Grand Seiko Elegance "Karasawa" Spring Drive red dial leather strap 38,5 mm

The story

The development of Spring Drive began in the 1970s, but it took Seiko and Grand Seiko a few decades and many prototypes to present their first movement equipped with Spring Drive technology. It first appeared in a Seiko watch marketed in 1999, at the time under the aegis of Seiko, with the hand-wound caliber 7R68. It took another five years for Grand Seiko to unveil its top-of-the-range version, with the launch of its own movement, the automatic caliber 9R65. Indeed, GS waited until it could reach its own standards before launching its 9R, which had to be even more precise and enduring! It was one of the few calibers of its time to offer 72 hours of power reserve. Introduced in 2004, and thus celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, this technology remains unique on the market and perfectly demonstrates all the contrasts that can be observed in Japan and at Grand Seiko.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 9R caliber, Grand Seiko today launches a colorful limited edition of one of its icons, presenting the Elegance Spring Drive Karasawa reference SBGY035.

Inspired by Hotaka

Grand Seiko enthusiasts know the special relationship between the Japanese Manufacture and Japanese landscapes. The brand proves it once again, with this SBGY035!

The Hotaka mountain range rises majestically in the Shinshu region of central Japan, where all Grand Seiko Spring Drive creations are made. The dial's gradation evokes the phenomenon of sunrise. The craggy landscape of the Hotaka mountain range takes on a bright red hue, while the light of dawn makes the autumn foliage emerge from the morning darkness. This superb landscape is represented by a dark red color at the dial's periphery, which gradually lightens towards the center

The indexes and meticulously polished hour and minute hands also ensure a high level of legibility. The second hand glides smoothly and quietly over the dial. It evokes serenity and the passage of time.

An elegant watch

The case used for this Grand Seiko Elegance SBGY035 is made of steel and measures 38.5 mm in diameter by 10.2 mm thick. The finish is what we've come to expect from a Grand Seiko watch, with polished and brushed areas alternating with each other. Its perfect finish is due in particular to the Zaratsu polishing technique, which had to be adapted specifically for this case to create a distortion-free finish on its curved lugs!

A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating covers the front, while a second one covers the back. This timepiece is worn on a crocodile strap with a folding clasp.

Exceptional mechanics

This Grand Seiko Elegance is powered by the exceptional hand-wound 9R31 caliber! Unveiled in 2019 alongside caliber 9R02, which is produced by Micro Artist Studio, the 9R31 commemorated Spring Drive's 20th anniversary. This slim, high-performance movement features a double-barrel structure, enabling it to offer a large 72-hour power reserve while remaining compact. Its power reserve indicator is visible on the back of the watch, through the sapphire caseback.

This movement is beautifully decorated, with its exposed rubies, blued screws and diamond-cut beveled bridges. The 9R31 features a unique brushed-finish bridge. Similar to the 3/4 plates used in German watchmaking, this construction is perfect for maintaining high shock resistance and enhancing the efficiency of the gear train. In all, the 9R31 caliber comprises over 200 components and is the second thinnest Grand Seiko Spring Drive caliber after the 9R02. It is produced by the Shinshu Watch Studio, located at Seiko Epson Corporation's Shiojiri plant.