Twenty years ago, Grand Seiko introduced the Caliber 9R Spring Drive, which has since become a collector’s favourite, with many enthusiasts collecting each new release. The Spring Drive is particularly significant as Grand Seiko is one of the few manufacturers that master electronic and mechanical watchmaking.
The journey towards this innovative design began long before its introduction. In the 1970s, Grand Seiko embarked on research to develop a watch that combined the power of a mainspring with electronic technologies, achieving a level of precision that no conventional mechanical watch could match.
In 1977, a young watch engineer named Yoshikazu Akahane set out to achieve the impossible: creating an “everlasting” watch. His vision was to produce a traditional watch powered by a mainspring that could achieve the precision of one second per day, a level already attained by the company’s electronic watches.
After many years and 600 prototypes, Akahane realised his dream, and the Spring Drive was born. In 2007, reflecting Akahane’s pursuit of perfection, the Grand Seiko Spring Drive chronograph made its debut.
In a mechanical watch, the mainspring stores energy and exerts force to turn gears at a consistent speed as it unwinds. The speed control and escapement mechanism, which includes the balance, pallet, and escape wheel, regulate the watch’s precision.
Since then, this revolutionary technology has evolved to embody the DNA of Grand Seiko, culminating in the movement known as 9R. Two decades later, this milestone is honoured with a new Spring Drive creation in the Elegance Collection. This watch draws its inspiration from the Hotaka mountain range in Japan, renowned for its breathtaking colours of the sky at sunrise in autumn.
The Hotaka mountain range comprises eight of Japan’s 21 mountains, each with an elevation exceeding 3,000m. Besides its stunning beauty, this area is historically significant as the birthplace of Japanese mountaineering.
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Most importantly, all Grand Seiko Spring Drive creations were made in the Hotaka mountain range. With the majestic mountains as a backdrop for the watchmakers, it is only natural that the beauty and colours of the landscape are reflected in the dial. The bright red dial of this Spring Drive creation captures the essence of the Hotaka mountain range and the vibrant autumn leaves illuminated by the golden morning sunlight.
The watch features a recessed copper-pink power-reserve indicator, which adds depth while enhancing legibility and providing a striking contrast within the design. The rose gold tone of the Grand Seiko logo harmonises with the vivid red dial, evoking the colour transformation of leaves during autumn.
This limited edition of 1,300 pieces is powered by the Caliber 9R65, the inaugural movement in the 9R family. It will be available at Grand Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide.
