More than a feat of engineering, the latest Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. movement reflects a decades-long devotion to mastering both time and design
In watchmaking, accuracy is often seen as science. But at Grand Seiko, precision is just as much an art. With the introduction of the new Spring Drive U.F.A.—its latest hybrid mechanical-electronic engine and the most precise of its kind to date—the Japanese watchmaking house shows that its pursuit of unparalleled accuracy isn’t simply achieved by exceptional engineering, but also with a knack for architectural beauty and a sensitivity to the passage of time itself.
The movement in question to receive the U.F.A. (“Ultra Fine Accuracy”) certification is the Spring Drive Calibre 9RB2. And just how precise is this movement? Grand Seiko guarantees timekeeping deviation to within +/−20 seconds per year. This trumps the record of +/−15 seconds per year offered by the Spring Drive Calibre 9R65 from 2004.
Triumph of Imagination
We don’t blame you if the numbers are making you feel a bit dizzy. However, the record-breaking figures—while astounding and certain to thrill fans of technical watchmaking—also tell a story of visionary ambition and relentless pursuit in a way that only Grand Seiko can.
And it all began in 1999, when Grand Seiko debuted the Spring Drive, which combined electronically powered quartz technology with mechanical components. A revolutionary concept that remains unmatched to this day, the Spring Drive promised the best of both worlds: mechanical sophistication and authenticity, with energy supplied by the traditional winding and mainspring systems, and optimum precision by way of electronically regulated timekeeping.
The Spring Drive’s debut was met with everything from admiration to skepticism, and it is a testament to Grand Seiko’s foresight and faith in its know-how that, over 25 years on, the Spring Drive is now firmly entrenched in the annals of the brand’s history.
There have been over 10 iterations of the Spring Drive movement since its debut, spanning both automatic and manual-winding versions, as well as different models with varying levels of power reserve. The new Calibre 9RB2, though, is a different beast.
On the surface, it might resemble its predecessors, but the Calibre 9RB2 has been completely reengineered. One of its standout features is a specially selected quartz oscillator that goes through a meticulous three-month ‘ageing’ process. Hundreds are tested and monitored—only the most stable make the final cut. These are then vacuum-sealed with the sensor and integrated circuit into a single, shielded unit that stays consistent no matter the temperature, pressure, or humidity. The integrated circuit itself has been redesigned to make real-time adjustments, fine-tuning performance based on environmental conditions.
Refinement to Match
And while the movement sets a new bar for accuracy, Grand Seiko ensures the timepieces housing it are equally remarkable in form and refinement.
We know what you are thinking at this point: will the watch look as good as it performs? You bet. Grand Seiko certainly didn’t let all the technological intelligence and fastidious engineering that went into the Calibre 9RB2 go to waste.
The state-of-the-art engine drives two new dashing timepieces in the Evolution 9 Collection, the SLGB001 and the SLGB003. Housed in a slim 37mm platinum case and limited to 80 pieces, the SLGB001 channels the Spring Drive’s technical prowess into a highly classic silhouette. Attention will undoubtedly be drawn to its textured deep blue dial, inspired by the frost-covered landscape of Japan’s Kirigamine Highlands, and, of course, the smoothly gliding seconds hand—a signature motion of the Spring Drive mechanism.
Meanwhile, the SLGB003 offers the same mechanical brilliance but in a sportier guise. The watch is encased in High-Intensity Titanium, a corrosion- and scratch-resistant titanium alloy, along with a bracelet in the same material.
Like its platinum sibling, it features a textured dial inspired by the Kirigamine Highlands—but in a subtler silver hue—and boasts the Evolution 9 design DNA, where ergonomics, legibility, and visual balance are paramount. And as much as the Spring Drive U.F.A. marks a seismic shift in Grand Seiko’s hybrid movement technology, the watches remind us that it is at the service of nuanced, and thoughtful, horology.
