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Grand Seiko’s Most Advanced Watch Just Got Even More Striking

Inspired by the “ethereal beauty of a frost-covered violet dawn.”

Close-up of a luxury stainless steel wristwatch with a textured purple dial. The watch features silver hour markers, a date window at the 3 o'clock position, and a crown engraved with the initials "GS." The dial includes the text "SPRING DRIVE" and "UFA." The watch bracelet is also stainless steel with a brushed finish.Grand Seiko
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By Brad Lanphear

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One of the standout announcements from Switzerland’s biggest watch expo this year was a new Japanese movement that promised to, once again, revolutionize mechanical timekeeping.

Grand Seiko’s caliber 9RB2 Spring Drive Ultra Fine Accuracy movement improves upon the existing Spring Drive’s +/-10 seconds-per-month accuracy with a measurement of +/-20 seconds per year, making it the world’s most accurate mainspring-powered movement.

Silver stainless steel Grand Seiko wristwatch with a textured dark red dial, silver hour markers, and hands. The dial features the Grand Seiko logo, "Spring Drive," "UFA," and a date window at 3 o'clock. The background shows a snowy landscape with leafless trees covered in frost.
The SLGB005 dial is inspired by the violet light of dawn in the icy forests of the Kirigamine Highlands, east of Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio.
Grand Seiko

This staggering achievement debuted in an Evolution 9 case with two dials inspired by an icy mountain landscape.

Specifically, the ice blue SLGB001 and silvery SLGB003 emulated the frozen foothills of the Kirigamine Highlands rising to the east of Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio.

In customary Grand Seiko fashion, the nature-inspired theme tied to the Spring Drive UFA continues with the new reference SLGB005. As stated in a press release, its dial “captures the ethereal beauty of a frost-covered violet dawn.”

Grand Seiko wristwatch with a textured deep purple dial, silver hour markers, and silver hands. The dial features the Grand Seiko logo, "SPRING DRIVE UFA" text, and a date window at 3 o'clock. The watch has a stainless steel case and bracelet with a brushed finish.
The SLGB005 is powered by the caliber 9RB2 Spring Drive UFA movement introduced earlier in 2025.
Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko wisely doesn’t mess with perfection, retaining the 37mm case size from the debut references, but now offered in Ever-Brilliant steel rather than the SLGB003’s High-Intensity Titanium or the SLGB001’s platinum.

The dial texture’s physical structure also mirrors its predecessors, with a rough basketweave formation that appears carved into stone — or ice.

An icy mountain forest at dawn

Along with excellence in engineering and design, Grand Seiko distinguishes itself with a dedication to reproducing the beauty of Japan’s natural landscape on its watch dials.

Grand Seiko wristwatch with a textured deep purple dial, silver hour markers, and hands. The watch features a date window at 3 o'clock and a stainless steel case and bracelet. The dial includes the text "GS Grand Seiko," "SPRING DRIVE," and "UFA." The watch has a polished bezel and a crown on the right side.
The SLBG005 has the same roughly engraved basketweave texture as its predecessors.
Grand Seiko

The SLBG005 elaborates on the frozen wilderness theme tied to the Spring Drive UFA by capturing the first light of dawn filtered through snow-laden tree branches.

Just before the sun appears over the horizon in the frosty Kirigamine Highlands, only the rich violet at the far end of the visible light spectrum permeates the sky. It reflects off the snow-covered ground and refracts through dangling ice to create the impression of a filter drawn over the world.

This natural light show is represented on the dial with rich purple tones that are enhanced by the grainy interwoven structure of the dial plate.

Close-up of a Grand Seiko watch face with a textured deep purple dial. The dial features silver hour markers and hands, a date window at 3 o'clock, and the inscriptions "GS," "Grand Seiko," "SPRING DRIVE," and "UFA." The outer edge of the dial has minute markers, and the watch case is stainless steel with a brushed finish.
The intricate texture of the dial reacts to the light like an icy landscape, creating different hues of violet.
Grand Seiko

In the words of Grand Seiko, “The deep violet hue gradually lightens toward the center and reveals the texture underneath, evoking the forests slowly emerging in the morning light.”

The easiest way to spot an Evolution 9 reference is the beveled Dauphine hour hand with a center stripe — a callback to the 1970s — and a cropped tip. The chamfered applied hour markers match the hour hand with center grooves.

Unrivaled case finishing

Perfecting simplicity is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, and no watch brand does so better than Grand Seiko. The Evolution 9 represents a design philosophy dating back to the reference 44GS, released in 1967.

Close-up of the back of a stainless steel Grand Seiko wristwatch showcasing its intricate Spring Drive movement. The transparent case back reveals the mechanical components, including jewels and gears, with engravings around the edge indicating "WATER RESIST 10BAR," "LIMITED EDITION," "STAINLESS STEEL," "MADE IN JAPAN," and the serial number "No. 0001/1300." The rotor is engraved with "SPRING DRIVE ULTRA FINE ACCURACY" and the Grand Seiko logo is visible on the movement. The watch has a brushed metal bracelet.
The Spring Drive UFA is visible through an exhibition case, revealing a power reserve indicator.
Grand Seiko

The faceted elliptical case is made of the proprietary Ever-Brilliant Steel, which is more corrosion-resistant than standard stainless steel. It also has an inherent shimmer that maximizes the effect of the brand’s signature Zaratsu polish and retains this finish for longer.

Overshadowed by the Spring Drive UFA’s mechanical majesty is its 37mm case, which is a welcome departure from the 40mm cases housing most Spring Drive and Hi-Beat mechanical references.

The gentle curvature of the lugs means that this Evolution 9 case wears smaller still. It is completed with a matching 20mm-wide brushed and Zaratsu polished three-link Ever-Brilliant Steel bracelet with a folding clasp, though it lacks the micro-adjustment feature seen on the SLGB003.

Grand Seiko wristwatch with a stainless steel bracelet and case, featuring a textured deep purple dial. The dial includes silver hour markers, silver hands, a date window at 3 o'clock, and the inscriptions "GS," "Grand Seiko," "SPRING DRIVE," and "UFA." The watch has a polished and brushed finish with a crown on the right side.
The Zaratsu-polished Ever-Brilliant Steel three-link bracelet matches the case.
Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko revealed the Spring Drive UFA movement in March with two references that, while gorgeous watches, could easily get lost in the brand’s striking catalog. This kept focus squarely on the movement, where it belonged.

The new reference SLGB005 pairs the cutting-edge movement with a dial of equal splendor. For the first time, you’ll be able to spot a watch from across the room and know for sure that it is a Spring Drive UFA.

Availability and price

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive UFA reference SLG005 is now available for pre-order from Grand Seiko for $11,100.

Orders will ship out, and the watch will appear in Grand Seiko Boutiques and at authorized dealers, in November 2025.

Grand Seiko wristwatch with a stainless steel case and bracelet. The dial is textured with a dark purple pattern, featuring silver hour markers and hands. The watch has a date window at 3 o'clock and a thin silver second hand. The text on the dial includes "GS," "Grand Seiko," "SPRING DRIVE," and "UFA.Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko Spring Drive UFA SLGB005 “Violet Dawn”

Specs

Case Size 37mm
Movement Grand Seiko caliber 9RB2 automatic
Water Resistance 100m
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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