Grand Seiko's "Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive UFA" Ref. SLGB003 has won the Good Design Award 2025. This model features a embossed dial with a frost-like motif, a 37mm bright titanium case, and is equipped with a Spring Drive UFA movement with an annual accuracy of ±20 seconds.
This monumental model, showcasing Grand Seiko's technology and design, wins the Good Design Award!
The Good Design Award, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, is Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation and recommendation system. Following on from last year's winner, the Evolution 9 Collection Hand-Wound Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours Ref. SLGW003, this year Grand Seiko's Spring Drive UFA Ref. SLGB003 from the Evolution 9 Collection has once again won the Good Design Award.
The Ref. SLGB003 is a model that employs the Evolution 9 style, a unique design grammar that further evolves the Grand Seiko style in terms of aesthetics, visibility, and wearability, and embodies Grand Seiko's commitment to pursuing the essence of a wristwatch at a high level.
The dial features a embossed pattern inspired by the frost-covered trees that can be seen in winter on the Kirigamine Plateau in Nagano Prefecture, the same place where the Spring Drive models are manufactured, creating a fantastical scene.
But what's most noteworthy is the Spring Drive movement, Cal. 9RB2, which boasts an astonishing accuracy of ±20 seconds per year. To achieve this high precision, thorough improvements have been made, including a new IC design, revised quartz crystal processing accuracy, and the inclusion of a newly developed speed switch. The letters UFA on the dial stand for Ultra Fine Accuracy, demonstrating this outstanding precision. Another key feature is the power reserve indicator located on the case back, which enhances functionality without compromising the aesthetics of the dial.
The SLGB003 combines a fantastical design inspired by frost-covered trees with a compact 37mm case. It features a highly accurate Spring Drive movement with an annual accuracy of ±20 seconds. Automatic Spring Drive (Cal. 9RB2). 34 jewels. Approximately 72 hours of power reserve. Bright titanium case (37mm diameter, 11.4mm thick). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,518,000 yen (tax included).
One of the judges commented that "Japan once demonstrated its strength in offering high-quality products at reasonable prices. In those days, the value of a product was probably relative. However, Grand Seiko, which has reached the pinnacle of watchmaking technology, is being asked to determine its own value."
The watch designer commented, "The dial uses an intricate stencil pattern to express the beauty of the fantastical ice formations that can be seen on the Kirigamine Plateau in Nagano Prefecture, where the watch is manufactured. This model embodies Grand Seiko's brand philosophy, 'THE NATURE OF TIME,' with its innovative movement and a dial inspired by the vast nature surrounding the manufacturing site."
