A tribute model commemorating the 50th anniversary of the world's first quartz wristwatch, the Quartz Astron, will be released from the world's first GPS solar watch, the Seiko Astron, on November 28, 2019 (Thursday) in Japan and abroad.

On December 25, 1969, Seiko surprised the world by announcing the "Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ," the world's first quartz wristwatch. It achieved high timekeeping accuracy within ±5 seconds per month, bringing about a "quartz revolution" in wristwatch history. Furthermore, by disclosing technologies it had patented, including its independently developed tuning-fork-type quartz crystal oscillator and open-type step motor, Seiko greatly contributed to the global proliferation of analog quartz watches, and its technology is still recognized today as the world standard for quartz wristwatches. In 2014, its significant reforms in watchmaking technology were recognized when it was registered as "Mechanical Engineering Heritage" by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, and in 2018, it was registered as "Heritage of Future Technologies" by the National Museum of Nature and Science.

In 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the "Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ," numerous commemorative models were released from the GPS solar watch collection bearing its name, the Seiko Astron. The final release of this anniversary year is the special model "Seiko Astron The 1969 Quartz Astron 50th Anniversary Limited Edition," which embodies the spirit and future aspirations imbued in the "Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ."

Despite being a GPS solar watch, whose external constraints differ entirely from those of a simple quartz watch, the 18K yellow gold case faithfully follows the silhouette of the original model as much as possible. It features the distinctive rough carving pattern, meticulously crafted by skilled jewelers, just like the original. This pattern, combining delicacy and boldness, forms a circle, symbolizing Astron's determination to return to its original intent after 50 years and forge a new future.

To reproduce the slim and elegant form of the era, in addition to a simple, highly legible layout, the world's thinnest GPS solar caliber, "3X22," was adopted for the movement. While compact, it boasts excellent fundamental performance unique to Astron, such as "Super Smart Sensor" (automatic time correction function) that automatically receives and corrects time by detecting light, and "high-speed time zone correction function" that quickly adjusts to local time with a simple button operation anywhere in the world. It is a state-of-the-art GPS solar movement.

The case back is engraved not only with "Limited Edition" and the serial number as proof of the limited model, but also with the message "Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Quartz Astron, released on Dec 25, 1969" within a classical horseshoe-shaped frame. This tribute model comes in a special box made of lustrous solid wood with a beautiful grain, and is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces starting November 28, 2019 (Thursday).