GRAND SEIKO EVOLUTION 9 SPRING DRIVE UFA Limited Edition SLGB005

New Grand Seiko Spring Drive UFA Ice Forest SLGB005 which has a Purple Dial in Stainless Steel








Grand Seiko's ultra-fine precision returns in Ever-Brilliant Steel with a purple face.



Earlier this coming year at the Geneva Watches & Wonders 2025, Grand Seiko unveiled a significant new series featuring a brand-new movement as well as a meaningful name: Spring Drive UFA. If you're a Grand Seiko fan, you'll immediately understand the connection to past VFA models, as the new ultra-fine precision movement pays honor to the ultra-fine caliber coming from 1969. This elegant, lightweight watch, first introduced inside the SLGB001 and SLGB003 types, is a practical and functional watch for everyday use and after this returns as the limited release Spring Drive UFA Snow Forest SLGB005. Combining a Ever-Brilliant steel case along with a gradient purple dial, it offers undeniable visual and technical appeal, but lacks one of many key new features of the ti SLGB003…



Even as we explained in our first look at the newest member of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 family, the actual acronym UFA (Ultra-Fine Precision) is a beautiful nod for the past. It stands for VFA, or Very Fine Adjusting. First used in 1969, the particular designation defined a mechanised Grand Seiko watch in which achieved an astonishing ±1 second of monthly accuracy. Also by today's standards, that remains impressive, rivaling typically the claimed accuracy of Rolex's Superlative Chronometer. But now, inside 2025, Grand Seiko features a proprietary technology called Spring Drive, a hybrid connected with mechanical and quartz this achieves accuracy far over and above the limits of conventional physical movements. And this Ultra-Fine Accurate Caliber 9RB2 leads the way with regards to accuracy. More on that afterwards.



Stainless steel circumstance and purple dial

First, let's examine the planning and style of the new Spring Drive UFA Ice Natrual enviroment SLGB005. Initially, not much has evolved compared to the titanium SLGB003. The truth shape and finish remain the same, a modern interpretation of Awesome Seiko's design philosophy along with a hallmark of the Evolution on the lookout for collection. The case boasts a modern day blend of brushed and Zaratsu polished surfaces, complemented by way of a slim bezel, angular (but not excessive) surfaces, and also a comfortable 100-meter water resistance. The actual crown is screw-down, as well as the caseback features a sapphire ravenscroft.



But just like the titanium version, the key to the Ice Forest SLGB005 will be its size…elegant and everyday, with a case diameter associated with 37mm and a length of forty four. 3mm. Yes, the 10. 4mm thickness is an development compared to many other Grand Seiko watches, but I can endure a 1mm reduction. One more key element of this new constrained edition is the material. The particular SLGB005 switches from ti to Ever-Brilliant Steel (EBS), a brighter alloy using enhanced corrosion resistance, promising a PREN rating 1 ) 7 times that of standard stainless steel. If you will, is actually GS's answer to 904L iron. Using EBS has a couple of immediate consequences-two advantages for myself, actually: it's brighter plus more lustrous than titanium, in fact it is heavier, making it more comfortable to be able to wear-or perhaps more in accordance with my personal taste (I like a bit of heft in wrist watches, especially compact ones).



The first titanium in addition to platinum models featured light-toned dials (silver-blue and ice-blue, respectively) and introduced one more nature-inspired pattern-the so-called " Ice Forest Texture, " depicting frost-covered treetops in the winter. Now, the Spring Drive UFA SLGB005 adds some sort of gradient purple to this fragile texture, creating an image of your ice forest at start. The color is understated as well as sophisticated, perfectly executed. That stands out to the wearer without becoming overly obtrusive, maintaining a minimal profile. All dial factors are finished in magic tones, accented by the Evolution 9's signature bold palms and fluted hour marker pens.



UFA Competence 9RB2 Movement

In the case is the same 9RB2 movement found in the ti SLGB003 watch. This mobility, featuring Spring Drive technological innovation, was designed to create a more compact and also thinner watch, while furthermore being more precise as compared to any previous creation from your brand (in fact, oahu is the most accurate mainspring enjoy movement available today). Typically the 9R6x caliber boasts a month to month accuracy of ±15 just a few seconds. The 9RA5 caliber, launched in 2020, improves this particular to ±10 seconds monthly. The new, ultra-precision 9RB2 competence achieves an astonishing ±3 secs per month (or ±20 mere seconds per year), a level regarding precision unattainable for each day use by many strictly mechanical watches. The design that achieves this amount of precision is detailed in this article.



Otherwise, often the movement of this purple SLGB005 remains unchanged, measuring 30mm in diameter and 5mm thick. This automatic Early spring Drive movement, powered by just a single mainspring barrel, supplies a generous 72-hour power reserve (the power-reserve indicator is smartly integrated on the caseback). Often the caseback reveals the unsecured personal Shinshu Watch Studio attractive pattern, with the brushed watch dial and bridges contrasting with all the polished beveled edges.



Steel Bracelet, Simply no Fine Adjustment Required

As you might expect, the necklace of this new purple confined edition is crafted from Ever-Brilliant stainless steel, matching the case. Still compared to the titanium version, seems like to lack something… From launch, this watch not merely featured a new movement but in addition, to our surprise, (finally…) a new fine-adjustment system on the hold. It’s a shame that the steel SLGB005 no longer features this specific comfortable release mechanism, aborting to a traditional triple-folding form (adorned with an 18K rare metal medallion) with a push-button release… a shame, as in any other case this new model is perfect in every way.



Technical Specifications - GRAND SEIKO EVOLUTION 9 SPRING DRIVE UFA Limited Edition SLGB005

Case: 37mm diameter x 11. 4mm thickness - 44. 3mm lug-to-lug - Ever-Brilliant metal, brushed finish with Zaratsu polished accents - Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner area - Transparent screw-down caseback - Screw-down crown rapid 100m water resistance

Call: Dial with a gradient crimson " Shinshu Icefield" reduction pattern - Applied faceted markers and hands, simply no luminescent material - Presented date window and utilized GS logo - Silver-toned steel second hand

Movements: Caliber 9RB2 - Fresh generation Spring Drive motion with ultra-high precision instructions Automatic central rotor -- 30mm x 5. 02mm - 34 jewels : 72-hour power reserve - ±20 per year Second accuracy (approximately ±3 seconds per month) - First-ever regulating method in a Spring Drive movements - Brushed finish having polished bevels - Several hours, minutes, central seconds, time, and power reserve displayed around the back

Strap: Ever-Brilliant Steel three-link bracelet rapid Ever-Brilliant Steel three-fold buckle with push-button release, which includes titanium components and the 18k rose gold medallion instructions No fine adjustment (unlike the titanium SLGB003)

Reference: SLGB005