Twenty years after Grand Seiko first released the Spring DriveSpring Drive A Spring Drive movement, pioneered by Grand Seiko, is a type of mechanical watch movement that combines the traditional mechanics of a mechanical watch with the precision of a quartz watch. It uses a mainspring as the source of energy, just like a mechanical watch, but instead of using a traditional escapement, it uses a quartz crystal to regulate the release of energy. The Spring Drive movement is considered to be highly accurate, and is known for its smooth, gliding seconds hand. [Learn More] with the smooth sweeping seconds hand, Grand Seiko released two new manual wind Spring Drive movements in four different models . All four are in the new Grand Seiko Elegance Collection line up and being on the dressier side, measuring a nice 38.5mm case diameter.
The one I want to show you is probably my favorite of the bunch, the SBGY003.
While the movement inside isn’t as decorated as the two limited edition platinum models with the nicely beveled edges, this one will hold it’s own as it still retains the +/-1 second per day accuracy performance of the Spring Drive while also has the impressive 3 day power reserveRéserve de marche Also known as Power Reserve. A watch's power reserve refers to the amount of time a mechanical watch can run without being wound. The power reserve of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the size of the mainspring, the efficiency of the gear train, and the rate at which the mainspring releases energy. If a watch has a Power Reserve 'complication' it simply means that the status of the power reserve can be seen on the watch itself (either on the dial or movement side of the watch). [Learn More].
The power reserve indicator for all four models are located on the case back, thus preserving the dial symmetry often difficult to maintain due to date windows and power reserve indicators. We can’t show you as the piece we held had a dummy movement fitted, next time..
The watch is also thin, with the case standing just over 10mm tall at 10.2mm. The dial, in typical Grand Seiko fashion as we have come to expect does not spare any details as it has a sunray-like guillocheGuilloche Guilloche is a decorative technique used in a.o. watchmaking, it is an engraving process that creates intricate patterns on the dials and other parts of the watch. It is done by using a rose engine, a specialized lathe with a variety of interchangeable cam-driven patterns. The patterns are created by the movement of the machine's cutting tool over the surface of the metal. Guilloche is considered to be a traditional and labor-intensive technique, it requires a high level of skill and experience to produce good consistent results. [Learn More]. The indexes are applied and the hour and minute hands have the sharp polish that reminds me of samurai swords.
With all the attention to detail and new movement inside and limited to 700 pieces, the watch comes at a suggested retail price of 8,200 EUR