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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
Grand Seiko has made waves at Watches and Wonders 2025 with two new releases that showcase the brand’s technical prowess and rich heritage. The Spring Drive U.F.A. houses Grand Seiko’s most precise movement, boasting a yearly rate of ±20 seconds, while the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph reintroduces the brand’s first mechanical chronograph in its iconic, bold, lion-inspired case.
Spring Drive U.F.A.
In 1969, Grand Seiko introduced the designation V.F.A., or “Very Fine Adjusted,” for a watch that delivered an incredible precision of ±1 minute per month. The brand later surpassed this feat in 2004 with the introduction of the Spring Drive mechanism, where the Caliber 9R65 offered a monthly rate of ±15 seconds along with a 72-hour power reserve.
Now setting a new record, Grand Seiko announces the new designation U.F.A., which stands for “Ultra Fine Accuracy.” It debuts with the automatic Caliber 9RB2 movement, achieving an unprecedented annual rate of ±20 seconds. According to Grand Seiko’s research, such groundbreaking precision has never been achieved in a mechanical movement before. This technical marvel is housed within the Spring Drive U.F.A.
This remarkable accuracy is enabled by enhanced production techniques, including the use of a three-month-aged quartz oscillator and a low-power IC programmed with thermo-compensation data. This data is collected by measuring the oscillator’s frequency across varying temperatures. To ensure long-term precision, the oscillator and sensor are vacuum-sealed, shielding them from environmental factors such as humidity, static electricity, and light.
For the first time in a Spring Drive movement, Caliber 9RB2 also includes a regulation switch, enabling precise recalibration during after-sales servicing to correct any deviations over time.
Despite its complexity, the movement is housed in a compact 37mm case—the smallest ever for a 9R series watch. As part of the Evolution 9 Collection, the timepiece comes in two versions: one in High-Intensity Titanium (Ref. SLGB003) and another in Platinum 950 (Ref. SLGB001), the latter limited to just 80 pieces. Both watches retain the Evolution 9 Collection’s signature aesthetic, featuring the renowned mirror-like Zaratsu-polished surfaces, bold indexes, and grooved hands for enhanced legibility.
Continuing the brand’s tradition of nature-inspired dials, the new Spring Drive U.F.A. features designs inspired by the frost-covered forests of the Kirigamine Highlands near the Shinshu Watch Studio, where all Grand Seiko Spring Drive movements are crafted. The titanium model features a silver-blue dial with a tempered blue seconds hand, while the platinum variant has a deeper blue dial with a silver seconds hand. At 6 o’clock, “SPRING DRIVE UFA” is inscribed to mark the ultra-accurate movement within.
Sapphire crystal covers both the dial and caseback, revealing the Caliber 9RB2 with its beveled, mirror-polished edges and engraving: “SPRING DRIVE ULTRA FINE ACCURACY.” The design reflects Japanese natural beauty—its jewels represent the starlit winter skies, while the movement’s finish evokes frosted landscapes.
The titanium model is paired with a bracelet secured by a newly designed three-step micro-adjustment clasp, allowing for 2mm of on-the-fly sizing without tools. It will be available through select retailers worldwide. The platinum version is matched with a crocodile strap and will be available exclusively at Grand Seiko Boutiques. Both models will retail starting in early June 2025.
Tokyo Lion Tentagraph (Ref. SLGC009)
Grand Seiko unveils the next evolution in its sports watch lineup with the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph, continuing the lion-inspired series introduced in 2019. This new model features sharp angles, a bold case design, and marks the return of the brand’s first mechanical chronograph.
The 43mm Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is crafted from Brilliant Hard Titanium. The alloy appears for the first time in Grand Seiko’s Sport Collection, and is lighter and more corrosion-resistant than traditional titanium, with double the surface hardness of stainless steel. The case is enhanced with a blend of Zaratsu-polished and hairline-finished surfaces. Drawing from the brand’s lion-inspired legacy, the angular, claw-like lugs and bezel are accentuated with sharp hairline finishes.
The dial texture is reminiscent of a lion’s mane swaying in the wind. Diamond-cut indexes, inspired by lion’s claws, are filled with Lumibrite for optimal legibility in low-light conditions. The subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock are inlaid onto the dial surface.
At the heart of the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is the Caliber 9SC5, a high-frequency mechanical chronograph movement beating at 10 vibrations per second. The movement includes a Dual Impulse Escapement and twin barrels, offering an impressive 3-day power reserve—even with the chronograph in continuous operation. Each Tentagraph is tested for 20 days (exceeding Grand Seiko’s standard 17-day protocol) and must meet a strict accuracy requirement of +5 to -3 seconds per day, even during chronograph use.
To improve ergonomics, the watch features a slightly curved caseback for a more comfortable fit on the wrist. It comes paired with a durable, newly developed rubber strap with a tensile strength nearly 2.7 times greater than standard silicone straps. The strap matches the dial color and features a lion-paw-inspired motif on the inner side to complement the theme.
The Tokyo Lion Tentagraph will be available at Grand Seiko Boutiques worldwide starting August 2025.
Grand Seiko has made waves at Watches and Wonders 2025 with two new releases that showcase the brand’s technical prowess and rich heritage. The Spring Drive U.F.A. houses Grand Seiko’s most precise movement, boasting a yearly rate of ±20 seconds, while the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph reintroduces the brand’s first mechanical chronograph in its iconic, bold, lion-inspired case.
Spring Drive U.F.A.
In 1969, Grand Seiko introduced the designation V.F.A., or “Very Fine Adjusted,” for a watch that delivered an incredible precision of ±1 minute per month. The brand later surpassed this feat in 2004 with the introduction of the Spring Drive mechanism, where the Caliber 9R65 offered a monthly rate of ±15 seconds along with a 72-hour power reserve.
Now setting a new record, Grand Seiko announces the new designation U.F.A., which stands for “Ultra Fine Accuracy.” It debuts with the automatic Caliber 9RB2 movement, achieving an unprecedented annual rate of ±20 seconds. According to Grand Seiko’s research, such groundbreaking precision has never been achieved in a mechanical movement before. This technical marvel is housed within the Spring Drive U.F.A.
This remarkable accuracy is enabled by enhanced production techniques, including the use of a three-month-aged quartz oscillator and a low-power IC programmed with thermo-compensation data. This data is collected by measuring the oscillator’s frequency across varying temperatures. To ensure long-term precision, the oscillator and sensor are vacuum-sealed, shielding them from environmental factors such as humidity, static electricity, and light.
For the first time in a Spring Drive movement, Caliber 9RB2 also includes a regulation switch, enabling precise recalibration during after-sales servicing to correct any deviations over time.
Despite its complexity, the movement is housed in a compact 37mm case—the smallest ever for a 9R series watch. As part of the Evolution 9 Collection, the timepiece comes in two versions: one in High-Intensity Titanium (Ref. SLGB003) and another in Platinum 950 (Ref. SLGB001), the latter limited to just 80 pieces. Both watches retain the Evolution 9 Collection’s signature aesthetic, featuring the renowned mirror-like Zaratsu-polished surfaces, bold indexes, and grooved hands for enhanced legibility.
Continuing the brand’s tradition of nature-inspired dials, the new Spring Drive U.F.A. features designs inspired by the frost-covered forests of the Kirigamine Highlands near the Shinshu Watch Studio, where all Grand Seiko Spring Drive movements are crafted. The titanium model features a silver-blue dial with a tempered blue seconds hand, while the platinum variant has a deeper blue dial with a silver seconds hand. At 6 o’clock, “SPRING DRIVE UFA” is inscribed to mark the ultra-accurate movement within.
Sapphire crystal covers both the dial and caseback, revealing the Caliber 9RB2 with its beveled, mirror-polished edges and engraving: “SPRING DRIVE ULTRA FINE ACCURACY.” The design reflects Japanese natural beauty—its jewels represent the starlit winter skies, while the movement’s finish evokes frosted landscapes.
The titanium model is paired with a bracelet secured by a newly designed three-step micro-adjustment clasp, allowing for 2mm of on-the-fly sizing without tools. It will be available through select retailers worldwide. The platinum version is matched with a crocodile strap and will be available exclusively at Grand Seiko Boutiques. Both models will retail starting in early June 2025.
Tokyo Lion Tentagraph (Ref. SLGC009)
Grand Seiko unveils the next evolution in its sports watch lineup with the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph, continuing the lion-inspired series introduced in 2019. This new model features sharp angles, a bold case design, and marks the return of the brand’s first mechanical chronograph.
The 43mm Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is crafted from Brilliant Hard Titanium. The alloy appears for the first time in Grand Seiko’s Sport Collection, and is lighter and more corrosion-resistant than traditional titanium, with double the surface hardness of stainless steel. The case is enhanced with a blend of Zaratsu-polished and hairline-finished surfaces. Drawing from the brand’s lion-inspired legacy, the angular, claw-like lugs and bezel are accentuated with sharp hairline finishes.
The dial texture is reminiscent of a lion’s mane swaying in the wind. Diamond-cut indexes, inspired by lion’s claws, are filled with Lumibrite for optimal legibility in low-light conditions. The subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock are inlaid onto the dial surface.
At the heart of the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is the Caliber 9SC5, a high-frequency mechanical chronograph movement beating at 10 vibrations per second. The movement includes a Dual Impulse Escapement and twin barrels, offering an impressive 3-day power reserve—even with the chronograph in continuous operation. Each Tentagraph is tested for 20 days (exceeding Grand Seiko’s standard 17-day protocol) and must meet a strict accuracy requirement of +5 to -3 seconds per day, even during chronograph use.
To improve ergonomics, the watch features a slightly curved caseback for a more comfortable fit on the wrist. It comes paired with a durable, newly developed rubber strap with a tensile strength nearly 2.7 times greater than standard silicone straps. The strap matches the dial color and features a lion-paw-inspired motif on the inner side to complement the theme.
The Tokyo Lion Tentagraph will be available at Grand Seiko Boutiques worldwide starting August 2025.
