Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSH101J1 and SSH105J1 Limited Edition Watches

乾杯, or “kanpai” meaning cheers in, of course, Japanese, and let’s enjoy the sake. And after a couple of them we will see the full beauty of the city and the night sky. As we all know Seiko’s designers often find inspiration by looking at the beautiful and diverse facets of nature around them. Not this time. The Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSH101J1 and SSH105J1 Limited Edition watches have an urban vibe. And it wouldn’t surprise me that a night on the town served as inspiration for this pair of intoxicating Astrons.

It’s raining limited edition Astrons lately. We covered the white and blue SSH093J1 that celebrates Seiko’s 140th anniversary. And also the game-inspired black and gold SSH097J1 KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS. This pair of Seiko Astrons, the GPS Solar SSH101J1 and SSH105J1 Limited Edition watches, are not born of a collaborative project nor do they celebrate a historic event. Although, if we fantasize about the source of inspiration for these two Astrons, the night Seiko’s design team came up with the colors you see in front of you, could have been one epic and memorable one. Las Vegas is nothing like the Japanese capital so “what happens in Tokyo stays in Tokyo” is not a thing. These two watches that both come in a limited edition of 800 pieces, tell the story. That makes 1,600 possible storytelling sessions in total. I guess soon enough the whole world will know what happened in Tokyo.

Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSH101J1 and SSH105J1 Limited Edition watches

Both the purple SSH101J1 and the blue SSH105J1 are an impression of the high energy and ever-present neon lights of Tokyo at night. And both the purple and blue gradated dials evoke the metropolis’s futuristic atmosphere that fits the hi-tech functionality of the Astron GPS Solar. The colors of the night shine under a dual-curved sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating that ensures high legibility at any angle and in any light. And even under the shadiest of circumstances the blue glow of the Lumibrite on both the hands and indexes cannot be overlooked. If you can’t read the time, there must be something clouding your vision.

Titanium in two metallic shades

The 20 bar water-resistant case and bracelet are in titanium with a super-hard coating to fend off scratches. Case finish wise, we have a clean metal look for the purple SSH101J1 and a more sinister black hue for the blue-dialed SSH105J1. Both 42.8×14.72mm cases are light, smooth, and easy to wear because of the shaped case. The well finished bracelet has a three-fold clasp with a push-button release and Smart Adjuster function.

… the screw case back shows the words “Limited Edition” and the individual watch’s serial number.

To remind you the purple or blue watch on the wrist is not just any ordinary one, the screw case back is engraved with the words “Limited Edition” and the individual watch’s serial number. As you would expect with a 2021 Astron the caliber 5X53 Dual-Time makes sure the wearer is connected up to twice a day to the GPS network. It guarantees precision of +/-15 seconds per month (without receiving a GPS signal and at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C).

Two very versatile Astrons

Both watches look equally good in office spaces and after-work environments such as bars, clubs, discos, cafés, karaoke and / or poker joints, raves, and finally, all types of fast-food places. And they are also civilized enough to handle themselves in places like shopping malls, lunchrooms, restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and other places you can even take the whole family to. These two Astrons are versatile. Still, no matter where you take these Astrons, their nightlife inspiration will always ooze out. You can take the watch out of the party, but you can’t take the party out of the watch. “Kanpei!”

The price of the purple SSH101J1 is €2,800 and the blue SSH105J1 costs €3,000. And that includes an extra rubber strap with a pin buckle. Does the extra strap justify the price? Well, I guess that’s a matter of taste and budget. For more information please visit the Seiko website.

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