How A Spring Drive Watch Works
Spring Drive was created by SEIKO after the quartz Astron in 1969. It is based on the principles of all mechanical watch technology. It contains a mainspring, but uses an entirely new system for time regulation. It delivers the equivalent of one second per day accuracy and unique features. Its glide-motion represents the continuous and even motion of time.
Seiko Epson especially collaborated with Seiko instruments for designing and creating the Spring Drive watch. The most important components of the Spring Drive watch are the mainspring, barrel and automatic winder.
The design was first time visualized by Yoshikazu Akahane at Suva Seikosha in 1977. And, patent was applied for 1982. First introduction was held in 1998 at Basel Watch Fair. A version, which included an automatic winder, was displayed in Seiko models at the 2005 Basel Watch Fair. Seiko Spring Drive Watch models were launched internationally in Paris on September 14, and went on sale the next day.
In this watch, a component called the Tri-synchro Regulator is used. This has replaced the escapement, which can be found traditionally in the watches. The Spring Drive watch uses three different kinds of energies, and this regulator performs the function of controlling each of these energies. These three energies include the power generated from the mainspring, electric energy and the electromagnetic energy.
The glide wheel in the Spring Drive functions at a speed of eight times per second. This is compared with the quartz signal. Other than that the frequency of the glide wheel is also monitored constantly with the help of a variable braking force.
The innovation of Tri-synchro Regulator results in no tickling of the watch, like old traditional mechanical or quartz watches. This reason behind is that the movement never stops as in a traditional escapement; it is slowed to the appropriate speed by the brake. The movement is particular to 1 second accuracy per day.
This movement is being used in the Spring Drive International Collection and in some watches of Grand Seiko, CREDOR, GALANTE, PROSPEX series and IZUL. Problems include moon phase, power reserve, chronograph, sonnerie, GMT and calendar functions. These watches are very much expensive, with the least complicated models costing several thousand dollars. The most expensive one is Credor Sonnerie in Rose Gold, which is over $150,000.
With the Spring Drive Watch, there is double power reserve available, which lasts for about seventy-two hours. This performance is much better than that of the tradition system, which offers only forty hours. In addition, the winding mechanism in the Spring Drive watch is very fast. Instead of decreasing accuracy, as is commonly the case with mechanical watches, the Spring Drive watch offers added accuracy accompanied by smoothness.
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