The Case:

This Seiko Astron watch SSH047J1 measures at 43mm wide by 13mm thick in stainless steel, with a super-hard coating. Sapphire crystals have been used in conjunction with a super clear coating, to allow for maximum visibility. It features a screw down crown that is situated at the 3 o’clock marker. The elegant Seiko Astron GPS Solar case is really aesthetically pleasing and also very practical on the wrist.

The Bracelet:

The bracelet off the Seiko Astron SSH047J1 follows suit, it is made from triple folded stainless steel. This production technique may have drawn inspiration from traditional Japanese sword making, as metal folding is the most important process in the design of the sword. The bracelet is in the style of an oyster bracelet that has been polished, which gives the bracelet a sheen. It fastens easily using a Seiko engraved three-fold clasp with push button release.

The Dial:

The understated white dial is laid out very clearly, with large lumibrite hour and minute hands displaying local time. A smaller sub-dial at 6 indicates home time, whilst the sub-dial at 3 indicates the day of the week on the local time, and an AM/PM indicator is set within. Another sub-dial at 9 acts as a function indicator and a power reserve indicator.  It also features the ever present Seiko logo beneath the 12 o’clock mark. A day display can also be seen between the 4 and 5 o’clock indices.

Movement:

GPS solar movement powers the watch, it synchronises twice a day to an atomic clock in a GPS satellite. The first connection of the day will be made when the dial sensor detects sunlight and then the second is made at a time that is predetermined and set by the wearer to accommodate their needs. The 5X53 caliber boasts an extraordinary time accuracy of 1 second deviation every 100,000 years making it one of the most accurate watches in the market. Although without GPS connection, the movement keeps time to the standard +/- 15 per month accuracy. Also to note, the watch is water resistant up to 100 metres, making it suitable for swimming and snorkelling.

The Family: Astron 

Thanks to Seiko’s relentless drive for innovation new possibilities in watch technology continue to open up as the new Seiko Astron, the world’s first GPS solar watch, so dramatically demonstrates. Seiko has, once again, pushed back the boundaries of what a watch can deliver and has set a new world standard in electronic watchmaking. The progress of Astron never stops. Astron has continued to pursue “the ultimate wristwatch” – The GPS Solar watch “ASTRON”.

The Brand: Seiko

Seiko’s story began in 1881 with the opening of a clock shop in Tokyo, it’s owner was Kintaro Hattori. Eleven years after the opening of his shop, Hattori opened a clock factory with ten employees and it was in 1895 that they began to produce pocket watches. Soon followed by alarm clocks in 1899, and then table clocks in 1902. Then in 1913 Hattori began working on his first wristwatch. The in 1924, 43 years after the initial opening, the brand Seiko was born with the creation of the first Seiko wristwatch.

Seiko established itself throughout the 20th century as being a driving force in the advancements that took place in the watching world. For example, in 1956, Seiko were the producers of the first winding wristwatch made in Japan. Then in 1964, Seiko became the official timer for the Tokyo Olympics. And then most notably Seiko unveiled the first quartz wristwatch, the Astron, in 1969. Marking the beginning of the quartz revolution. Or equally impressive the creation of the world’s first TV watch in 1982. And even more relevant today, with our abhorrent use of non-renewable energy sources, Seiko’s Kinetic. This watch had the ability to generate its own power from the movement of the wearer.

Ceaseless determination to innovate in every aspect of the watchmaker’s art is what defines Seiko’s 135-year history. By embracing this ethos, Seiko has been responsible for a string of industry-leading advances in the technology of time. Notably, the creation of the world’s first quartz watch in 1969. The listed technological developments serve as evidence to illustrate the revolutionary impact which Seiko has had on the watchmaking world. They are also markably unique in that they manufacture every aspect of every watch in-house.

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