Hi-Beat 36000 3-Day Chronograph
Caliber 9SC5
In 2023, Grand Seiko's first mechanical chronograph, the Tentagraph, was born.
The Tentagraph's name describes the characteristics of the Caliber 9SC5 that powers this watch: "TEN beats per second", "Three days of power reserve", "Automatic," and "chronoGRAPH. A high-beat chronograph that symbolizes the next generation of Grand Seiko watchmaking, the Tentagraph Caliber 9SC5 has 72 hours of power reserve (approximately 3 days) even when the chronograph function is in operation, making it the ten-beat chronograph with the longest power reserve in the industry today. *
*Grand Seiko research as of March 2023
Specifications
| Winding mechanism | Automatic with manual winding |
|---|---|
| Mean daily rate | +5 to -3 seconds per day |
| Normal usage accuracy | +8 to -1 seconds per day |
| Power reserve | Approximately 72 hours |
| Vibrations | 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second) |
| Number of jewels | 60 jewels |
| Features | -Chronograph
-Dual Impulse Escapement -Twin barrels |
The First Grand Seiko Mechanical Chronograph Ever Created
Its birthplace was the Grand Seiko facility in Shizukuishi, where, for many decades, craftsmen and women have been responsible for the design and manufacture of all Grand Seiko mechanical watches. It was here, too, that the first 9S movement had been created.
The designers, engineers and watchmakers at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi have two important assets at their disposal. First, they have inherited the tradition and accumulated know-how that has been built over decades as Grand Seiko has pursued its aim of “unflagging practical innovation” at the very highest level of the horological industry. Second, as a fully integrated “manufacture,” Grand Seiko has mastery of every aspect of the watchmaker’s art and has complete in-house control over every technical aspect of every single movement component.
Caliber 9SC5 is the direct result of the synergy of these two important assets, as its advanced functionality and its exquisite craftsmanship bear powerful testament.
A Column Wheel for Maximum Operability
The column wheel mechanism is used to control the starting and stopping of the chronograph function.
This mechanism allows for smooth operation of the mechanism when the chronograph button is pushed, ensuring that the clutch (the power transmission mechanism) and lever components are not subjected to unnecessary torque.
A Vertical Clutch
Mechanical chronographs use a power-transmission mechanism to transfer power to the stopwatch mechanism. The vertical clutch mechanism in the Tentagraph prevents the hands from jumping when the chronograph starts. This avoids the deviation that occurs frequently when using a horizontal clutch mechanism and allows for more accurate measurement.
Three-pointed Hammer
The three-pointed hammer ensures that all three chronograph displays (chronograph seconds, minutes, and hours) snap back to the zero position instantly and in perfect synchronization when the reset button is pressed.
The Dual Impulse Escapement Increases the Transfer Efficiency of the Power of the Mainspring.
The Dual Impulse Escapement is a unique mechanism which combines “direct impulse,” where power is transferred directly from the escape wheel to the balance, with conventional “indirect impulse.” Thereby, it transfers power to the balance through the mainspring with increased efficiency. -Conventional wisdom decrees that the more you increase the vibration rate of the balance, the lower the power transfer efficiency. This is because the escape wheel and pallet fork cannot keep up with the high oscillation speed. This challenge is met in Caliber 9SC5 as it has components made with MEMS technology to increase the escapement efficiency. Connecting these to the twin barrels allows for 10 beats per second while delivering a continuous operation period of 72 hours.
The New Grand Seiko Overcoil Delivers Precision and Increased Stability.
The overcoil in Caliber 9SC5 has a special feature in its curved shape that was decided after more than 80,000 simulations, as a result of which its performance is optimized in every possible position. The secret lies in the precision manufacture of the components and in the extraordinary adjustment skills of the watchmakers at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.
The Grand Seiko Free-sprung Balance Regulates the Isochronism for Long-term Precision and Stability.
For the fine tuning of the escapement’s precision, a free-sprung system which does not have a regulator has been incorporated. The four screws on the side of the balance can be turned to adjust the moment of inertia of the balance, allowing for fine tuning to make the watch faster or slower. As there is no regulator, the durability of the hairspring is increased, as is the precision over time.
The Grand Seiko Free-sprung Balance is equipped with a mechanism that alters isochronism under fixed conditions when the stud at the end of the hairspring rotates. Thus, it is possible to adjust the isochronism while still remaining a free-sprung system with no regulator.
A Balance with a Large Moment of Inertia and Twin Barrels that Enhance the Power Reserve
A power reserve of 72 hours is exceptional for a high-beat movement. Caliber 9SC5 achieves this with a combination of two technologies. First, the Dual Impulse Escapement has high energy efficiency and, second, the twin barrels deliver more power. In addition, the durability of the movement is ensured by a mechanism which decreases the load placed on the front gear train. Since the twin barrels deliver more power, a 10-beat movement with a balance of large moment of inertia is made possible.
A Faster Date Change, made Possible by a “Date Finger”
To reflect the high precision of the movement, a new date change mechanism was created for Caliber 9SC5 which ensures that the date changes much more quickly. It uses a new movable date finger whose complex shape and small size were made possible by MEMS technology, which also increases the precision of its operation and its durability.
What makes 9S Mechanical special?
The concept of Grand Seiko was born from the desire to build the world's best watch, and the collection continues to push precision in mechanical watches to the limits of timekeeping technology.
As a true manufacture, Grand Seiko combines the latest technology with hand craftsmanship to raise the art of mechanical watchmaking to the highest possible level.
