Why The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Is The Greatest Watch Movement & How It Works

The Spring Drive movement is no doubt well known, but in terms of how it works, I feel it is one of the most misunderstood advancements in watchmaking history. In this video, we take a closer look at the most prominent types of watch movements and how they ultimately led to the creation of the Spring Drive. Also, I want to give a big shoutout to Joe Kirk, the National Training Manager at GS for providing me with his extremely-detailed presentation to help explain this topic. I have a link to one of his full presentations of the Spring Drive below if you want to learn even more.

Videos Mentioned:

[TeddyBaldassarre]

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed this one as it took quite a bit of time to put together but I think the Spring Drive is one of the more misunderstood developments in all of watchmaking and I really wanted to make this. Also, I want to give a big shoutout to Joe Kirk, the National Training Manager at GS for providing me his presentation assets to help explain this topic. I will have a link to one of his full presentations of the Spring Drive in the description if you want to learn even more. Have a great rest of the weekend.

[Jaseph]

To me the most amazing thing about the Spring Drive is that Seiko allowed development to continue for so long. So many companies would have pulled the plug long before it was developed. To believe it was possible to do and then to continue supporting the project until completion earns my great respect for Seiko.

[omarmansour]

As an engineering student, I have to say that the spring drive movement would be a great subject for a physics exam (mechanics, electromagnetism and induction, piezo-electric effect, power transfer...).

[STSGuitar]

That has to be the most stunningly gorgeous watch movement I've ever seen. A feat of engineering as well as a piece of art.

[michaeltb]

The Swiss watches are basically jewellery that tells the time fairly accurately. This is a work of art that tells the time precisely.

[katzmosestools]

I have a snowflake and can't stop staring at the second hand. Phenomenal explanation Teddy. Truly incredible explanation of an incredible movement.

[cdb]

Listen, some of us are hoping to pick up a GS some day, so could you please stop promoting it's greatness and consequently creating demand and increased pricing? Just be like other channels and focus on Rolex ;)

[stevecastro]

Like you, I am a very visual person, and as a Gunsmith for the past 45 years, I also have a deep appreciation for anything that is finely crafted, be it a Watch, a piece of furniture, or a car. Thank you for your explanation on spring drive watches. Very informative and I found it fascinating.

[colinubeh]

The first time I saw a spring drive, I was mesmerized by the smooth gliding motion of the second hand. The accuracy of the movement is another thing.

[dylanlamb]

One of the coolest parts of this system is watching as it first starts up...because there’s so much energy being transferred, and because the brake takes a few seconds to engage and slow the glide wheel...that seconds hand moves really fast until the system begins regulating properly. Great video!

[owenlu]

As an engineer, I think this is probably one of the best done explanations I've seen. Thanks dude

[tomhohum]

I have an SBGA427. The effort you put into this video to explain how amazing this movement is makes appreciation of this revolution in watchmaking even greater. Thank you!!

[gav_bray]

This is an awesome explanation of such an amazing movement. After quite a few years of being fascinated by watches, Teddy's explanation makes much more sense to me now, on how this movement works. GS have done some phenomenal work to make this mechanism possible.

[movies]

I was at my AD picking up a different watch. Just by luck they were having a Grand Seiko event. They had a master watchmaker from the Grand Seiko factory doing a live disassembly and rebuild of a Spring Drive watch. His work was being projected from a microscope. The way he described the wire winding and the precision which the wire is fabricated was amazing. On par with your comments about the power it would take to run a billion watches. You could hardly make out the individual wires, even under magnification. The tiny wire is hexagonal so that the winding has the density needed to generate the requisite electromagnetic field using so little power. The watch is a marvel of engineering and finishing. I ended up buying a Skyflake. It keeps perfect time.

[jackj]

That sweeping second hand really is glorious

[invisablehvman]

This is the most impressive watch video I have ever seen. I have yet to break the $1000 barrier for a watch, let alone 5k to 10k barrier, but as an investment I would consider the Grand Seiko with the Spring Drive. I just have not been sold on the Rolex and its expensive cousins with their extremely high prices and perceived markup - not a me too guy, but I have to say that the Spring Drive and the quality of the finish of the Grand Seiko makes it well worth considering the 5k to 10k range compare to the other higher end options. Now to convince my wife that I would only buy "one" high-end watch. She teases me for having 20+ watches, I remind her that her "shoe" and "purse" expenditure far exceeds my watch costs. Thanks again for a most impressive video.

[skippycavanugh]

Japanese Engineering is testament of how smallest of things can be engineered to be implemented into something far more efficient engineering marvel, and this movement is an example of it. We had both Mechanical and Quartz movement, but the Japanese simply combined both and utilised best of both worlds. And Teddy your video too deserves same appreciation, the animations must be really hard and tedious to make, but they were worth it. Too bad I’m broke and cannot even buy an ordinary seiko because I’m sold for this GS’s

[glennharris]

I have a Grand Seiko Snowflake (spring drive). It is amazingly accurate. I set my other watches using the GS. Great review Teddy.

[david-yjuv]

As an electrician, this movement is amazing. A spring drive just made my wish list.

[fredrickwerstein]

Teddy, I'm a late-comer to high end watches, but love your presentations, observations and reviews. A pleasure to follow someone who is a true watch lover. I'm a neophite, but always ready to learn and expand my knowledge of this wonderful field of technology!