We saw briefly, in a previous article, the range Grand Seiko. We were intrigued by the originality of the Spring Drive movement and we thought to deepen its functioning.
So let's see in detail what this innovative movement is and how it works.
Seiko Spring Drive: the idea
Il Seiko Spring Drive was born from the desire to create a self-winding mechanical movement with the precision of a quartz watch. The reason for this choice? Combine the ability to recharge by exploiting the energy of the wearer, typical of a mechanical movement, with the regularity of travel reachable only thanks to a quartz regulator. Seiko produces both mechanical and quartz watches, and is therefore in possession of the necessary skills to achieve such a hybridization.
How is it possible in practice to implement this idea?
Seiko Spring Drive: the technique
Seiko's Spring Drive movement, as the name implies, is powered by a traditional spring wrapped around itself, charged by an oscillating mass and which gradually releases its elastic potential energy. This however, instead of feeding the oscillatory movement of a balance wheel, drives a rotor, or sliding wheel.
La scroll wheel it performs eight rotations per second, passing within the range of action of a stator, that is a metal coil. The interference of the rotor in the stator coils generates electrical energy, which goes to power a quartz oscillator and a integrated circuit. The circuit detects the oscillations of the electrically stressed quartz and the rotation speed of the sliding wheel, which is pushed by the winding spring.
If the scroll wheel moves too fast compared to what "prescribed" by the quartz, the integrated circuit detects it and, by sending a certain amount of current to the stator, generates a force that brakes the motion of the rotor.
The motion of the rotor, regulated by the quartz and the circuit, is then transmitted to the spheres.
How do you recognize a Spring Drive movement?
The reason Spring Drive movements are so well known is the particular motion of the seconds hand.
In a mechanical watch, the second hand advances by one click with each swing of the balance wheel. Since a barbell normally makes five oscillations per second - some, like it Zenith El Primero, they also perform 10 oscillations per second -, the motion appears fluid at first sight: if you look more closely, however, you can see the small jerks.
In a watch equipped with Seiko Spring Drive movement, the seconds sphere receives a continuous impulse from the scroll wheel: therefore, the visible effect is of a truly fluid motion and without any solution of continuity. In fact, the rotor is not braked by an oscillating balance wheel, but by the application of an electric current to the stator: this is why a Grand Seiko Spring Drive is immediately recognizable, thanks to the continuously scrolling seconds hand.
So is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive a mechanical watch?
We can define the Seiko Spring Drive a mechanical watch? In our opinion, the answer is No.. A mechanical watch depends on gears, springs and other components, all of which are mechanical, for its functioning. When electronics are inserted, be it in the energy generation phase or in the regulation of motion, it is no longer possible to speak of purely mechanical watches. As explained in this article , un mechanical watch it has the characteristic of being able to be maintained in efficiency indefinitely over time, restoring or replacing any worn components with new pieces, which can be forged manually by a skilled watchmaker. This is not possible when there are electronic circuits in the clock: because these can only be made by specialized companies equipped with particular equipment. When a certain circuit model is put out of production, it is no longer available: both because it would be uneconomical to rebuild a disused assembly line, and because it is not possible to produce microelectronics by hand - as it is possible to do with mechanical components. In theory, someone could produce a circuit capable of performing the same functions: but it is not certain that this will happen and, in any case, it will no longer be a watch identical to the one that left the factory, but a new and different product.
So what's special about the Seiko Spring Drive?
Seiko Spring Drive it is a unique technology of its kind. Only available in the range Grand Seiko, represents a hybridization between electronic and mechanical technology. While dividing the fans, it is undeniable that it represents a major innovation in the world watchmaking scene.
And you, what do you think of Grand Seiko watches with Spring Drive technology?
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