Meet The Seiko SSH127 — An Astron GPS Solar 5X53 Dual-Time In Black And Green

It seems like Seiko has a thing for black this year. I’ve already covered releases of a black Speedtimer, Alpinist, and Turtle Origin, and Thomas covered the new black SLA067 diver. Well, today, I introduce you to the Seiko SSH127, a black-cased version of the 43.1mm Astron. Let’s take a quick look!

I guess for most people, a watch is still a purely functional object, especially when traveling. And I think Seiko has developed the modern Astron collection specifically for those people. The 5X53 movement inside these watches is powered by the sun, and timekeeping is controlled via satellites. That means you won’t ever have to change the battery, and manually setting the time is a thing of the past. On top of that, its perpetual calendar will keep you up to date, at least until February 2100. It’s the perfect watch for someone who never wants to think about their watch ever again.

The most convenient watch you’ll ever buy

For about 15 years, I was that person. Ever since high school when I bought my Seiko Premier Kinetic Perpetual ref. SNP005, I wore the very same watch day in and day out. When I bought it, I liked its looks, and I still kind of do. But what really had me intrigued was its movement. Of course, there were days when I didn’t wear the watch. Maybe on holidays or when I was sick. But whenever I would pick it up, the watch would start running and reset to the right time. I only touched the crown on that watch to adjust for winter and summer time because the perpetual calendar would take care of the date and the leap years.

During my time with it, I didn’t even service it once, and it just kept on running. That watch actually might’ve been the most convenient watch I’ve ever bought. But now that I look at this Seiko Astron, I think it might even take that convenience just a little bit further. First of all, instead of being a Kinetic watch, it’s powered by sunlight, so even if you don’t wear it but keep it out, it’ll just keep running. Plus, once fully charged, the SSH127 will keep ticking for up to six months in complete darkness. And its advanced module will also automatically set the time for daylight savings and whenever you’re visiting another time zone. Of course, all this isn’t new, but it is still very convenient.

A combination of black, green, and rose gold

What is new, however, is this 2023 colorway for the SSH127. The hard-coated titanium case and bracelet are now executed in a very serious-looking black. The nova-inspired dial with the sunray pattern has a very distinct green hue, and both the sub-dials at 3 and 9 o’clock have gotten rose-gold-colored accents. The sub-dial for the second time zone has been kept very under the radar, but it’s there when you need it. In a way, the dial looks very “businessy” to me with its toned-down base colors and slight rose-tone accents. It’s a nice look, though.

The specs

The case of the Astron SSH127 measures 43.1mm wide and 12.2mm thick from the top of the sapphire crystal to the bottom of the closed case back. It’s certainly not a small watch, but it wears quite well on the wrist. That is thanks to its modest 48mm lug-to-lug span. And while you’re traveling, you won’t really have to worry about anything except serious scuba diving because it’s water resistant to 100 meters. Again, this makes it the perfect watch to bring anywhere on your travels. It really is a do-it-all watch.

Available in March

Even though this is an impressive piece of tech that feels solidly built, it won’t be my travel watch of choice. I just can’t seem to fall in love with black-cased watches. But, as I said, I’m sure there are a lot of people who swear by a carefree watch like the Seiko Astron SSH127. It’s launching today and will be available starting March 1st of this year. It’s a limited edition of 1,200 pieces and can be yours for €2,500. For more information, please check Seiko’s official website.

Let us know in the comments what you think of the newest addition to Seiko’s Astron collection.

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