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What went into the making of the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Titanium ‘Atera Valley’

We spoke with Kohei Egashira, Manager, Merchandise Planning Department, on the nuances and details of the SLGA025G High Intensity Titanium 9RA2 Spring Drive-5 Days Atera Valley, the cover watch of WatchTime India's January-March 2025 Issue.
That Grand Seiko watches display a deep affection for nature is a fairly known fact. Just look at the ​lion’s mane on the dial of the SBGE307, or the ‘snowy valley’ of SBGJ277, or the representation of the night sky above Mt. Iwate on the dial of the Tentagraph. But if you are new to watches, the SLGA025G - High Intensity Titanium 9RA2 Spring Drive 5 Days ‘Atera Valley’ is a great way to get familiar with the brand. In Japan’s Kiso Valley region of the Nagano Prefecture, the six-kilometre long Atera Valley is a sight to behold with the emerald green waters of the Atera river flowing amidst its lush scenery, so clear that you can see the riverbed. This river flows through South of Shiojiri, the location of the Shinshu Watch Studio, where Grand Seiko makes its Spring Drive timepieces. 

WatchTime India January-March 2025 Issue

This emerald green water is the inspiration behind SLGA025G’s dial. Featuring a hue called ‘Atera Blue’, it seeks to do justice to the beauty of the chromatic river it is named after. A delicately scratched texture created by hand using different tools, its each stroke resembles the movement of water, with the blue-green effect rendering it picture-perfect. A similar dial was showcased by the brand in early 2024, in the SLGH021 Genbi Valley watch of the Evolution 9 collection, which paid tribute to the emerald-green waters of Genbi Valley’s Iwai river that flows through the Iwate Prefecture, where the brand’s Studio Shizukuishi is located.

The watch, part of the Evolution 9 collection, also boasts the Caliber 9RA2. With an accuracy rate of ±10 seconds per month or ±0.5 second per day, and a power reserve of about 120 hours or 5 days, which is indicated on the movement visible through the transparent caseback, the automatic Caliber 9RA2 Spring Drive is a technical marvel in Grand Seiko’s movement legacy. 

The dial colour called, called ‘Atera Blue’, is inspired by the chromatic river it is named after

But the SLGA025G is a deeply layered watch, its dial reflective of Grand Seiko's ethos is several ways. Kohei Egashira, Manager, Merchandise Planning Department, Grand Seiko, revealed to us those aspects of the watch that aren’t immediately apparent. 

WatchTime India: Grand Seiko has been making watches taking inspiration from nature. This time, what made you choose the Atera Valley for this watch?
Kohei Egashira: We are not just highlighting beautiful nature in Japan, rather, we are focusing on the story of the harmonious co-existence between people and nature in Japan, particularly in the regions where Grand Seiko is manufactured.

The Atera Valley embodies the dual narrative of "protecting the forest and living with the forest." This spirit is reflected in the beautiful emerald green streams that flow through the valley. Shiojiri City in Nagano Prefecture, where Spring Drive is manufactured, was a crucial transportation hub on the Nakasendo, a route connecting Edo (former name of Tokyo) and Kyoto that was established over 400 years ago. The section extending approximately 80 kilometers south from Shiojiri City is particularly known as ‘Kisoji’, and it contains deep and rugged forest paths. This area is known for producing Kiso Hinoki, considered the highest quality of timber in Japan. During the Edo period, the timber was transported to the sea using the power of the Kiso River and its tributaries, contributing to the construction and maintenance of castles, temples, and shrines throughout Japan.

The delicately etched dial surface mimics the flowing waters of the river

The Atera Valley is one of these tributaries, and even today, both banks of the river are lined with Kiso Hinoki and the ‘Kiso Five Trees’, a collective term for four other types of trees with similar qualities to Hinoki, such as Asunaro. People living here have led lives that benefit from the blessings of the Kiso Five Trees, while also strictly protecting and managing them. This history of co-existence between nature and people has preserved the beautiful landscape of the Atera Valley to this day.

WTI: Could you shed light on the craftsmanship of the dial?
KE: Many of the members involved in the manufacturing of Grand Seiko are deeply rooted in the land and live their lives there. For those living around Lake Suwa, the lake is a source of life and memories, a place intertwined with various experiences, and a spiritual anchor. The way we perceive the Lake Suwa pattern and the way they perceive it can differ, leading to different interpretations and feelings.

We believe that when such sentiments are effectively incorporated from the development stage, it leads to the creation of excellent patterns. Most of the dial patterns adopted by Grand Seiko are created using the pressing (stamping) technique. Therefore, the craftsmanship involved in creating the metal press molds becomes extremely important. In textures inspired by nature, a soft and delicate touch, organic lines, and irregularities often lead to a beauty that is distinct from artificial elements. Therefore, patterns are often created by hand using tools like hammers and routers.

However, the desired expression of the dial cannot be achieved with the press mold alone. It requires multiple subsequent processes, such as plating, painting for colouring, applying a clear layer to fill in the unevenness, and then deciding whether to finish this clear layer with a glossy or matte look. Through these numerous steps, we determine how the texture appears, how it reflects light, and how the shades transition.

The watch is crafted in titanium and has a zaratsu finish

 For the Atera Valley dial, we have created delicate lines flowing from the 11 o’clock direction to the 4 o’clock direction, representing the connection between the swift current and the gentle flow of the river. After applying plating, we sprayed multiple layers of paint to achieve an emerald green gradient, followed by a clear coating, which is then polished to a smooth, glossy finish. We developed it to capture the summer atmosphere experienced when visiting the Atera River, as well as the sounds emanating from the forest and river.

WTI: What were the challenges in bringing the dial to life?
KE: The challenge always lies in the small area available for expression. Since it is not a painting, it is always a challenge to convey the natural beauty and story on such a small dial. We conducted on-site research and had various discussions with mold craftsmen and dial designers to determine the best way to express it.

WTI: The Caliber 9RA2 Spring Drive takes after the Spring Drive Caliber 9RA5, and was created in 2022. What’s the difference between the two?
KE: The only difference between the 9RA5 and 9RA2 is the layout of the power reserve indicator, whether it is on the dial side or the case back side. However, the idea of placing this indicator on the back to refine the dial design and increase design flexibility has been nurtured for many years, and we have also received requests from the market.

Calibre 9RA2


WTI: Were there any challenges in creating the movement that beats with a precision of ±0.5 second per day and offers a power reserve of 5 days?
KE: The 9RA series was developed over approximately three years and launched in 2020. The most significant breakthrough was the establishment of a technology that encapsulates an ultra-low power IC (an extremely energy-efficient IC that operates with very small currents) in a vacuum package. Quartz oscillators undergo changes over time and have individual differences. Therefore, we have created an environment where stable improvements in performance are made by minimizing the effects of humidity, static electricity, noise, and light under vacuum conditions, making it easier for the quartz oscillator to stabilize. Additionally, since the IC and quartz oscillator are in the same package, the sensing accuracy has improved. Taking advantage of this, we measure the temperature 540 times a day and suppress the temperature effects through accuracy correction. This was previously done with the GS-exclusive 9F quartz, which is a power-consuming process, and would not have been possible without the ultra-low power IC.

On the other hand, enabling the 5-day power reserve faced the challenge of balancing space efficiency and high torque. We not only devised the layout of two barrels of different sizes but also reviewed the gear train speed increase ratio to maintain the same high torque as before. This design ensures that the power transmission efficiency is not affected by the barrel size and that the winding is uniform.

WTI: What sets this watch apart from the other Spring Drive watches by Grand Seiko?
KE: As we continue to update our dial expressions each year, incorporating vibrant colou\rs that were previously only available in limited editions into our regular lineup has been a challenge. However, we believe these models play a crucial role in further expanding the Grand Seiko universe.

Read our full story on the SLGA025G in the January-March 2025 issue, on stands now. Subscribe here, read on Magzter, or pick up at a newsstand near you

Images: Courtesy Grand Seiko
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