Since 1977, Seiko has been producing solar watches and continuously updating their technology. Top models feature GPS, a perpetual calendar, and power reserves of up to a year, and can store enough power for a day in just two minutes of charging.

By Chrono24

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Harnessing the Power of Light

The Seiko catalog has featured solar-powered watches since 1977. The traditional Japanese manufacturer had developed the world's first quartz timepiece just a few years prior, and has been pursuing alternative power concepts ever since, in efforts to move away from battery-dependent movements. Solar-powered watches use solar cells to convert solar energy into electricity. Seiko's ultra-modern solar calibers only need a few minutes of exposure to a light source to store up enough energy for a whole day. If the watch is fully-charged, it can run for up to twelve months without light.

Seiko initially dedicated a separate collection to its solar-powered timepieces. Most of these were three-hand models with analog displays, in a wide variety of styles ranging from classic to sporty. Seiko's solar-powered wristwatches are currently concentrated in the brand's Prospex collection. Here you have a choice of professional diving watches and chronographs. The Premier collection, by contrast, offers a selection of solar-powered dress watches.

In 2012, Seiko revealed the next stage in the evolution of solar movements: the GPS Solar caliber. This watch is reserved for the manufacturer's Astron line and is especially precise, thanks to its built-in GPS receiver. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Seiko wristwatch in 2024, the Japanese watch giant presented three fresh Astron Solar Chronographs made of titanium.

Reasons to Buy a Seiko Solar

Precise quartz movement, no new battery needed
Charges from any light source
Power reserve of up to 12 months
Dress watches, diving watches, and chronographs available
Astron GPS Solar with GPS receiver for extreme precision

Seiko Solar: Prices at a Glance

Model, reference number	Price (approx.)	Size, features
Astron GPS Solar Titanium, SSH097J1	3,000 USD	42.8 mm, perpetual calendar, GMT, GPS receiver
Astron GPS Solar, SSJ005J1	1,700 USD	39 mm, perpetual calendar, GPS receiver
Solar World Time Radio, SAGA309	920 USD	41.4 mm, perpetual calendar, GMT, radio receiver
Prospex Solar Chronograph Diver’s 140th Anniversary, SSC807J1	700 USD	44.5 mm, chronograph, date
Prospex Solar Diver’s, SNE571P1	480 USD	38.5 mm, date
Solar Chronograph, SSC771P1	390 USD	41.4 mm, chronograph, date
SNE039P1	170 USD	37 mm, day-date display

How much do Seiko Solar models cost?

You can buy a Seiko Solar with three hands on Chrono24 for about 170 USD in new condition. The price point for chronographs sits at around 390 USD. If you'd prefer a solar-powered diving watch, watches in the Prospex line cost between 390 and 670 USD. Prospex chronographs change hands for between 670 to 780 USD.

Prices for watches in the Astron GPS Solar line are significantly higher. For three-hand watches in the current series, you should budget just around 2,000 USD. A GPS Solar chronograph will set you back between 2,000 and 3,000 USD.

Overview of the Seiko Solar Collection

Until a few years ago, Seiko dedicated a separate collection to its watches with solar calibers. The majority of the timepieces are three-hand models in a wide variety of styles.

Sporty Seiko Solar Watches

If you like a watch with a sportier design, be sure to check out the Seiko Solar SNE039P1, SNE391P1, and SNE485P1. The former reference is the smallest watch in the group with a diameter of 37 mm. The other two models are 5 mm larger than the SNE039P1. These two larger variants also offer more water resistance (100 m, 10 bar, 328 ft). The SNE039P1 is only water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar, 98 ft) and thus only splash-proof.

The case is made of stainless steel and is worn on a link bracelet. All three models are highly legible, with applied bar indices and slim hands dominating their dials. Seiko uses its proprietary luminous material, LumiBrite, for the hour markers and hands. Depending on the model, the watches offer a date or day-date display at 3 o'clock.

You can buy the SNE039P1 on Chrono24 for as little as 170 USD. A SNE391P1 will cost you about 190 USD, while the price point for a SNE485P1 sits at approximately 250 USD.

Dress Watches for Wrists of All Sizes

The Seiko Solar collection includes a multitude of classic dress watches perfectly suited to suits and evening wear. The Seiko Solar ref. SUP873P1 and SUP878P1 are primarily aimed at men. Both have a large, 38-mm stainless steel case and leather strap. While the surfaces of the former reference are alternately brushed and polished, the case of the SUP878P1 is gold-plated.

The dial designs are also different. The dial on the SUP873P1 is white, and features applied line indices. Ddauphine hour and minute hands indicate the time. The watch does not have a seconds hand. The SUP878P1 features a silver sunburst dial with printed Roman numerals and a railroad minute track. Again, Seiko dispenses with a seconds hand.

While the stainless steel version is available for around 150 USD, you should expect to pay around 190 USD for the gold-coated model.

Women will get their money's worth with the ref. SUP427P1, for example. This model was designed with the famous Cartier Tank in mind: rectangular case, Roman numerals, dauphine hands. The 25-mm watch comes with a stainless steel case and bracelet, mother-of-pearl dial, and a bezel set with sparkling crystals. This timepiece will set you back about 280 USD.

If you’d prefer a round watch, check out the Seiko Solar ref. SUP431P1. Be prepared to shell out about 320 USD for this watch in mint condition.

The Seiko Solar Chronograph

The Seiko Solar collection also offers a line of chronographs, which, thanks to their precise quartz movements, can stop with a very high level of precision. The 43-mm Seiko Solar Chronograph Alarm ref. SSC141P1, for example, stops in increments of a fifth of a second. Motorsport enthusiasts will enjoy the watch's tachymeter scale, since you can use it to determine a vehicle's speed. The Solar Chronograph Alarm in stainless steel with a blue dial costs around 290 USD in new condition.

Another Seiko Solar with a chronograph function is ref. SSC771P1, which can measure increments of one-twentieth of a second. For this, the watch utilizes a subdial at 12 o'clock, from which you can track fractions of a second using the subdial's twenty markers. The watch is also capable of timing intervals. This 41.4-mm stainless steel timepiece will set you back approximately 370 USD.

The Seiko Astron – Revolutionary GPS Technology

Seiko launched the world's first quartz wristwatch in 1969, and called it the Quartz Astron. Since then, the name has become a kind of shorthand for the manufacturer's visionary innovations. The Astron GPS Solar was the world's first solar watch with GPS when it was introduced in 2012. Using GPS satellite signals, the watch sets itself to the current local time automatically at regular intervals. You can also set the time zone manually with the push of a button. The receiver is a small ring antenna under the bezel. Since the best reception for GPS signals is outside, it's all the more reason to power this model with solar energy. This means you can charge your Astron GPS Solar and update the time simultaneously.

One highly-coveted variant is the Seiko Astron GPS Solar World Time Novak Djokovic Limited Edition ref. SSE105 presented at Baselworld 2016. The luxury watch, limited to 3,500 pieces, is dedicated to tennis player Novak Djokovic. Its case is made of titanium and has a rose gold plating. The black ceramic bezel coordinates perfectly with the black crocodile leather strap. With its specially-selected shimmering blue mother-of-pearl dial, this world time watch with a perpetual calendar is a real showstopper and will set you back about 900 USD.

The ref. SSH051J1 has a somewhat simpler design with its stainless steel case and anthracite-colored sunburst dial. The caliber 5X53 provides this model with a GMT function, power reserve indicator, and perpetual calendar. It's also capable of automatically distinguishing between standard and daylight savings time. Plan to spend about 2,000 USD on this edition.

New Astron Models in 2023 & 2024

In 2023, Seiko presented a special edition of the Astron GPS Solar made of titanium and limited to 800 pieces. The ref. SSH133J is dedicated to the aid organization Doctors Without Borders. Inside the watch ticks the caliber 5X53 with a GPS function. Among other things, the watch has a perpetual calendar, a world time function for 39 time zones, an automatic summer time function, and a second time zone with a 12-hour and AM/PM display. With every watch sold, 5% goes to Doctors Without Borders.

You can buy an unworn example of this watch for around 2,200 on Chrono24.

Three more Astron chronographs followed in 2024 with the Astron GPS Solar Dual Time. Seiko presented the models on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first Seiko-branded wristwatch, introduced in 1924. All three models have a titanium case with a super-hard coating and are powered by the tried and true caliber 5X83. The model with the reference number SSH151 has a black dial and silver subdials. On the reference number SSH153, the color scheme is reversed. The dial of ref. SSH155, on the other hand, has a black monochrome look.

The price for a mint copy of one of the three variants is just under 2,000 USD.

The GPS Solar With Three Hands

In watches like the ref. SSJ005J1, Seiko manages to combine the benefits of GPS solar calibers with the classic look of a three-hand watch. This 39-mm stainless steel timepiece is equipped with the precise GPS solar caliber 3X22. The movement features a perpetual calendar, an energy-saving function, and automatic hand position adjustments. You'll have to do without a second time zone, but the dial is much tidier.

Prices for a three-hand GPS Solar start around 1,700 USD. Variants with black or gold-plated cases usually cost a few hundred dollars more. The same applies to titanium versions.

In 2023, Seiko introduced a new GPS Solar model with three hands under the reference number SSJ013J1. Thanks in part to the new Seiko caliber 3X62, the watch has a new dial design with a date display at 3 o'clock and a multifunctional subdial at 8. The dial itself is blue and has a pattern consisting of small squares. According to Seiko, the movement has a deviation of only one second every 100,000 years.

The GPS Solar ref. SSJ013J1 changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly 2,000 USD in unworn condition.

The Solar-Powered Seiko Prospex

You'll find the largest selection of solar-powered Seiko watches in the Prospex collection. The line is primarily known for its professional diving watches, such as the “Tuna.” You can also purchase this watch as a 47-mm Solar Tuna under the reference number SNE577P1 at the comparatively low price of approximately 450 USD.

Alternatively, someone with a smaller wrist may want to opt for ref. SUT403P1. This model has a diameter of 39 mm, making it much more suitable for narrow wrists. This timepiece will set you back about 470 USD.

The SNJ025P1 “Arnie” commands a similar price. This timepiece is closely related to the Tuna and takes its nickname from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wore the watch in the action films “Commando” and “Predator.” Unlike the Tuna, the Arnie has both an analog and a digital display and is equipped with a chronograph function. The price: approximately 425 USD.

If you'd prefer a diving watch with a more traditional design, take a closer look at the watches in Seiko's SNE series. These timepieces measure 39 mm across and 10 mm high, and are thus very wearable. Optically, they strongly resemble classic diving watches. Seiko's SNE models are water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft) and come with dials in black, blue, green, brown, or anthracite, both with and without a sunburst finish. You can also choose between a stainless steel link bracelet or rubber strap. Depending on the edition, plan to spend between 400 and 560 USD.

Solar-Powered Prospex Chronographs

Looking for a diving watch with a chronograph function? If so, you might find your dream watch in the Prospex Solar Chronograph Diver’s line. These stainless steel timepieces are water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft) and feature a unidirectional diving bezel. The stainless steel bracelet is equipped with a deployant clasp as well as an additional security pusher, guaranteeing the perfect fit. Alternatively, the watch also comes on a rubber strap with a pin buckle.

The dial comes in black, blue, or green and is very legible, despite having subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The watch also boasts LumiBrite on its indices and hands, making the dial legible even in low light. Standard Solar Chronograph Diver’s models change hands for roughly 560 USD. A special and limited edition like the PADI (SSC795J1) or the 140th Seiko anniversary ref. SSC807J1 released in 2021 will set you back about 100 to 200 USD more.

The Solar Prospex Speedtimer for Motorsports Fans

Seiko expanded its Prospex collection in late 2021 to accommodate a line of solar-powered chronographs inspired by the Seiko Speedtimer from the 1960s. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 39 mm and is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). The Speedtimer Solar features a fixed tachymeter bezel, letting you know right away that it's a racing chronograph

The watch offers a selection of dials in black, beige, blue, or white. The subdials, however, are black, and laid out in the typical tricompax arrangement at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. The date display is located at 4:30.

The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar changes hands for between 600 and 750 USD, depending on the color variant.

FAQs

What effect does solar technology have on battery life?

Solar watches charge continuously with light and thus offer longer battery life and an extended service life.

Is the extra cost over and above a “normal” quartz watch justified?

Compared to a “normal” quartz watch, a solar watch can save money in the long run due to its maintenance and environmental benefits, as well as its longer battery life. The additional expense is therefore justified.