Grand Seiko Spring Drive 9RB2 UFA ±20 Sec/Year

cazalea · 2025-03-31T22:49:45Z

Explore Grand Seiko's 2025 Watches & Wonders releases, featuring the Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2 with ±20 sec/year Ultra Fine Accuracy and new micro-adjust clasps.

cazalea

WPS member · Seiko forum

21 replies3311 views7 photos

Cazalea's post introduces Grand Seiko's latest leap in precision with the Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2, achieving an unprecedented annual rate of ±20 seconds. This advancement, dubbed "Ultra Fine Accuracy" (U.F.A.), continues Grand Seiko's historical commitment to accuracy, evolving from its V.F.A. mechanical movements of 1969 and the Spring Drive Caliber 9R65 of 2004. The new movement is housed in a compact 37mm case, making it the smallest in the 9R series and suitable for a wider range of wrist sizes.

The pursuit of high accuracy has been the cornerstone of Grand Seiko’s values since its first watch was created in 1960. Less than 10 years after its birth, Grand Seiko introduced the mechanical V.F.A., standing for “Very Fine Adjusted.” First used in 1969, this designation defined a Grand Seiko watch that was adjusted so skillfully that it achieved an astonishing monthly rate of ±1 minute. In the late 1970s, the development of Spring Drive began with an aim to harmoniously blend the traditional energy of a mainspring with state-of-the-art electronic watchmaking advancements. In 2004, Grand Seiko introduced the Spring Drive Caliber 9R65, which paired automatic winding and 72 hours of power reserve with a movement technology capable of a monthly rate of ±15 seconds, setting a new standard among movements powered by a mainspring.

Today, this legacy of accuracy in watchmaking reaches new heights with the announcement of the Spring Drive Caliber 9RB2, which receives the new U.F.A. designation, standing for “Ultra Fine Accuracy.” The groundbreaking movement boasts a level of precision defined not by accuracy in seconds per day, week, or month, but by its accuracy over one year. The automatic U.F.A. movement has an astounding annual rate of ±20 seconds, making it the most accurate wristwatch movement powered by a mainspring today.* Thanks to the movement’s compact design, the new watches have a case diameter of just 37mm, making them the smallest models powered by the 9R series to date and ideal for smaller wrists.

Titanium on Bracelet about $11k or platinum on strap about $40k both in Evolution 9 style cases

AND FINALLY (drum roll ….. ….. ….. ) A micro-adjust clasp on the bracelet!

Key Points from the Discussion

The new U.F.A. models include a titanium version on a bracelet priced around $11,000 and a platinum version on a strap for approximately $40,000, both featuring Evolution 9 style cases.
A significant new feature across Grand Seiko's latest releases is the inclusion of a micro-adjust clasp on the bracelet, a highly anticipated improvement for wearability.
Beyond the U.F.A., Grand Seiko also introduced a new Tentagraph model with a brown dial, and a smaller, sleeker silver-dial variant, expanding their chronograph offerings.
Another new release is a manual-wind, no-date model with a 36.5mm case, offering -3 to +5 seconds per day accuracy and a 72-hour power reserve.
The U.F.A. models are noted for their competitive cost of entry relative to their accuracy, and there's a question regarding potential dial color differences between the titanium and platinum versions.

The Discussion

cazalea

Mar 31, 2025

New Tentagraph! Brown, Bold, Big If that’s too much, try this - smaller, sleeker, subtler, silvery-er

cazalea

Mar 31, 2025

New manual wind, no date, 36.5mm, -3 to +5 seconds per day and 72 hour reserve

cazalea

Mar 31, 2025

There are only 8 for sale and a few may be reserved. You know if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it, right? But GS says I can tell you anyway, it’s about $320,000 (is there a tariff on watches yet?) Cazalea

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Mar 31, 2025

And the new micro adjustment bracelet! I’m confident they will roll this out to all GS bracelets eventually. Can’t wait to see the new releases in the metal. Thanks for sharing my friend Cheers Robin

KMII

Apr 1, 2025

And nice to see that accuracy is being used as a key selling criterion. And the cost of entry for the UFA is not that much above the normal, which is an added bonus. Is it just my aging eyes or is the dial color on the titanium different from the platinum cased one?

fmc000

Apr 1, 2025

Even the first one, bold big and very original. Kudos to Seiko.

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Grand Seiko Spring Drive 9RB2 UFA ±20 Sec/Year

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