Seiko Astron

A Stylish High-Tech Watch From Japan

In 2012, Seiko introduced the Astron GPS Solar, the world's first solar-powered wristwatch with a GPS receiver. More than 40 years after introducing the first wristwatch with a quartz movement, the Japanese watchmaker is once again setting new standards in the industry. Thanks to the miniaturized ring antenna under the bezel, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar receives GPS signals from multiple satellites and automatically sets its hands to the current local time. Depending on the model and caliber, the technology accounts for 39 or 40 time zones.

As the timepiece sets itself once a day, the rate of deviation is only one second in 100,000 years. The quartz watch’s perpetual calendar doesn’t need to be corrected until March 1, 2100, because this is a secular year and there is no February 29, even though it would normally be a leap year. This sporty men’s watch harnesses the power of the sun, eliminating the need to change environmentally harmful batteries.

The Seiko Astron is also available with an outsized date, dual time, or chronograph function. The latter is accurate to one-fifth of a second and can stop time spans of up to six hours. Highlights of the Astron collection include limited special editions like the Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic Limited Edition ref. SSE105, of which only 3,500 pieces were produced.

Reasons to Buy a Seiko Astron

• First wristwatch with a solar-powered movement and GPS
• Giugiaro Design ref. SSE121J1 limited to a run of 3,000 pieces
• Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph for stopping the clock
• Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual Time for displaying a second time zone

Prices at a Glance: Seiko Astron

How much does a Seiko Aston cost?

Seiko Astron watches range in price from approximately 1,350 USD for a three-hand model with a date display to some 3,360 USD for a limited-edition high-end watch designed by Italian industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Chronographs like ref. SSE005J1, which changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly 2,240 USD, represent the mid-range in terms of price.

High Precision: The Astron GPS Solar Chronograph

Thanks to its GPS receiver, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph is as accurate as an atomic clock and also offers a convenient chronograph function. When the watch debuted in 2014, it was the first solar-powered watch to combine GPS with a chronograph function.

The Astron GPS Solar Chronograph collection now includes models with a perpetual calendar and world time function. Seiko makes the watches out of titanium and the bezel is usually made of ceramic. The Japanese giant also offers black DLC-coated versions. This is the case with the Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SSH156, which is limited to 1,000 pieces and features a gold-plated crown, case back, and pushers.

Two Time Zones: The Astron GPS Solar Dual Time

Business professionals and frequent travelers appreciate a dual time function. This allows you to keep track of two time zones at once: the current local time and, for example, the time at home. The Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual Time is one of the most advanced dual-time watches. The luxury watch is available in several versions, from classic titanium to gold-plated stainless steel.

At first glance, the watch looks like a chronograph. But if you look closely, you’ll see that the subdials are used to display the home time, the day of the week, and the watch’s operating mode. The various functions are controlled via the pushers.

There are also a number of interesting Astron GPS Solar Dual Time special editions available. The Limited Edition 2024 SSH145, for example, was inspired by the night sky. The titanium case is coated in black, and the glittery dial features a black to blue color gradient. In contrast, the hands, indices, and bezel scale are gold plated. The 42.7-mm watch is limited to just 1,200 pieces.

Seiko Astron With Giugiaro Design

In 1983, Seiko introduced the first watch created in collaboration with Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was also the first quartz chronograph with an analog time display. Today, the extravagantly designed timepiece is one of the most coveted collector's watches among Seiko fans.

The design of the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph Giugiaro Design Limited Edition ref. SSE121J1, which is limited to 3,000 pieces, is based on the original 1983 model, but has a slightly sportier overall look. The tachymeter scale on the bezel makes it clear that this chronograph is aimed at racing drivers and enthusiasts. Red and green accents on the black dial and case also add to the sporty aesthetic. The case and bracelet are made of titanium with a black hard coating for extra durability. Like all Astron chronographs, this limited edition has a six-hour stopwatch function.

Quartz Astron: The World's First Quartz Wristwatch

Seiko revolutionized the watch industry in 1969 with the introduction of the first quartz-powered Astron. After ten years of development, the company launched its first quartz wristwatch in a strictly limited edition just in time for Christmas. Even back then, the Japanese manufacturer was able to produce almost every component of the luxury watch in-house. It is this high level of vertical integration that continues to set Seiko apart from the majority of Swiss watch manufacturers to this day. Each of these 100 watches cost 450,000 yen, which was the price of a mid-size car at the time.

Some 40 years later, Seiko released a new edition of the Quartz Astron. Limited to 200 pieces, this special edition measures 41 mm across and just 3.1 mm thick. The case is made of high-intensity titanium and is held on the wrist with a silicone or crocodile leather strap. For the caliber 9F62 inside, Seiko uses only the highest quality quartz crystals to ensure the best precision, even under changing temperatures. Consequently, the maximum deviation is only about ten seconds per year.

FAQs

Are Astron watches a good investment?

Watches in the Seiko Astron collection are reliable, high quality, highly accurate timepieces that offer great value for money. However, the watches are less suitable as investments. Although their value is relatively stable, there is no expectation of appreciation over time.

What does Novak Djokovic have to do with the Seiko Astron?

Novak Djokovic was a Seiko brand ambassador for many years. The Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic Limited Edition was one of the results of this collaboration. This timepiece is a special variant of the Astron GPS Solar Dual Time.

Is there an alternative to the Seiko Astron?

Alternatives to the Seiko Astron include watches with the Satellite Wave GPS caliber from Citizen and the G-Shock G-Squad models from Casio. Almost all smartwatches have a GPS function.