Grand Seiko’s ceaseless pursuit of precision has long set it apart in the world of fine watchmaking. That pursuit has reached a new height this year at Watches & Wonders 2025 with the unveiling of the Spring Drive calibre 9RB2, the first to bear the new U.F.A. designation, short for “Ultra Fine Accuracy.” Debuting in the compact and elegant new Evolution 9 Collection SLGB003, this movement represents not just an incremental improvement but a fundamental evolution in timekeeping.
The SLGB003 is the most precise Spring Drive watch ever created. With an astounding accuracy of ±20 seconds per year — or just ±3 seconds per month — it stands as the most accurate wristwatch powered by a mainspring available today.
Achieving this level of precision required Grand Seiko’s engineers to push the limits of both technology and craftsmanship. The quartz oscillator at the heart of the 9RB2 is aged for three months to ensure stability, then individually tested at various temperatures. The data is programmed into a new low-power integrated circuit, enabling precise thermo-compensation. To protect this delicate system, both the oscillator and the sensor are vacuum-sealed, shielding them from humidity, static, and light.
Adding another layer of refinement, the movement now includes a regulation switch, which is another first for Spring Drive. This allows Grand Seiko technicians to fine-tune accuracy during after-sales servicing, ensuring that the watch continues to perform at the highest level for decades. These technical enhancements reflect the brand’s obsessive attention to detail and its uniquely Japanese approach to perfection: quiet, deliberate, and deeply considered.
The SLGB003 housing this revolutionary movement is itself a study in balance and refinement. Crafted from high-intensity titanium, it measures just 37mm in diameter and 11.4mm thick, making it the smallest Spring Drive watch in Grand Seiko’s 9R series to date. These proportions reflect not only a nod to classic watchmaking, but a conscious shift toward wearability and comfort, qualities that are often overlooked in the pursuit of technical excellence.
True to Grand Seiko’s design ethos, the dial draws inspiration from the natural landscape surrounding the Shinshu Watch Studio, where all Spring Drive watches are crafted. Here, winter transforms the nearby Kirigamine Highlands into a quiet world of frost-covered trees. The dial captures this scene in a pressed pattern and pale blue hue, evoking ice forests glimpsed through clear mountain air. Accented by a tempered blue seconds hand that glides with Spring Drive’s signature smooth motion, the result is serene, striking, and unmistakably Japanese.
Through the see-through sapphire case back, the movement reveals a second landscape, one of polished bevels and delicate brushing. Every detail reflects not just technical achievement but a reverence for nature, time, and place.
A newly developed three-step micro-adjustment clasp—offering 2mm increments for a total of 6mm of tool-free sizing—marks a first for Grand Seiko. It prioritises comfort and practicality without compromising innovation. While the bracelet still forgoes the pronounced taper seen on many other brands (measuring 20mm to 18mm), this long-requested feature is a welcome addition that fans have been asking for and is expected to appear more frequently in future Grand Seiko releases.
But don’t just take our word for it—immerse yourself in the world of Grand Seiko at its boutique in Jewel Changi, the brand’s first Asia-Pacific mono-brand salon in partnership with Watches of Switzerland since 2023. More than a retail destination, the space provides a refined introduction to Grand Seiko’s heritage and philosophy, the Nature of Time.
Explore the nature-inspired dials and quiet precision of Grand Seiko’s timepieces firsthand, and gain insight into the brand’s artisanal savoir-faire—all delivered with the grace of omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality. Watch enthusiasts can also engage with a global community of collectors through the GS9 Club and exclusive salon-hosted events. Whether you’re refining a collection or encountering the brand for the first time, this is where Grand Seiko’s craftsmanship truly comes to life.
For Grand Seiko, the appeal to a new generation of collectors is no accident. The brand’s nature-inspired aesthetics, combined with technical mastery and a deeply authentic narrative, resonate strongly with younger audiences who value substance over flash.
With the debut of its first Spring Drive U.F.A. movement in the refined and wearable SLGB003, Grand Seiko quietly reinforces a core belief: true progress in watchmaking is measured not by noise, but by depth and precision.
Grand Seiko Salon – Watches of Switzerland Jewel Changi
78 Airport Boulevard #01-203
Singapore 819666
