Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8 Day Power Reserve

A new Grand Seiko Spring Drive masterpiece

Since its creation in 1960, every Grand Seiko watch has demonstrated a consistent commitment to the pure essentials of watchmaking. Precision, legibility, comfort and durability are the attributes that have always defined Grand Seiko, and always will.

For 2016, Grand Seiko proudly present a new creation , a Spring Drive 8 Day Power Reserve watch  that take the essential values of Grand Seiko in new, exciting and creatively rewarding directions.

This is the very first Grand Seiko watch to have been created by the celebrated Micro Artist Studio in Seiko’s facility in Shiojiri in the Nagano prefecture of central Japan. Known until now mainly for its Spring Drive Minute Repeater, Sonnerie and Eichi watches for Credor, the Micro Artist Studio is proud to contribute to the growing reputation of Grand Seiko and has developed a remarkable Spring Drive caliber that offers an eight-day power reserve with the Studio’s trademark quality of materials and finishing. The three barrels and rachet wheels are linked, without any intermediate wheels to minimize the transmission loss and realize the long power reserve. Rubies are inserted in the barrels to reduce the friction between the barrels and the arbors. This new caliber offers an independent hour hand adjustment function, so that the high accuracy of Spring Drive (+/- 10 seconds per month) can be maintained when the wearer is travelling to other time zones.

A sapphire case back allows a clear view of the exquisite finishing of the one-piece bridge, the rubies and the power reserve indicator. This one-piece bridge ensures the precise positioning of each wheel in the gear train and maximizes the efficiency of the transmission of power from the barrels. Its rigidity also prevents distortion in the event of impact or other shock. The contours of the bridge and the beveled surfaces around the rubies and screws look striking from any angle, as they are all expertly handcrafted and polished to a mirror finish. The bridge traces the outline of Mt. Fuji and the rubies and tempered blue screws evoke the lights of the city of Suwa below the Studio’s home.

The case is made of a special platinum that can be polished to a sparkling mirror finish using our Zaratsu technique, itself adapted for working with platinum. The dial finish is like the diamond-dust sparkle of snow that shimmers in the morning light in the clear mountain air of the area around the Studio. It glistens with a subtle and unusual beauty. The five-faceted hour and minute hands are longer than those on any previous Grand Seiko watch.