As we reported in February, Seiko partnered with Italian automobile and industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to create a limited edition of the Seiko Astron GPS Solar.
This 5,000 piece limited edition model is presented in the same 44.6 mm diameter lightweight titanium case as the standard production 8X models, but with unique styling by Giugiaro Design.
A hard black scratch resistant coating protects the titanium case from scratches. A titanium bracelet with white ceramic insets and a separate crocodile leather strap with red leather lining and red, white and green accents that coordinate with the dial, are included.
Newly-designed Arabic figures and red and green color accents highlight the sporty look of this limited model. The case back is sculpted into the shape of a sports car wheel and is marked with “Giugiaro Design Limited Edition” and the watch’s individual serial number.
Seiko’s latest solar GPS quartz movement (caliber 8X82) powers the watch. Notably, it features one-touch time zone adjustment allows you to switch timezones using ultra precise GPS satellites based timekeeping. And even if the signal cannot be received, the watch falls back to its precise quartz timekeeping which is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per mont (without receiving a time signal).
It’s stopwatch function can record elapsed times up to 6 hours and with 1/5 of a second accuracy. Further, it has a perpetual calendar that will be correct until 2100, an indicator to confirm if the GPS signal was received, a world time function with 40 timezones and a daylight time function.
UTC time zones are marked on the flange dial, and the bezel has a tachymeter scale for the instant calculation of speed. The hour and minute hands, and the hour indexes, are treated with lume.
Seiko Astron GPS Chronograph Giugiaro Design limited editions will be released in July 2015 in the United States, along with other new Astron Chronograph models.
Final Thoughts
With the advent of the smartwatch, automatic calibration of the time is becoming more and more common. The timekeeping on your phone, for example, is based on atomic clocks that relay an ultra-precise time signal to GPS satellites in space, and then back down to your phone. Same with a smartwatch. This timekeeping technology is the most accurate available. The Seiko watch takes advantage of this extremely precise GPS signal (which is free) – without the fuss of a phone or smartwatch. Moreover, it looks like a traditional watch, not a smartwatch. Not to mention, this version of the Astron , was designed by the same guy who designed the DeLorean.