Seiko’s popular travelling tool, the Astron GPS Solar, embraces a new industrial design inclusive of an octagonal bezel, a ‘crystal box’ pressed dial pattern and the freshly-released 3X62 solar-powered in-house movement in the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watch collection.
Seiko will always be one of our favourite watch brands in the world. Why? Because they somehow seamlessly integrate powerful technologies with aesthetic beauty, all at an extremely accessible price. Since 2012, the Seiko Astron GPS collection in particular has been an essential gateway to newbies in the luxury watch industry looking for a robust and sporty tool for travelling. Each design is powered entirely by light and adjusts automatically to your time zone with a single touch of a button. Previously, Seiko Astron watches have exuded a traditional sports watch aesthetic, opting for perfectly round cases, ceramic bezels and sunray-finished displays. The new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches are a far departure from this, electing sharp, integrated cases and bracelets, eight-sided bezels and unique grid-adorned dials.
There are currently four Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches to choose from: SSJ013J1, SSJ014J1, SSJ015J1, and SSJ017J1. Each one is complete by an industrial-inspired, sharp edged titanium case measuring to 41.2mm wide and 12mm tall. Each element of the case seamlessly integrates into the next, with the brushed lugs flowing nicely into the three-row link bracelets and the new octagonal bezel sloping downwards into the case. Two of the models (SSJ017J1 & SSJ013J1) keep their cases classically clean and uncoated while reference SSJ014J1 opts for rose gold plating on the bezel, screw in crown and flat pushers. Meanwhile, model SSJ015J1 is entirely coated in a black super hard coating.
The name for the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watch collection refers to the box-shaped sapphire crystal glass found on top, inspired by several past Seiko designs. The raised glass against the flat bezel allowed for easy legibility of the dial beneath and provides additional legibility in harsh lights thanks to the anti-reflective coating. The cases of the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches also boast 100 metre water resistant ratings and sporty three-row link titanium bracelets with a three-fold clasp with push button release.
Another new feature for the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches is the dial which is beautifully textured with a grid-like or horizontal pattern. The non-limited edition references which include the all-black SSJ015J1, the blue-centred SSJ013J1 and the grey-dialled SSJ014J1, showcase a ‘crystal box’ pressed dial pattern with rectangular embossing across the entire display. In the meantime, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar ‘Titanium’ Crystal Box SSJ017J1 watch limited to 1,500 pieces offers a striped silver dial. Each display is equipped with large baton indexes and sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes coated in lume. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock and a watch status indicator noted in a subdial at 8 o’clock. The latter is used to display the receiving process of GPS satellites as well as the watch’s charging status, leap second data receipt and in-flight mode.
Finally, the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches house a brand-new in-house movement for Seiko. Calibre 3X62 is an updated version of their GPS Solar movement offering enhanced reception of solar signals for better charge. It still delivers the same long list of functionality as previous Seiko Astron GPS Solar watches including automatic hand position alignment, in-flight mode, GPS signal reception function, overcharge prevention function, power reserve indicator, power save function, reception result display function and satellite acquisition status display function.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Crystal Box watches and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
