Over the course of the previous 20 brief years, the Seiko Spring Drive motion has turn out to be embedded within the watch collector and fanatic vernacular. At this level, numerous phrases have been devoted to discussing the Spring Drive motion, however in order for you a really in-depth rationalization of the mechanism, in addition to an intensive historical past, then I like to recommend you learn “The Wonderful Historical past & Performance of the Seiko Spring Drive Motion,” in addition to our interview with Grand Seiko grasp watchmaker Mr. Yoshifusa Nakazawa. Grand Seiko is telling the story of the Spring Drive over the course of 9 chapters themselves, as effectively.
Starting from a comparatively fairly priced (albeit restricted version) chrome steel model by means of 18okay gold choices all the way in which to the $76,000 platinum SBGZ001, Grand Seiko has launched a brand new assortment referred to as Grand Seiko Magnificence Spring Drive 20th Anniversary assortment.
The Spring Drive motion was the dream of Yoshikazu Akahane within the late 1970s, when he was nonetheless an engineer at Suwa Seikosha, which might later turn out to be Seiko Epson. Together with contemporaries like Osamu Takahashi and Kunio Koike, Akahane would work for years to execute the venture. In truth, he had already patented it, describing it because the “improvement of an electronically regulated mechanical watch that’s powered by a spring.”
Mr. Takahashi was pivotal within the eventual signature Spring Drive sweeping seconds hand, and Koike had a big hand within the design of the low-voltage built-in circuit design which helped remedy the long-lasting drawback of decreasing the facility essential to function the motion. Akahane, Takahashi, and Koike have been three seminal figures whose grit and relentless dedication made the Spring Drive a actuality when it was first efficiently utilized in a prototype on December 26, 1997. Tragically, Akahane would cross away from pneumonia lower than a 12 months later in August 1998.
It’s been 20 years for the reason that Spring Drive was introduced which is satirically the identical period of time between the primary patent filed in 1978 and the motion’s announcement in 1998. It took 600 patents and an limitless effectively of human expertise and ingenuity to create the Spring Drive motion. Launched as a guide wind motion in 1999, the primary automated Spring Drive would come a couple of years later in 2005.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Spring Drive, Grand Seiko launched 4 new watches as a part of its Magnificence Assortment. Since this the 20th anniversary of the Spring Drive, it’s additionally technically the anniversary of the primary manual-wind Spring Drive. So, Grand Seiko launched two new manual-wind Spring Drive actions for this assortment of 4 watches. Even so, all 4 watches have the identical minimalist dial time-only dial format. Nicely, virtually the identical format. You’ll discover the platinum variations that use the caliber 9R02 have a small bellflower formed barrel on the motion. The bellflower is an ode to Shiojiri, the place the Seiko Micro Artist Studio is situated. Additionally, at 6 o’clock on the dial, you’ll see the eight-point star that signifies that the hour markers are completed in stable gold.
The brand new caliber 9R02 is the handiwork of essentially the most veteran Seiko watchmakers on the Micro Artist Studio, and so it shouldn’t be stunning that each watches that includes this motion are completed in platinum circumstances. In truth, the 9R02 is similar to the Credor 7R14 discovered within the Eichi II however with an extended energy reserve.
This motion options the “Torque Return System,” which primarily makes use of among the vitality put out by a completely wound mainspring that will in any other case be wasted. Activated 48 hours after the mainspring is totally wound, the Torque Return System provides to the motion’s energy reserve. This leads to the 9R02 having an 84-hour energy reserve with an accuracy of ±1 second per day/ ±15 seconds per thirty days.
The mannequin I wasn’t capable of get images of is the SBGZ001, which is completed in a platinum case that’s hand-finished in that recognizable Grand Seiko “snowflake” sample that’s carried by means of on the dial. The SBGZ003 is the opposite platinum-case Grand Seiko Spring Drive 20th anniversary watch that makes use of the 9R02 motion and each have the identical dimensions of 38.5mm-wide and 9.8mm-thick.
The first distinction between the 2 is the snowflake ending on the dial and case of the SBGZ001, whereas the SBGZ003 has a extra conventional case and grained dial. Each the SBGZ001 and SBGZ003 share the identical case measurement, measuring 38.5mm-wide and 9.8mm-thick, although the snowflake-cased SBGZ001 is restricted to 30 items, whereas the SBGZ003 isn’t restricted.
Now we now have the SBGY002 and SBGY003, which options the brand new Spring Drive caliber 9R31 motion. The SBGY002 is the one yellow gold mannequin of the bunch, and the restricted version of 700 items (SBGY003) is essentially the most reasonably priced watch within the group, because it’s completed in chrome steel.
When checked out in relation to the 2 platinum watches, these two fashions symbolize the extra accessible finish of the place Grand Seiko sees their Magnificence Assortment going. The SBGY002 is a “checks all of the containers” piece for somebody who desires a gold watch that says it’s a gold watch. I consider that is the primary snowflake dial Grand Seiko has completed in a yellow gold case, and I believe the choice to make use of such a vibrant yellow gold over one thing like rose gold was clever and pays off. I think about this model is very going to be successful at residence in Japan for Grand Seiko, and retaining this as a non-limited-edition is sensible.
Now, the metal SBGY003 is a distinct story. It’s restricted to 700 items with a sunray sample that seizes one’s consideration by means of its meticulous and detailed execution. I understand how coveted the snowflake dial has turn out to be (and with good cause), however I believe I really favor this sunray dial. I can’t assist however see the snowflake dial because the Grand Seiko proper mind (artistic, inventive, poetic) and this sun-ray dial because the Grand Seiko left mind (logical, exactly sequenced, almost mathematically intentional). That mentioned, my opinion on which I favor might change, relying on the type of day I’m having.
The 9R31 shares the identical twin mainspring structure and ±1 second per day accuracy because the 9R02, although there are variations. The ability reserve is shorter at 72 hours, and there’s no Torque Return System or that bellflower design on the barrel. Each the 9R02 and the 9R31 have the facility reserve indicators in the back of the dial on the motion.
The Grand Seiko Magnificence SBGZ001 in platinum with the snowflake dial and case is restricted to 30 items and priced at $76,000, and I consider all are already spoken for, although the SBGZ003 in platinum isn’t a restricted reference and is priced at $57,000. The restricted version of 700 items SBGY003 in metal is priced at $7,600 and the SBGY002 in yellow gold is priced at $25,000. You may be taught extra at grand-seiko.com.
