We’re so used to seeing Seiko Astron watches dressed in black-coated cases and bracelets with matching dark dials that when we saw the new Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS watch, we knew we had to take a look. It offers a refreshing uncoated titanium architecture and an unusual (for Seiko Astron standards) crisp white dial. What’s more, the limited edition of 800 pieces will help raise funds for the international relief organisation in its name.
Medecins Sans Frontieres, otherwise known as Doctors Without Borders, was founded in France during 1971 in the wake of war and famine in Biafra, Nigeria. The foundation began as a small team of doctors and journalists bringing emergency medical aid to the area. Now, the international organisation leads the way in medical humanitarianism, bringing emergency aid to issues all around the world including natural disasters, malnutrition, forced migrations and disease. During their history, they have provided medical assistance to over tens of millions of people and have grown from a group of 13 doctors and journalists to an international movement of more than 45,000. We’ve seen several luxury watch brands help raise awareness and funds for the organisation over the years and Japanese watchmaker Seiko is next, launching the limited edition Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS SSH133J1 watch.
Most of the specifications for the Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS Limited Edition is what we’ve seen before with its colourway being the predominant difference. The red and white livery of Medecins Sans Frontieres is applied across much of the exterior including on a white ceramic bezel panel, red inner bezel ring and on the crisp silver dial which sports accents of red on the three subsidiary counters and central seconds hand. The case back is also engraved with “In Support of Médecins Sans Frontières” to express the partnership between the international relief organization and Seiko. Finally, the watch is also the first Seiko Astron of its kind to come with a white and red silicon strap alongside the traditional titanium bracelet with a three-fold clasp with push button release.
As for how it wears on the wrist, the Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS SSH133J1 watch sits at 43.1mm in diameter and 12.22mm thick so it’s a decent-sized watch but it feels incredibly lightweight thanks to its titanium construction. The titanium is given a super-hard coating for increased scratch resistance and is joined by a pill-shaped crown at 3 o’clock, two oblong, flat-topped chronograph pushers and sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment. The smooth white dial delivers the same mass of functionality as is expected on a Seiko Astron watch alongside night readability thanks to Lumibrite on the hands and indexes.
The Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS Limited Edition is powered by the Japanese watchmaker’s well-known Calibre 5X53 GPS solar movement. It is entirely solar-powered and can be charged by either natural or artificial light and offers an accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month. It provides a date display at 4 o’clock, dual-time function, a perpetual calendar to February 28, 2100, a power reserve display, reception result display function, satellite acquisition status display function, time transfer function and a world time function for presenting the time in 39 different time zones. The movement works by connecting up to twice a day to the GPS network to maintain its precision anywhere in the world. It will automatically adjust to Daylight Saving Time, and if you were to cross time zones, you simply press a single button to move the independently driven hour, minute and seconds hand to the correct local time.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Astron Medecins Sans Frontieres Solar GPS SSH133J1 watch and secure one of the 800 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
