20 YEARS OF GRAND SEIKO'S CALIBRE 9R SPRING DRIVE - FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS

Grand Seiko Celebrates 20 Years of Calibre 9R Spring Drive

The creation of Grand Seiko's Spring Drive started as a concept in the 1970s to devise an ideal watch by combining the power derived from a mainspring with electronic watchmaking technologies to deliver a level of precision that no conventional mechanical watch could achieve. After more than 20 years of development, the first generation of Spring Drive was born. A vision to create a version worthy of the name Grand Seiko led to the development of a movement named 9R, which powers all Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches today. In September 2004, Grand Seiko released the first watch to be powered by this movement, which featured automatic winding and 72 hours of power reserve. The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of this achievement.

Honouring This Milestone

In honour of this milestone event, we are shining the spotlight on three of the stunning Grand Seiko Spring Drive models available for purchase in-store at J Farren-Price, Sydney.

SLGA009 - EVOLUTION 9 SPRING DRIVE WHITE BIRCH

In 2021, Grand Seiko introduced a high-beat watch inspired by the slender and beautiful white birch trees of the Hiraniwa Plateau in northern Japan. This timepiece was warmly praised by watch fans worldwide for its intricately textured dial and for the revolutionary Calibre 9SA5 that powered it. Its wide acclaim culminated in its selection as the winner of the Men’s Watch prize at the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Today, a creation powered by the latest and finest Spring Drive Calibre 9RA2 captures the atmosphere of a white birch forest but in a subtly new way that echoes the feeling of the forests of Shinshu, home to the studio where all Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are made.

The craftsmanship is evident in every detail. The delicately textured dial and the tempered blue seconds hand reveal an artistry that is matched by the ‘frost’ finishing of the movement, whose beauty is clearly visible through the sapphire case back. To watch the completely smooth glide motion of the seconds hand as it moves serenely across the subtly patterned dial is to be brought closer than ever to the tranquil, seamless and natural flow of time.

The delicate texture of the movement's finish reflects the frost that winter brings to the trees in Shinshu. The bridge lines and hole edges are diamond-cut to reflect light from all angles and the jewels and the tempered blue power reserve indicator add a quiet sparkle that is a delight to behold. Calibre 9RA2 delivers a power reserve of up to 120 hours and is accurate to ±10 seconds per month.

SBGA413 - HERITAGE SPRING DRIVE 'SEKKI' RISSHUN

A classic Grand Seiko design with a dial that captures a treasured moment in the Japanese seasonal calendar. The SBGA413 watch is powered by Spring Drive calibre 9R65, which is hand assembled by the skilled craftsmen and women of the Shinshu Watch Studio.

This is a modern re-interpretation of the celebrated 62GS from 1967. The 62GS was not only Grand Seiko’s first watch with an automatic movement, it was also, along with the 44GS released the same year, the watch that first expressed the design grammar, the Grand Seiko Style, that still shapes all Grand Seiko designs today. Like its predecessor, this modern re-interpretation has the characteristic sharp edges and perfect distortion-free surfaces that only Zaratsu polishing can create and a wide dial opening which was achieved thanks to a bezel-free construction.

To look closely at the dial is to be transported to Hana-Ikada, the much-loved scene at the moment soon after the spring equinox, Shunbun when cherry blossom petals scattered by the wind cover the surface of a river. The textured dial and its pale pink colour capture the magic of this treasured moment in the Japanese calendar and not only express the beauty of Sakura but hint at the exquisite pleasure to be derived from a profound understanding of the ephemeral nature of time.

SBGY007 -  ELEGANCE SPRING DRIVE SNOWFLAKE 

Grand Seiko model SBGY007 is a Spring Drive gem inspired by Omiwatari. The movement is Spring Drive Calibre 9R31 which has the Dual Spring Barrel that delivers a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound. Its exquisite finishing is visible through the exhibition case-back along with the power reserve indicator.

Most winters, the water of Lake Suwa freezes over and, most years, a long ridge appears in the ice from one side of the lake to the other. Tradition has it that this is the ‘Omiwatari’ or where the Gods walk out over the ice.

True or not, the legend has inspired the craftsmen and women at the nearby Shinshu Watch Studio to create a dial of exquisite subtlety for this hand-winding Spring Drive timepiece. It has the colour, feel and texture of the snow-covered ice on Lake Suwa.

 A Legacy of Excellence

Celebrating 20 years of Grand Seiko's Calibre 9R Spring Drive symbolises just one of the brand's many excellent achievements in the world of horology. 

Discover more from Grand Seiko at our Sydney boutique with a member of our professional sales team. Open Monday - Saturday.