AESTHETIC Spring Drive and the aesthetics of Grand Seiko.

Everything about the Spring Drive movement speaks of high technology and unique advancement in the art of traditional watchmaking. The power reserve of 72 hours exceeded the level of nearly all single-barrel mechanical watches, thanks to the new, ultra-low power consumption IC. The Tri-Synchro regulator was a revolutionary advance. At the same time, however, Spring Drive used the company’s traditional skills to the full. To enhance the energy efficiency, a traditional method of polishing the gears was revived. Similarly, the Magic Lever method, invented by Seiko in 1959 was adopted. Thus, while at the cutting-edge, Spring Drive also proudly built upon the company’s history of traditional watchmaking.

The automatic winding Spring Drive movement Calibre 9R65, exclusive to Grand Seiko, was incorporated in three versions, all released in September 2004.

Part of the engineering genius of the 9R Spring Drive calibre is that its extraordinary performance is achieved within the high and very strict design criteria of Grand Seiko. The hands are as long as on all mechanical Grand Seiko watches and are polished on five separate edges to ensure high legibility even in low light. The calendar window is large, the movement is slim and compact enough to be a delight to wear, whatever your wrist size, thanks to the inward slant of the case sides. In every respect, Calibre 9R makes possible the realization of all the exterior signature features of Grand Seiko.

Through the exhibition case back, however, the uniqueness of Spring Drive shines clearly. The bridge and gear train are shaped to reflect the mountains around the Shinshu Watch Studio where every Spring Drive watch is assembled by hand. Most distinctively, the glide wheel’s continuous and ever- precise motion is clearly visible and provides the movement with a signature quite as distinctive as the glide-motion second hand that sweeps the dial in its perfect and almost hypnotically perfect way.