Grand Seiko’s famed Spring Drive calibres have long set the standard for mainspring-powered timekeeping, but at Watches & Wonders 2025, the Japanese watchmaker announced its most accurate Spring Drive movement ever. Among its new watches this year, Grand Seiko will debut the SLGB001 and SLGB003, both powered by the new “Ultra Fine Accuracy” Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2, improving accuracy from ±15 seconds per month to ±20 seconds per year.
In addition to this technical revolution, Grand Seiko has also announced two new members of the Tentagraph line-up – which debuted in 2023 – alongside a new reference within the Heritage collection. Let’s get into it.
Highlights From The 2025 Grand Seiko Collection
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 SLGB001 & SLGB003
For collectors focused on vintage Grand Seiko watches, the acronym “VFA” dilates pupils and quickens the pulse. Standing for “Very Fine Adjusted“, it was reserved for Grand Seiko’s most accurate and rigorously tested movements during the late ’60s and early ’70s. This week, we see the next evolution of this philosophy with “UFA” (standing for Ultra Fine Accuracy) signed on the dials of the all-new SLGB001 and SLGB003.
Focusing first on the SLGB001 – nicknamed “Ice Forest” – we have a watch crafted from platinum to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Grand Seiko. Featuring a frosty blue dial, its precious metal case measures 37mm in diameter and 11.4mm in thickness and is water resistant to 100m.
However, it’s what lies beneath the dial that steals the show, equipped with the Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2 UFA, the latest iteration of the 9R series that debuted in 2004. Grand Seiko claims it to be the “most accurate wristwatch movement powered by a mainspring today”, delivering a guaranteed average accuracy (and Grand Seiko is notoriously cautious with its accuracy guarantees) of ±20 seconds per year (or approximately ±3 seconds per month).
This significantly improves on the previous best average accuracy of ±10 seconds per month in movements like the 9R96, fitted in the Grand Seiko SBGC275 Spring Drive Chronograph GMT from 2024. Grand Seiko was able to find these accuracy gains by using three-month-aged quartz oscillators that are individually tested at multiple temperatures (only the most stable are selected) and a newly designed integrated circuit with a programmed thermo-compensator.
All of this technical jargon translates into an automatically wound movement that’s super accurate and delivers 72 hours of power reserve, setting an impressive new benchmark for timekeeping in 2025.
The Grand Seiko SLGB003 is fitted with the same remarkable movement, however, it trades a platinum case and crocodile leather strap for a case and bracelet crafted from high-intensity titanium. The bracelet arrives with a micro-adjustment mechanism – which collectors are sure to love – and the dial features the same ice-inspired texture as its platinum sibling, but finished in a slightly lighter shade of blue.
These two new watches are a part of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 collection, with the platinum SLGB001 a limited edition of 80 pieces and an Australian RRP of $58,200, while the SLGB003 has an RRP of $16,300.
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Tentagraph SLGC007 & SLGC009
Next up Grand Seiko has added two new members to the Tentagraph family in the SLGC007 and SLGC009. The SLGC007 has the same case dimensions and movement as the original Tentagraph reference from 2023, but features a dial in a shade of silvery blue that’s inspired by the rocky ridges and deep snow of Mt. Iwate during the middle of winter.
The SLGC009 is the big sibling of the pair, nicknamed the “Tokyo Lion”, and features an aggressive, angular case, made from Brilliant Hard Titanium that measures 43mm in diameter and 15.6mm in thickness. It’s chunkier from almost every angle, with larger hands, hour markers, and chronograph pushers, while the dial is finished in a radiant brown that matches the rubber strap. It also has a heftier water resistance rating of 200m compared to the 100m of the SLGC007.
The SLGC007 has an Australian RRP of $21,000 and the SLGC009 will set you back $24,500 (as well as being a Grand Seiko boutique exclusive).
Grand Seiko SBGW323
Finally, Grand Seiko has announced another member of the ever-popular Heritage Collection in the SBGW323, which is the smallest of the new releases and the most affordable. It features a 36.5mm stainless steel case (11.6mm thick) that employs the 44GS design language with wide, Zaratsu-polished flanks and is paired with a matching stainless steel bracelet.
Where it differs from past references is its gently textured, soft, purple dial, inspired by the purple paulownia flowers that are the official flower of Iwate, where Grand Seiko is based. The Grand Seiko SBGW323 will have an Australian RRP of $8,400.
Check out some of our other favourites from Watches & Wonders 2025 below:
- Tudor’s New Watches For 2025 Nail The Brief
- A Legend Reborn: Cartier’s 2025 Tank à Guichets Revival
- Hublot’s Big Bang Turns 20 (And The Celebration Is Spectacular)
- 270 Years Of Excellence: Vacheron Constantin’s Triumphant Anniversary
Be sure to follow our rolling coverage of this year’s show here and via Instagram.
