Poetry In Precision

More than a feat of engineering, Grand Seiko's latest Spring Drive innovation reflects a decades-long devotion to mastering both time and design.

-  Alvin Wong

IN WATCHMAKING, ACCURACY is often seen as science. But at Grand Seiko, precision is just as much an art. With the introduction of the new Spring Drive U.F.A.—its latest hybrid mechanical-electronic engine, and the most precise of its kind to date—the Japanese watchmaking house shows that its pursuit of unparalleled accuracy isn’t simply achieved by exceptional engineering, but also with a knack for architectural beauty and a sensitivity to the passage of time itself.

The movement in question to receive the U.F.A. (Ultra Fine Accuracy) certification is the Spring Drive Calibre 9RB2. And just how precise is this movement? Grand Seiko guarantees timekeeping deviation to within +/-20 seconds per year. This trumps the record of +/-15 seconds per year offered by the Spring Drive Calibre 9R65 from 2004.

Triumph of Imagination

We don’t blame you if the numbers are making you feel a bit dizzy. However, the record-breaking figures—while astounding and certain to thrill fans of technical watchmaking—also tell a story of visionary ambition and relentless pursuit in a way that only Grand Seiko can.