Seiko Astron GPS Solar Celebrates Founder’s 160th Anniversary

By Michael Vane - News Published: 8 Oct 2020, Last Updated: 8 Mar 2023

Seiko is celebrating 160 years since the birth of its founder Kintaro Hattori with a limited edition Astron GPS Solar bearing his trademark and motto. The Japanese watchmaker is honouring Kintaro’s life, career and achievements with a watch that represents his vision of always being: “One step ahead of the rest”.

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Seiko revealed the world’s first GPS solar watch back in 2012, championing the technology for its ability to connect to every time zone on Earth and taking all the energy required from light alone.

Fast forward eight years and the Kintaro Hattori anniversary watch features the latest generation Astron GPS solar that’s re-engineered for increased speed and improved quality of the GPS connection. The Caliber 5X movement features three separate motors for the hours, minutes and seconds hands with just three seconds required to change from one time zone to another.

The watch case and bracelet are crafted from titanium with a scratch-resistant hard-coating. The bezel is made from Zirconia ceramic and has sixteen facets, one for each decade since Kintaro’s birth. With its deep black tones, gold accents and high gloss bezel, the Astron has a commanding presence.

The caseback carries Kintaro’s name and three reminders of his legacy. The trademark “S” that he registered in 1900 occupies the centre of the case back. His motto “One step ahead of the rest” appears above and the name Seiko which was first used in 1924 takes pride of place on the rim.

Michael Vane

Michael Vane is an experienced journalist, copywriter and content creator who has produced fun and informative content for Man of Many since 2016. Specialising in gaming, technology and entertainment reporting, Michael is extremely adept at navigating new technologies and providing reviews on the latest releases. He possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Media Studies from Griffith University, and his work has been featured in publications such as Game Informer, Pilot, Wine Selectors and PowerUp!, to name a few.

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