Regardless that the Astron GPS Photo voltaic is 13 years previous, I nonetheless discover the tech fascinating due to the fixed evolution of the motion and the design. So, in fact, I used to be to learn the press launch accompanying the discharge of the edgy Seiko Astron GPS Photo voltaic Twin-Time Chronograph 5X83 in 4 new colorways. The Japanese powerhouse watch model offers us three new Astron watches within the common assortment and one restricted version with a contact of gold.
The most recent iteration of Seiko’s solar-powered and GPS-network-connecting caliber debuted in March 2024. As is commonly the case with Seiko, good issues are available in fours. The Astron SSH158, SSH159, SSH161, and limited-edition SSH163 impressed with the brand new caliber 5X83, which might routinely hook up with the GPS community twice each day and could be very simple to function. Now, one yr later, 4 new iterations of the Astron GPS Photo voltaic Twin-Time Chronograph 5X83 have appeared. Once more, the watches are available in fours. There are the limitless references SSH175, SSH177, and SSH179 together with the SSH180, a restricted version of 1,500. All 4 Astrons function a titanium bezel with a sapphire insert.
Introducing the edgy Seiko Astron GPS Photo voltaic Twin-Time Chronograph 5X83 in 4 new colorways
When you’re not allergic to quartz watches and have a factor for tech, the Astron GPS Photo voltaic fashions ought to attraction to you. The tech of Seiko’s caliber 5X83 affords a string of various features. When passing by means of time zones, the time routinely adjusts. If the watch loses the GPS sign to regulate the time routinely, it’ll present that on the dial in an effort to modify the time manually. Moreover, the motion is correct to ±15 seconds per thirty days if it doesn’t have a sign.
Final yr’s Astron chronograph fashions additionally stood out due to their subtle design. Fortunately, the 4 newest references have the identical angular kind, brushed surfaces, and sharp-looking polished accents. Their 44.1mm titanium circumstances (44.3mm for the LE) have a 14.4mm thickness and a 50mm size, making them massive however wearable because of their proportions and weight. Every watch has an built-in bracelet displaying mirror sprucing and hairline ending for a dynamic and complicated look. Identical to the case, the bracelet acquired a super-hard coating to maintain the watch wanting sharp for so long as potential. It is a good contact, particularly for titanium, which at all times seems worse when scratched than metal.
4 stripy dials in 4 colours
To this point, there’s been nothing new about these watches. However the dials beneath their legible super-clear-coated and dual-curved sapphire crystals are. The three Astrons that be part of the primary assortment are the SSH175 with a blue-gray dial, the SSH177 with a grey dial, and the SSH179 that includes a black dial paired with black super-hard coating on its case and bracelet. The fourth iteration, the limited-edition SSH180, has a navy blue dial.
The limited-edition SSH180 differs fairly a bit from the opposite three watches. Outstanding rose-tone accents on the hour markers, bezel, and different components underline its LE standing. It additionally has a dodecagonal bezel as a substitute of a spherical one, which is why it measures 0.2mm wider. The bracelet is totally different too. Its middle hyperlinks are a lustrous black ceramic. All in all, 4 colours combat for consideration, and that would show to be a bit a lot, however possibly you’ll must see this titanium, black, blue, and rose-gold-colored Astron within the metallic to move closing judgment.
Like a diamond
What all these new Astrons have in widespread are diamond-cut markers on the sub-dials at 12 and 6 o’clock. Moreover, the dials all show horizontal three-dimensional stripes and the caliber 5X83’s dictated format. This consists of sub-dials at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. The primary time is displayed centrally, whereas the sub-dial at 6 o’clock exhibits the hour and minutes in one other time zone. Nevertheless, in case you maintain the 2 pushers down for 3 seconds, the 2 time zones swap locations, so to talk. Additionally, whenever you begin the chronograph, the sub-dial at 6 turns into the totalizer for elapsed hours and minutes. An AM/PM indicator sits between 4 and 5 o’clock, simply above the date indication.
Pricing and availability
All 4 of those new Astron fashions will grow to be out there this month. The Astron GPS Photo voltaic 2025 Restricted Version SSH180 has a worth of €3,400, and the full-black SSH179 prices €3,400 too. The Astron GPS Photo voltaic Twin-Time Chronograph 5X83 SSH175 and SSH177 every have a worth of €3,200.
What do you consider these new Seiko Astrons? Would you put on one, and if that’s the case, which might you select? As at all times, please share your ideas within the feedback part beneath.
Watch specs
Mannequin
Astron GPS Photo voltaic Twin-Time Chronograph 5X83
Reference
SSH175 / SSH177 / SSH179 / SSH180 (LE)
Dial
Blue-gray, grey, or black with a horizontal stripe sample and luminous utilized indexes / Navy blue with a horizontal stripe sample and rose-gold-tone luminous indexes (LE)
Case Materials
Titanium with a transparent or black super-hard coating, sapphire bezel insert / Titanium with super-hard-coating, rose-tone titanium bezel rim, sapphire bezel insert (LE)
Case Dimensions
44.1mm (diameter for normal fashions / 44.3mm for LE) × 50mm (size) × 14.4mm (thickness)
Crystal
Curved sapphire with super-clear coating
Case Again
Titanium, screw-in
Motion
Seiko 5X83: solar-powered quartz caliber with GPS-controlled time and time-zone adjustment, accuracy of +/-15 seconds per thirty days (with out receiving a GPS sign and at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
Water Resistance
10 bar (100 meters)
Strap
Built-in titanium H-link (five-row look) bracelet with clear or black super-hard coating, folding push-button clasp, and easy-adjustment mechanism / Built-in titanium and black ceramic H-link (five-row-look) bracelet with clear super-hard coating on titanium hyperlinks, folding push-button clasp, and easy-adjustment mechanism (LE)
Features
Important time (hours, minutes, seconds), second time zone (hours, minutes) with AM/PM indicator, chronograph (1/Twentieth-second counter at 12 o’clock, mixed 12-hour/60-minute counter at 6 o’clock throughout chronograph operation), perpetual calendar right to the yr 2100, computerized DST adjustment, high-speed time-zone adjustment, time-transfer, signal-reception indicator, world time (38 time zones), power-saving mode
Worth
€3,200 (SSH175 and SSH177) / €3,400 (SSH179 and SSH180)
Guarantee
Reference SSH180 restricted to 1,500 items