Grand Seiko, the only Asian watchmaking maison participating in Watches & Wonders, used the theme of this year’s booth as “Clear Light, Changing Shadows,” and used a contrast of its signature static mood and sensuous media art-style displays to lead visitors into the beautiful natural scenery of Japan, where its manufacture is located. In relation to this, an installation reminiscent of the ice sculptures of world-renowned designer and architect Tokujin Yoshioka, who participated in Milan Design Week 2025 earlier this year, also caught the eye. The visuals, which combine Grand Seiko’s unique sense of capturing the flow of time through the changing seasons, are said to have been inspired by the smooth movement of the second hand, also known as the Glide Motion of the Spring Drive mechanism, which is the brand’s pride. Perhaps that’s why the new highlight of Watches & Wonders this year is also Spring Drive.
Since the very first Grand Seiko model (Ref. 3180) launched in 1960 with the goal of creating the most precise watch of its time, the evolution of Grand Seiko has opened one of the most brilliant chapters in the history of Seiko watchmaking. The spark that started at Suwa Seikosha (now Seiko Epson) was later transferred to Daini Seikosha (the second Seikosha, referring to the Seiko factory rebuilt after the Great Kanto Earthquake), and the delicate competition between the two factories led to even faster technological advancements, making the incredible success story of Grand Seiko possible. In particular, the 44GS, which was first introduced by Daini Seikosha in 1967, is a monumental model that established the ‘Grand Seiko Style’, and has had a continuous influence on the current Grand Seiko models. Technically, a large number of Hi-Beat models that vibrate per second (36,000 vph) were successfully mass-produced, and some of them were classified as ‘V.F.A. (Very Fine Adjusted.)’ which had undergone the highest level of adjustment in order to be entered into the prestigious Observatory Chronometer Competitions, and actually dominated the Neuchâtel Chronometer Competition in Switzerland. And this history of precision continued with the quartz that took the 1970s by storm and then Spring Drive, and Seiko’s watchmaking faced another major turning point.
Spring Drive began research and development in 1977 under the leadership of Suwa Seikosha engineer Yoshikazu Akahane, who wanted to combine the advantages of both mechanics and quartz. The first prototype was announced in 1982, the first commercial model with the manual-winding Spring Drive Caliber 7R68 was released in 1999, and the commercial model with the automatic-winding Spring Drive Caliber 9R65 was released in 2004, leading to its current form. Spring Drive maintains the gear train of a mechanical movement, but incorporates a pair of coil blocks that convert the mechanical energy generated from the mainspring into electrical energy, a quartz oscillator, and an IC (integrated circuit). In other words, the traditional escapement is eliminated and replaced with a set of parts called a Tri-synchro Regulator. This resulted in the birth of a unique movement that boasts high precision, while eliminating the ‘tick-tock’ sound that is characteristic of mechanical movements. In addition, a rotating wheel part developed with a small but powerful magnetic material called the glide wheel is installed, which meshes with the 4th wheel of the gear train to show the unique, delicately flowing movement of the second hand, called the Glide Motion.
This year, Grand Seiko introduces Spring Drive, the brand’s most advanced watchmaking quintessence, along with a new term, U.F.A. (Ultra Fine Accuracy), inspired by the V.F.A. series that dominated the Swiss Chronometer Competition in the late 1960s, and implemented it in the new automatic Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2. The next-generation Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2 boasts an incredible accuracy of ±3 seconds per month (again, months, not days!) and ±20 seconds per year. The brand claims that it is the most accurate mainspring-powered wristwatch ever. This is an improvement over the automatic Spring Drive Caliber 9RA5 with a 5-day power reserve that was first introduced to celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary in 2020, which had a monthly accuracy of ±10 seconds (±0.5 seconds per day). It is worth emphasizing that this is a replica watches that literally boasts ‘ultra-fine accuracy (U.F.A.)’.
The next-generation Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2 is equipped with a newly designed IC based on the existing 9RA series Spring Drive Caliber. The quartz oscillator and sensor, which have been aged for approximately three months, along with the low-power IC programmed to compensate for heat generation on their own, are all vacuum-sealed to minimize temperature differences and protect against external factors, ensuring stable performance. In addition, for the first time in a Spring Drive movement, the accuracy difference (error range) that may occur during long-term use can be easily and precisely adjusted by operating the regulation switch during the after-sales service stage. In other words, instead of having to send the movement to the manufacturer every time for precision adjustment and complete service, you can quickly resolve the issue with the help of a technician who has received specialized training in the relevant field.
Through the transparent sapphire crystal case back, you can admire the unique movement that you can only find in Grand Seiko, and the finishing, including the movement design and bevelling (chamfering) and mirror-polished bridges, is said to have been inspired by the nature surrounding the Shinshu Watch Studio, the manufacture located in Shinshu, where Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are created. In addition, the size has been reduced and made more compact with a caliber diameter of 30 mm and a thickness of 5.02 mm compared to the existing 9RA series, so it can be applied to cases under 40 mm, increasing its usability. This allows for the existing automatic Spring Drive Calibers 9RA5 and 9RA2 (power reserve versions) for relatively sporty models or models with a more prominent size with a classic design, and the next-generation automatic Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2 for a unisex size model that is more faithful to the original design that can be worn by both men and women, depending on the need. This will be an opportunity to diversify the Spring Drive lineup. Meanwhile, the 9RB2 caliber guarantees a power reserve of about 3 days (72 hours). It differs from the 9RA series with a 5-day power reserve not only in size but also in power reserve. This is probably because the barrel size has also been reduced while sharing the same design but with a reduced diameter. Similar to the previous 9RA2 version, a distinctive fan-shaped power reserve indicator with a blue hand on the movement bridge has been added, allowing users to intuitively check the remaining power through the see-through case back.
The Spring Drive U.F.A. comes in two versions: a noble platinum case and a lightweight, high-strength titanium case. The platinum version is fitted with a crocodile strap with a folding buckle made of the same platinum, while the titanium version is fitted with a titanium bracelet with three links, so you can tell at a glance that the two versions are made of different materials. Each case and bracelet is finished with Grand Seiko’s signature Zaratsu polish, which provides a distortion-free shine from any angle. In addition, the bezel, lugs, and case profile are delicately hair-lined, adding a luxurious impression to the entire watch. The case diameter of both versions is 37 mm, and the thickness is 11.4 mm including the box-shaped sapphire crystal on the front, and like other Grand Seiko products, it guarantees a practical 100 m water resistance.
