Seiko celebrates the life, career and achievements of its founder Kintaro Hattori with a new limited edition of the Astron GPS Solar, which perfectly expresses Hattori's vision that Seiko should always be 'one step ahead of the rest'. Kintaro Hattori was born in Tokyo in 1860, at a time when Japan was in great turmoil due to the enormous social and industrial changes of the time, and the country's return to the world stage after more than two hundred years of self-imposed isolation. It was a time of great opportunity, and Hattori realised this immediately. By the age of just 17, he had already developed a home watch repair business and, just four years later, founded his own company, repairing, importing and selling wall and wristwatches. Under his leadership, the small 'start-up' grew to become Japan's leading watch manufacturer and, for this reason, Kintaro Hattori soon became known as the 'Watch King of the Orient'.
The latest generation of Astron GPS Solar technology (equipped with rapid time and time zone detection via the GPS system) is integrated with the new Kintaro Hattori 160th Anniversary watch and joins Seiko's long list of watchmaking innovations, including the first quartz timepiece in 1969, which best express Hattori's philosophy and The 42.8 mm case and bracelet are made of high-intensity titanium with black IP treatment (a second crocodile strap is included in the package). The bezel is made of Zirconia ceramic and has sixteen "facets", one for each decade since Kintaro Hattori's birth. The yellow gold-plated caseback bears Kintaro Hattori's name and three references to his past. The 'S' engraving, registered in 1900, is placed in the centre of the case back along with his motto 'One step ahead of the rest' and the Seiko name, first used in 1924, which takes pride of place here. The watch is sold in a special box marked 'S', and includes a card with a message from Shinji Hattori, great-grandson of Kintaro Hattori and current President and CEO of the Group. The timepiece is available in a limited edition of 2,500 pieces. Recommended retail price in Italy: 4,000 euros.
