Spring Drive UFA Atera Valley

Journey to the verdant Atera Valley

Nagano Prefecture is home to a number of mountains rising over 3,000 meters. The countless rivers that flow from these mountains have, over many years, created a lush, natural environment. The dial on this Grand Seiko Spring Drive UFA 'Atera Valley' captures the enchanting scenery of this spectacular valley near the Shinshu Watch Studio, located within a Seiko Epson facility in Shiojiri, home of Grand Seiko Spring Drive watchmaking. The dial’s intricate gradation and blue-green coloring express this natural phenomenon with refined craftsmanship. 

The watch is equipped with the Spring Drive U.F.A. Caliber 9RB2, which delivers an extraordinary annual accuracy of ±20 seconds. It also features a power reserve of approximately 72 hours (about three days) when fully wound. The case and bracelet feature Ever-Brilliant Steel, a stainless-steel alloy renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance and bright hue.

Born in the pursuit of the ideal wristwatch, the Evolution 9 Style evinces a new design grammar that evolved from the Grand Seiko Style of 1967. Through the Evolution 9 Style, Grand Seiko forges a new path while honoring its origins.

The Atera Valley is one of the foremost places of scenic beauty in Nagano Prefecture. As the vibrant natural environment changes in expression throughout the four seasons, it enchants the hearts of all who visit. Through a beautiful gradation, this watch expresses the eternal flow of time evident in the formation of the valley.

The pursuit of high accuracy has always been the cornerstone of Grand Seiko’s values. Receiving the new U.F.A. designation, which stands for “Ultra Fine Accuracy,” Caliber 9RB2 boasts a level of precision defined not by accuracy in seconds per day, week, or month, but by accuracy over one year. The movement has an exceptional annual rate of ±20 seconds, or approximately ±3 seconds per month.

Known as Ever-Brilliant Steel due to its brilliant white hue, this special alloy is more resistant to corrosion than the stainless steels used in even the most prestigious watches today. It has a PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) value 1.7 times higher than the grade of steel used in most high-end timepieces. PREN is a widely accepted standard used to measure corrosion resistance.

The tapered bracelet features a three-step micro-adjustment clasp that operates without a tool, allowing a total of 6mm of fine adjustment in precise 2mm increments.