How A Spring Drive Watch Works
The SEIKO spring Drive watch succeeded the quartz Astron in 1969. It uses the mechanical watch technology for its operability. Although it has a mainspring, nevertheless, it also has a system that has newly been designed for the purpose of time regulation. Due to this system, the Spring Drive shows time that is accurate up to one second per day. There is also the feature of glide motion in the watch that ensures continuous and even motion.
Other than the mainspring, the major components that can be found in the Spring Drive watch by SEIKO include an automatic winder, along with a barrel and a stem, which is used for storing watch energy. The Spring Drive watch offers unique accuracy, equivalent of one second a day. Other than that, the glide motion in the watch ensures the even movement of time.
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.
With the use of the Tri-synchro, there is no tickling of the watch, which used to be the case in the watches that used the traditional escapement. Hence, with this technology, the movement of the watch does not stop, like it does in the traditional watch that uses escapement.
The mechanical technology that forms an essential part of the Spring Drive is also being used in some other watches being made by SEIKO. These include Galante, Prospex, Izul, Credor and Grand Seiko. Some of the problems that have appeared in these watches include issues related to power reserve, chronograph, moon phase and calendar functions.
A great feature in the Spring Drive watch is that it has a double power reserve that can last up to seventy-two hours. The winding system that the watch uses is also much more efficient than the other watches by being about 30% faster. The fact that there is continuous movement provides more accuracy, and the needles move more smoothly because of the tri synchro.
Check out wide range of Seiko Watches and avail huge discounts on sale of these watches now.