ReviewConnect to Outer Space – The Seiko Astron

The sky has always held the secret of time. Now we can capture time using the power of space and the energy from light, anywhere on the planet. Literally, all you need is light to connect to space.

The history of Seiko is a story of innovation. The brand has time and again, pushed back the boundaries of what a watch can deliver, especially with the Astron GPS Solar watch – the world’s first GPS satellite assisted watch with atomic clock precision. Much like the first Astron released by Seiko on 25 December 1969, which was the world’s first quartz watch, the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar shows Seiko’s relentless drive for innovation and positions it as the world leader in electronic watchmaking. The progress of Astron never stops.

Technology and innovation is what sets the Seiko Astron GPS Solar apart from other luxury watches. GPS satellites that orbit in space control the time keeping accuracy and guide the watch to automatically adjust to the exact time zone based on it’s location. All this by simply holding the watch under an open sky and pressing a button. By taking the energy it needs from the light alone it never needs a battery change.

The Seiko Astron receives GPS signals under an open sky and once the signals are received, the second hand starts moving, indicating the number of satellites, and then displays the current time after it synchronizes with the satellites atomic clock. It is an emotional moment, feeling an identification with GPS satellites 20,000km away.

The watch automatically receives GPS signals whenever it is exposed to natural light. To maintain accuracy of time even when the watch is concealed under a sleeve and the dial cannot receive enough sunlight, the watch stores the time of the previous successful manual time adjustment or time zone adjustment, and automatically starts time adjustment at the same time. A Seiko ring antenna placed under the dial ring provides automatic reception as it receives signals regardless of posture.

Here we feature the Seiko Astron GPS SAST009G with a beautiful and deep black dial with blue and white markers that resemble the view of the earth from outer space. The indexes being raised far above the dial are inspired by lights and signals from outer space. The light from the luminova on each hour marker shines like the earth when viewed from the stratosphere.

The scratch-proof sapphire protects the dial with but also allows maximum light to play with the dial. Unlike watches that synchronize time with atomic clock signals in certain areas only, the Seiko Astron can provide atomic clock precision and accuracy at any place on earth. Accuracy of time, date and location is maintained in all 39 time zones across the globe. Power from light ensures that the need to replace the battery will not arise. The low battery consumption Seiko Astron GPS Caliber 7X52 Quartz movement automatically corrects the time once a day whenever it gets satellite signals under an open sky. It takes six seconds to update the time and thirty seconds to update location. The watch also has a second time-zone dial at the 6’o’clock position in a 24 hour format, perpetual calendar, world time, day-light saving, signal strength indicator, and power reserve. The bold 47mm case is high quality polished steel with scratch-proof black ceramic bezel. A durable silicone strap with an adjustable clasp makes the watch very comfortable to wear.

If you are a frequent traveller to other time zones, a tech enthusiast or an avid watch collector, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar is a great addition to your journey with time.