Seiko’s GPS solar watch lineup just got a major quality-of-life upgrade
Seiko has taken the wraps off three brand new Astron GPS solar watches. The latest lineup brings several notable improvements, including a new Quick-Change system for easy strap removal and replacement and a new Caliber 5X63 with dual-time and 24-hour chronograph function. These are premium offerings, sitting above the HAC001/HAC002 and HAD001/HAD002 models that arrived in late March.
The trio comprises the Seiko HAB001 (Nebula Grey), HAB002 (Astral Onyx), and HAB003 (Celestial Gold). The watches feature a new two-piece titanium octagonal bezel, which the company says helps achieve a low center of gravity and enhances wearing comfort.
The HAB001 is the cleanest of the bunch with its icy blue dial and full titanium bracelet, while the HAB002 goes darker and stealthier with a charcoal-toned finish. The HAB003 swaps the titanium bracelet for a black rubber strap and adds gold accents around the dial, hands, and indices for a slightly flashier look.
New Quick-Change band system
Barring these differences, all three watches are technically identical. They all feature a 43.3mm textured dial with an embossed pattern of interlocking triangles. The sub-dials are arranged horizontally in a symmetrical layout, balancing the dial's chronograph and dual-time displays. The exterior features a super hard coated titanium case and a screw-back case back.
The lineup also introduces a new Quick-Release band attachment system, which supposedly allows users to remove or change the bracelet with just a push of a button.
Caliber 5X63: Seiko's highest performing GPS movement
At the heart of these models is the new in-house Caliber 5X63 solar-powered movement, which combines dual-time tracking with a 1/20-second chronograph that can measure up to 24 hours, a big improvement over Caliber 5X83 found in models like SSH151 and SSH153, which only offer a 12-hour chronograph.
Because it’s GPS-enabled, the watch pulls time zone data directly from satellites, meaning your watch is always perfectly in sync, no matter what time zone you just landed in. Throw in a six-month battery life on a full solar charge (stretching up to two years in power-save mode), an in-flight mode, and a perpetual calendar good through the year 2100, and you’ve got a serious piece of hardware.
Pricing & Availability
Seiko's new Astron GPS solar watches are set to go on sale in June across the US, Japan, Australia, the UK, and Europe. Pricing is as follows:
Source(s)
Add as a preferred source on Google
