Seiko’s cherry blossom-inspired Astron watches offer a cosmic twist

These two watches from Seiko will give you a stargazing experience

By Nathan S.R Published January 2, 2025

Seiko Astron GPS Solar — Seiko Astron GPS Solar Seiko / Seiko

Seiko’s Astron collection is made up of watches with high-quality movements, perfectly designed for precision and accurate timekeeping. Such pieces run on the latest technology, such as the GPS tech, which relies on solar energy to display time.

While the Astron collection has high-performing watches, it is also quite popular for its modern-like and contemporary allure. Seiko recently revamped watches from the previous generation. The latest Astron references have a modern, cherry-like theme highlighted by purple and black hues.

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Japanese cherry blossoms have always been admired due to their conspicuous pink color, a hue that’s radiant enough to breathe life into anything. Most designs are based on the daytime appearance of cherry blossoms, but Seiko went in a different direction.

The new design paints a clear picture of cherry blossoms at nighttime, using dark shades and purple color accents. The dial is characterized by a beautiful gradient color with dark purple hues to accentuate different elements. Think of the new view as a quick glance into the sky at night in a garden filled with cherry blossoms.

The top segment looks like a galaxy, thanks to the white glitter and purple hues. The nighttime look is unique and adds some character to these two watches—the SSJ029 and the SSH171. Equipped with four different complications, the SSH171 is more powerful than the SSJ029.

The cherry-inspired pieces will be rolled out into the market by the end of January. While the Seiko SSH171 retails at $2,700, the Seiko SSJ029—the smaller counterpart—is more affordable and retails at $2,600. Only 300 pieces will be launched.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nathan has devoted his life to collecting watches, studying horology, reviewing watches, and writing about timepieces. As a…

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Longines blends vintage charm and modern precision in this stunning 39mm watch

Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 Review: Vintage aviation luxury reimagined

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A striking design and aesthetic

Fashion & Style

anOrdain launches handcrafted porcelain watches

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anOrdain launches handcrafted porcelain watches

AnOrdain, a Glasgow-based company, built a loyal following—it made excellent hand-enameled watch dials and offered clear customer service. The Scottish maker then moved into a new material: porcelain. The company introduced its Model 2 Porcelain collection after three years of focused study. This collection gives customers a way to experience anOrdain's handmade dial art.
Work with porcelain began in 2022. At that time, anOrdain saw a need to broaden its selection. The company also wanted to keep its standards for handmade products high. Instead of buying porcelain dials from others, the company chose to learn this old art itself. AnOrdain's team spent three years with master potters from Stoke-on-Trent—a town known as a center for English pottery—learning how to make watch dials from English clay.
Making porcelain dials requires different methods than working with enamel. AnOrdain’s well-known grand feu enamel dials use glass powder on metal discs, which are baked at 840°C. But the new porcelain dials use English clay. Workers paint them with glass-like coatings and fire them at much higher temperatures, up to 1300°C. To achieve the black finish seen in the collection, the company experimented with many glaze mixtures, finally using a high amount of iron oxide.
After this hot firing, each dial shows slight differences. Small dips and dots appear as a sign of the handmade process. AnOrdain says these natural variations mean no two porcelain dials look the same. This celebrates the human touch in making fine watches.
The Model 2 Porcelain keeps the well-liked size and look of anOrdain’s enamel collection, but with some updates. The 39.5mm steel case holds the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, which performs well. The hands have been significantly improved. White glowing material now fills loops that were previously empty, finished with fine gold frames. The seconds hand is more striking, with a bright red outer coat and a white tip.
Production capacity is small—anOrdain can finish about 30 pieces each month. The price is $2,440, which is $750 less than the enamel versions, even though they use the same cases and movements. The current wait time is six months, and customers can buy only one watch each. The Model 2 Porcelain shows anOrdain's commitment to preserving traditional crafts in modern watchmaking. It also offers affordable luxury through transparent dealings with customers.

Fashion & Style

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Breitling scott carpenter platinum watch

Sixty-three years after Scott Carpenter circled Earth, a custom Breitling Navitimer sat on his wrist. The Swiss maker now honors him with a platinum watch, which has a limited run. The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary observes the American pilot's 100th birthday—it also recalls the story of the first Swiss watch to leave Earth's air.

On May 24, 1962, Carpenter became the second American to circle Earth. He flew as part of NASA's Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. A special Navitimer was on his wrist. Breitling altered it for space travel. The work began with a personal letter from Carpenter—he requested specific changes. He wanted a wider bezel for gloved hands and a stretch metal band for his space suit. Most notably, he asked for a 24-hour dial. In orbit, sunrise and sunset happen every 90 minutes. A regular 12-hour display does not show time well there.