New Models And Movements Take Grand Seiko Further Into The Future
2020 is an important year for Grand Seiko as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. A unique occasion with they commemorate not only with new watches but also with new movements. As the brand has always been future-minded, they take this year to not only further cement their position with the world of the Haute Horlogerie but also to strengthen their foundation for the future.
With the introduction of caliber 9SA5, Grand Seiko launches a brand new movement that takes its philosophy to the next level. It does so by incorporating quite a few technical novelties, which are all focused on making it even more precise. This caliber features not only a new free-sprung balance with an overcoil but also a dual impulse escapement. The advantage of the first is that it improves the isochronism, while the latter ensures a more efficient power balance. As it is a high-beat caliber, running at 36,000 vph, this allows Grand Seiko to deliver an exact movement. Two mainspring barrels, which are placed in sequence, give the movement a generous power reserve of 80-hours. The design is not only technically advanced but also stunning. Thanks to a clever layout of the mainspring barrels and gear trains is this new movement also 15% slimmer than the current Grand Seiko Hi-Beat caliber.
The first watch to feature this movement is the Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, of which only 100 pieces will be made. This yellow gold watch has a diameter of 40mm and takes many design cues from the very first Grand Seiko of 1960. With an overall thickness of 11.7 mm, it is indeed a slender and elegant timepiece, but far more than just an object of beauty. Grand Seiko made legibility, which has been an essential part of their DNA since the launch of their very first watch, a vital factor its design. Also, the water-resistance of 100 meters makes it that this is a watch that matches very well with an active lifestyle.
The Spring Drive is another unique technology that is synonymous with Grand Seiko and played a significant role in the success that they enjoy today. With caliber 9RA5, they also take things to the next level. For this, they followed the same path as with caliber 9SA5. The new Spring Drive movement is more precise by not only using a new IC package but also by selecting the most stable quartz oscillators, which have aged for three months. Additionally, they incorporated a temperature sensor that measures inside the movement, allowing to compensate for inaccuracies at an even higher level. As a result, the movement has an accuracy of about 10 seconds a month. Its power reserve has also been expanded, putting it now at 120 hours. As if this is not enough, is the new design even slimmer, and is the speed of the date-change increased.
Grand Seiko opted to launch this new caliber in the Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Professional Diver’s 600M. It features an impressive diameter of 46.9mm and has a case and bracelet made from high-intensity titanium. This material is not only 40% lighter than steel but also more resistant to scratches. As the name already indicates is the watch water-resistant up to 600 meters and features a helium-escape valve, making it the perfect watch for both professional as well as amateur divers.
