I’ll start with what I acknowledge is a bold statement: the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC001, in its entirety, as it is out of the box, is exactly the package of design, movement, functionality, technology, accuracy, and value that one or more major Swiss brands should at least be trying to offer.
The Seiko Spring Drive watch movement technology is one of the most unique, ingenious, efficient, and accurate calibers ever designed and is in a class of its own among modern mass produced movements. We will begin with looking at how Spring Drive works for the simple reason that we need a good understanding of how the system functions and is constructed before we can talk about the fascinating story behind it all.
I typically have good results when mixing things which are both high-end and Japanese. Down in South Florida where performance speaks louder than pizazz, I decided see how well a Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT SBGE001 watch matched with a 2017 Infiniti QX80 Limited SUV.
In honor of the “55th Anniversary of the first automatic Grand Seiko,” Seiko released both a set of traditional-looking Grand Seiko models and modern ones intended to celebrate the Grand Seiko 62GS from 1967. In this Grand Seiko Historical Collection set of watches, two contain Seiko Spring Drive movements and two contain Hi-Beat automatic movements.