjustment functionality. The models were each fitted with the Calibre 5X53, which had been around long before the Astron range, offering several innovative features to take advantage of. The movement is solar-powered and receives updates via GPS several times a day, making the 2022 releases incredibly accurate but stylish also. The key thing to note about the movement is that even if it has not received an update, it will still maintain a staggering accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month. At the same time, the movement will track all 39 different time zones around the globe, constituting a perfect travel companion. This year, Seiko has released another four Astron GPS Solar watches. Three will join the main core collection and comprise dial colours of blue, black and grey, whilst a fourth limited edition watch in grey has been adorned with a unique striped dial pattern.
The Seiko Astron GPS Solar watch was released back in 2012. Its ability to connect to GPS made for an incredibly unique timepiece to own, with unfathomable technical capability and a sleek design that was hard to ignore. Once connected to the GPS satellite, it could adjust to every time zone whilst on the go within seconds, whilst simultaneously using energy created by light.
For the new 2023 Seiko Astron GPS Solar watches, experts at the Japanese company’s watchmaking facilities have chosen to create a dynamic presence with a chiselled and angular case, a faceted bezel and a stunning brushed finish on the surface of the case. Flowing seamlessly into the lugs are the case sides that have undergone some changes, finishing with an integrated bracelet that makes the timepiece ooze a touch of sportiness. This refined bracelet actually tapers to the point where it meets the folding clasp, securing comfortably to the wrist for action every day. Should that action continue into the night, the hands and hour markers on the dial of this Seiko Astron GPS Solar watch have been treated with Lumibrite.
All four of the new Seiko Astron GPS watches have a diameter of 41.2mm and have received a super hard coating to their lightweight titanium bodies. With a lower centre of gravity, the watch wears comfortably on the wrist, with a scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass top to offer ultimate protection over the surface of the dial. Each of the models have a circular sub-dial located at 8 o’clock on the dials. This feature not only receives the GPS signal through this window but also displays the power reserve of the movement in real time. It also offers a leap second data receipt for improved accuracy and an in-flight mode option.
The indexes on the dial of each of these new Seiko Astron GPS Solar watches are matched in colour to the angular bezel. Each one has been filled with Lumibrite as have the hands. Interestingly, the surface of these three standard models is inspired by the quartz crystals that were used to create the tuning fork-shaped quartz oscillators that once powered the original Quartz Astron watch by Seiko back in 1969.
Differing from the 2022 models, the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar watches for 2023 are powered by the solar-powered Calibre 3X62, which features new and improved solar receptors that serve as a more prolonged and efficient source of power. The Seiko Astron watch connects to GPS twice a day, maintaining a precision of just one second every 100,000 years! If, however, the watch cannot connect to GPS to automatically correct the time, it will remember the time at the last successful update and attempt to do so at that same time again, to receive another signal.
The 100-meter water-resistant Seiko Astron GPS Solar watches secure to the wrist with a three-fold clasp and a push-button mechanism for easy dressing on and off the wrist.
If you’d like more information on these new watches you can check them out here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 where you can discuss price, availability and online finance options for this new solar-powered model.
