Earlier this year, Grand Seiko debuted its latest technical marvel — one of a strong run of recent mechanical achievements — the Spring Drive U.F.A., the most accurate watch with a mainspring, boasting an astonishing annual rate of ±20 seconds per year. This new caliber, the 9RB2, is the driving force in a new watch, the SLGB005, a limited edition for Asia Pacific, inspired by the ethereal beauty of a frost-covered dawn.

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005.

We’ll get to that dawn-kissed dial in a minute, as it’s hard to miss. But there are a few other things worth pointing out. First of all, the calibre. I’ll defer to the expertise of Cheryl when it comes to the finer details (honestly, do yourself a favour and give her analysis of the 9RB2 a read), but top line, this movement is the next generation Spring Drive of your hopes and dreams. The smaller and slimmer size makes it much more versatile, and the accuracy is nothing short of incredible, especially when you consider that Grand Seiko’s own 9F quartz calibre is accurate to within +/- 10 seconds per year. Even if the chronometry of the watch doesn’t excite you (what’s wrong with you?), it’s hard to ignore that gliding seconds hand.

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005.

The other major development here is the case and bracelet. As part of the Evolution 9 Collection, the shape and ergonomics of the case should be familiar to Grand Seiko fans, but the material is the big story here. The debut Spring Drive U.F.A. models were released in titanium and platinum, while this limited edition is in Ever-Brilliant steel. This material offers greater corrosion resistance and has a brighter colour than regular steel alloys used in watchmaking, enhancing Grand Seiko’s already lauded case finishing capabilities. This case material also adds to the frosty aesthetic of the SLGB005’s inspiration.

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005.

Grand Seiko’s evocative story for the icy dial explains that to the east of Shinsu Watch Studio lie the Kirigamine Highlands, a stunning landscape that is especially picturesque. In winter, when the trees are covered in frost and snow, frost catches the first rays of dawn light, and the landscape glows with violet light. This might seem like marketing hyperbole, but I did some quick research (typing ‘Kirigamine Highlands at Dawn’ into Google, and the results are pretty stunning, and quite purple). Grand Seiko has used the same dial texture on the previous U.F.A. models, with its peaked, ice-like crystalline structure, and given it a subtle graduated purple colouration, which adds even more drama to the textured dial and provides the perfect entrancing backdrop for that smooth seconds hand.

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005.

The SLGB005 is a stunning example of Grand Seiko’s commitment not just to technical perfection, but also to their philosophy of the Nature of Time. It’s limited to 1300 pieces and available from November 2025.

Tech Specs: Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005

Movement: Caliber 9RB2, automatic spring drive with 72 hours of power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve
Case: Ever-Brilliant steel, 37 x 11.4mm, water resistant to 100M
Dial: Purple
Strap: Ever-Brilliant steel bracelet with three-fold clasp
Pricing and availability: SGD 15,000, limited to 1300 pieces