A quick look at Grand Seiko's new models for 2025!

Grand Seiko is not only a representative Japanese watch brand, but has now grown into a global watch brand. Every year, the company's new releases attract great attention and expectations both at home and abroad. In 2025, a new model was released that lives up to those expectations.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release ① "Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive UFA"

　Since becoming an independent brand in 2017, Grand Seiko has continued to expand its global sales channels. In recent years, it has further increased its market presence by introducing newly developed movements. 2025 marks the birth of yet another such new movement: the Cal. 9RB2, Seiko's unique Spring Drive movement, billed as offering "another dimension of precision." Two watches equipped with this movement are available: the "Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive UFA," crafted in bright titanium and platinum.

　Spring Drive is Seiko's "third movement," released in 1999. While it uses a mainspring as its power source like a mechanical watch, it uses a quartz (crystal oscillator) to regulate its speed, achieving the high precision of a quartz watch. Seiko had been considering this mechanism since the late 1970s, but it took more than 20 years to commercialize it.

　The Cal. 9RB2 is a movement that brings this revolutionary Spring Drive to a level of extremely high accuracy, with an annual deviation of ±20 seconds, while also being small and thin. Previous Spring Drive movements have been officially recognized as having an average monthly deviation of ±10-15 seconds, demonstrating the extent to which precision has been pushed to the limit. This level of precision was achieved by aging the quartz crystal unit for three months to stabilize its accuracy, then sealing it in a vacuum with a newly designed IC, minimizing the effects of temperature, humidity, static electricity, and light. Furthermore, this sealed IC is temperature-compensated based on data obtained by measuring the frequency of each individual quartz crystal unit at multiple temperatures. To ensure consistent accuracy over the years, I was also surprised to see the inclusion of a speed limit switch, a first for Spring Drive.

　This movement has been given the name "UFA (Ultra Fine Accuracy)," which is also the name of the model, and it can be said that this new model strongly conveys the brand's commitment to challenging the precision of wristwatches, just like the "Grand Seiko VFA (Very Fine Adjusted)" released in 1969.

　It's also worth noting that this is the smallest and thinnest Spring Drive watch to date. The new model's case measures just 37.0mm in diameter and 11.4mm thick. In keeping with the design grammar of the Evolution 9 Collection, the low-center-of-gravity case and wide bracelet ensure a comfortable fit. Additionally, the bright titanium model is a first for Grand Seiko, featuring a fine-tuning mechanism on the buckle. Adjustment is possible in 2mm increments, with three positions possible without tools, highlighting the attention to fit.

　This model also features original dials, a strength of Grand Seiko. The dial features a die-cut pattern inspired by the frost-covered trees that form in the harsh winter of the Kirigamine Plateau in Suwa, located east of the Shinshu Toki no Takumi Kobo, where Spring Drive is manufactured. Furthermore, a shimmering surface finish is applied over this pattern, creating a pale blue that stands out on the wrist. The bright titanium model features a silvery blue, while the platinum model features a deeper blue.

　The retail price for the bright titanium model is 1,518,000 yen, and the platinum model, which will be produced in a limited edition of only 80 pieces worldwide, is 5,500,000 yen (both prices include tax). It is scheduled to be available at Grand Seiko boutiques and Grand Seiko salons from Friday, June 6, 2025.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release ② "Sports Collection Tokyo Lion Tentagraph"

　The release of Grand Seiko's first mechanical chronograph movement in 2023 has been one of the brand's biggest topics in recent years. This Caliber 9SC5, named "Tentagraph," which stands for "automatic chronograph" and features 10 vibrations per second and a power reserve of approximately three days, has caused a stir in the watch industry. In 2025, a special model featuring this Tentagraph on an exterior featuring Grand Seiko's symbolic lion motif will be released: the "Sports Collection Tokyo Lion Tentagraph."

　As you'd expect from a lion motif, the first thing that catches your eye is the unique and dynamic case form. This design, which appears as if a block of metal has been carved away, was inspired by the lion's powerful claws. The hairline finish further accentuates the texture of the metal, emphasizing the sharpness of the claws. This, combined with the polished surface, creates a well-defined shape.

　Another distinctive feature is the large push buttons, typical of the sports collection. However, this shape not only gives the design a sporty image, but also ensures a comfortable feel when pressed, and ensures reliable operation.

　Like the case, the dial is strikingly dynamic. It features an organic pattern called "Fuubi," inspired by the way a lion's mane flutters in the wind. The inset dials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock are separate parts. Not only do they offer a variety of expressions, but their bowl-shaped design allows for a short distance between the hands and the scale, making measurement results easy to read. The diamond-cut, polyhedral indexes, sharp like a lion's claws, also contribute to excellent legibility.

　The large, dynamic case is crafted from brilliant hard titanium, boasting a surface hardness approximately twice that of stainless steel. Lighter than stainless steel, it also features a gently curved caseback. The beige rubber strap, while flexible, boasts approximately twice the tensile strength of a silicone strap and features an internal buckle, ensuring a comfortable fit.

The "Sports Collection Tokyo Lion Tentagraph" will retail for 231 million yen (tax included) and will be available at Grand Seiko boutiques and Grand Seiko salons from Friday, August 8, 2025.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release #3: Evolution 9 Collection Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours 2025 Limited Edition

　Although it is not during Watches & Wonders Geneva, the Grand Seiko has also announced the Evolution 9 Collection Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours 2025 Limited Edition Model, limited to 1200 pieces worldwide, inspired by the majestic ridges of Mount Iwate as seen from Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.

　Mount Iwate, rich in nature and whose appearance changes with the changing seasons, has been an inspiration for the watchmakers who create mechanical watches at Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, and is deeply connected to Grand Seiko's philosophy of "THE NATURE OF TIME."

　Mount Iwate, believed to have formed approximately 70 years ago, is one of the most aggressively active mountains in Japan, a country with many active volcanoes. Among its many recorded eruptions, the 1732 eruption spewed a massive amount of lava, traces of which can still be seen on the mountain's surface today. This model features a cut-out of one side of Mount Iwate, with a dial inspired by the mountain's ridgeline as seen from a bird's-eye view. The dynamic ridgeline is captured in radial embossing, while the serene air and water that surround Mount Iwate are expressed in clear blue.

　The case and bracelet are made of "Ever Brilliant Steel," which has the highest level of corrosion resistance and a high-quality appearance due to its whiteness. The movement is the mechanical high-beat movement Cal. 9SA5, which has a power reserve of approximately 80 hours despite being a high-beat movement.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release #4: Heritage Collection Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000

　Two new models have been added to the Heritage Collection Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000, each featuring a dial depicting the Japanese scenery of the 24 solar terms.

　Rikka marks the beginning of summer, falling halfway between the autumnal equinox and the summer solstice. It is a season of fresh greenery, blue skies, and pleasant air, and it is also a season that evokes the energy of the powerful summer ahead. The Ref. SBGH351, which incorporates Rikka, is inspired by the refreshing "kunpu" (fragrant breeze) that is unique to this time of year, and features a green dial that evokes the gentle breeze blowing through lush grasslands.

　The autumnal equinox marks the beginning of the transition from summer to autumn, when the length of day and night become equal. This is the season when the nights become longer and the moon appears larger in the sky. The Ref. SBGH353, which incorporates the autumnal equinox, expresses the contrast between the autumn night sky and the moon with its gold "GS" logo and second hand that stand out against the dark blue dial.

　The case and bracelet are made of "Ever Brilliant Steel," which is known for its corrosion resistance and high appearance quality, and the movement is the mechanical high-beat movement Cal. 9S85.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release #5: Evolution 9 Collection Tentagraph

　Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi has announced a new model of the Evolution 9 Collection Tentagraph, featuring a dial depicting Mount Iwate, a symbol of the city. The theme is the clear blue sky of midwinter, blending seamlessly into the fresh, blue snow that caps Mount Iwate.

　The newly released Ref. SLGC007 features a snow blue color scheme to represent the pale blue of fresh snow, with the mountain surface peeking through in black. The snow blue portion of the dial is embossed to represent the soft texture of fresh snow and the way it delicately reflects the light shining through it.

　The watch is equipped with the Caliber 9SC5, also known as the Tentagraph, Grand Seiko's first mechanical chronograph movement, which was announced in 2023. The high basic performance of the movement, the light weight of the bright titanium case, and the high visibility provided by the dial design, including hour and minute hands of different thicknesses and well-balanced subdials, make this a highly practical model.

Grand Seiko 2025 New Release ⑥ "Heritage Collection 62GS Mechanical 30mm"

Two models of the Heritage Collection 62GS Mechanical 30mm have been announced, incorporating spring scenery into a design that brings the 62GS design to a 30mm case diameter. The 62GS was Grand Seiko's first automatic model, and was revived in 2015 with a modern design and specifications. It features a bezel-less dial that appears spacious, and a sharp, polyhedral case that has been polished using Zaratsu polishing.

　Two models are available, one with a pink dial and one with a silver dial. The pink dial Ref. STGK031 is inspired by the "sakurakakushi" (cherry blossom obscuration), a scene in which cherry blossoms are hidden by snow. Sakurakakushi is a scene that can be seen at the beginning of spring in the Tohoku region, where Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi is located. The delicate embossed pattern and grayish pink color express the pale hues of cherry blossoms peeking out from between the pure white snow, and the transience of the flowers, which can only be seen for a short period of time.

　The other model, Ref. STGK033, is inspired by the "Cherry Blossom Moonlit Night," when cherry blossoms are illuminated by a hazy moon. In early spring, the temperature difference between day and night is extreme, making the moon appear hazy due to the influence of mist and fog. This charming scene of the cherry blossoms illuminated by the hazy moonlight is expressed on the dial with a embossed pattern and silver color that changes with the light and angle.

　This model is equipped with the automatic movement Cal. 9S27 to achieve a compact size of 30mm. Due to the thinness of the movement, the finished thickness of the watch is also kept to 10.5mm, achieving a compact and elegant silhouette.