2002 saw the creation of Grand Seiko's first GMT watch and, five years later, the first Spring Drive Chronograph was released. Both these technical developments received immediate acclaim and, ever since, have featured in a range
of Grand Seiko creations of very different styles. Today, two Spring Drive limited edition timepieces are introduced that com mem orate the 20th anniversary of the first Grand Seiko GMT watch and the 15th anniversary of the first
chronograph watch. Both join the Grand Seiko Sport Collection and their dials take their design inspiration from the wintery snowscapes of the mountains that surrounds the studio where they are made, in Shinshu in central Japan.
The watches are as rugged as the Hotaka mountains that the Grand Seiko watchmakers can see from the Shinshu Watch Studio. The case and bracelet of the GMT version are in stainless steel while the GMT Chronograph version is
made from high intensity titanium. The dials capture the rough texture of the snow that can be seen high in the mountains in late winter and early spring, when strong winds carve unique patterns as they whip across the snow surface.
The blue accents on both dials echo the bright blue color of the winter sky in Shinshu. Both are powered by specially adjusted Spring Drive movements which offer an enhanced accuracy rate of 10 seconds per month. Both feature a secure see through case back through which can be seen the 18K gold Grand Seiko lion emblem which graces the oscillating weights as an indication of the enhanced accuracy. This Spring Drive Chronograph measures elapsed time up to 12 hours with an accuracy of 0.5 seconds per day. Thanks to the regulation system that is unique to Spring Drive, its accuracy remains at this high level eve n when the
power reserve is low. Equally importantly, it measures elapsed time not to the nearest fraction of a second but exactly, than ks to the fact that the glide motion hands stop at the very instant that the button is pressed and not just at the
nearest tick.