When a true wristwatch aficionado thinks of Grand Seiko, three talking points are always at the front of mind: exquisite dials, refined finishing, and accuracy. The Japanese powerhouse persistently tells elegant stories connected to its nation’s culture through its dials — whether inspired by the serenity of Lake Suwa, the rugged beauty of Mount Iwate, or the frost-covered trees of the Kirigamine Highlands in the case of the Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB003. That said, the dial of this particular timepiece isn’t the key talking point as much as what’s lurking beneath it. Starting with the acronym in its name, U.F.A. or Ultra Fine Accuracy, brings with it a level of precision defined not by accuracy in seconds per day, week, or month, but by its accuracy over an entire year.
The 9RB2 Spring Drive calibre fitted in the U.F.A. marks a major milestone for Grand Seiko, as well as for the watch industry as a whole. Spring Drive calibres have long been known for their exceptional accuracy in contrast to conventional self-winding movements, but this new calibre sets the bar even higher; with a reported accuracy of ±20 seconds per year (±3 seconds per month), this is the most accurate watch movement in existence that draws its power from a mainspring. The proprietary technology in Spring Drive calibres, which uses mechanical self-winding as a power source and converts that power into high-frequency oscillation similar to what’s seen in battery-powered quartz watches, already brings together the benefits of both movement types. Whereas the most refined wholly mechanical watch movements can only offer an accuracy specification within a range of a few seconds of variation per day, quartz calibres offer significantly improved accuracy at the cost of requiring an external power source (as well as not sharing the same elegance and structural refinement seen in luxury mechanical watchmaking).
We’ve long had a soft spot for the horological mastery of Grand Seiko, but this latest accomplishment serves as a perfect reminder of why the brand can keep up with (and surpass) so many of its Swiss counterparts. If they’re not on your must-have list yet, they certainly should be.
FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAND SEIKO.
