Just when you think that you’ve seen everything under the sun, Seiko releases a new watch. Perhaps the Seiko brand does not command the same dominating presence it once had on the watch market, but their Seiko Astron GPS Solar could return the company to its dominating position in the horological balance.
While the GPS function of the watch (the ability of the watch to correct its time and date by using GPS) isn’t new to the world of watch technology—Citizen released its own GPS watch last year—Seiko has taken a different approach to the watch.
By combining solar power functions along to the GPS function, the Seiko brand has brought forward a watch that is more durable for everyday use. The GPS corrects the date of the watch all on its own by linking up with a satellite once a day (don’t worry: the solar power means the battery won’t fizzle out from these daily checks), so that you don’t have to.
Supposedly, you can even use satellites to track the location of the watch….which means that you won’t have to adjust your watch, even in a new time zone. Now that is pretty cool.
The watch is a nice mix between an open design and listing all the proper indices. It can be a tough balance with a watch as packed full of functions as the Astron, but I think that Seiko has found a great balance between data and design in the face of the watch. The simple dial is a nice background to the time zones, seconds, and date functions on the watch.
Available in black, with gold, blue, white or silver accents, the watch can fit into all wardrobes. Choose between a rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet. All the looks are clean and precise, though the blue and black rubber version has a sportier feel to it.
The watch runs on solar power and a quartz movement, blending both of the factors together to craft a new piece. Quartz watches have not been in vogue for a while, but this latest from Seiko might bring them rushing back into stores and onto our wrists.
Tech savvy and just plain cool, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar takes the best part of quartz watches and moves it a step farther. The watch looks great, is practical for the time freak and world traveler, and is just an amazing piece of new watch technology.