Hi-Beat 36000 3-Day Chronograph

Caliber 9SC5

In 2023, Grand Seiko's first mechanical chronograph, the Tentagraph, was born.
The Tentagraph's name describes the characteristics of the Caliber 9SC5 that powers this watch: "TEN beats per second", "Three days of power reserve", "Automatic," and "chronoGRAPH. A high-beat chronograph that symbolizes the next generation of Grand Seiko watchmaking, the Tentagraph Caliber 9SC5 has 72 hours of power reserve (approximately 3 days) even when the chronograph function is in operation, making it the ten-beat chronograph with the longest power reserve in the industry today. *

*Grand Seiko research as of March 2023

Caractéristiques

Système d’entraînement Automatic with manual winding
Précision
(en position statique)
+5 to -3 seconds per day
Précision en utilisation normale +8 to -1 seconds per day
Réserve de marche Approximately 72 hours
Alternances 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)
Rubis 60 jewels
Remarques -Chronograph
-Dual Impulse Escapement
-Twin barrels

The First Grand Seiko Mechanical Chronograph Ever Created

Its birthplace was the Grand Seiko facility in Shizukuishi, where, for many decades, craftsmen and women have been responsible for the design and manufacture of all Grand Seiko mechanical watches. It was here, too, that the first 9S movement had been created.

The designers, engineers and watchmakers at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi have two important assets at their disposal. First, they have inherited the tradition and accumulated know-how that has been built over decades as Grand Seiko has pursued its aim of “unflagging practical innovation” at the very highest level of the horological industry. Second, as a fully integrated “manufacture,” Grand Seiko has mastery of every aspect of the watchmaker’s art and has complete in-house control over every technical aspect of every single movement component.

Caliber 9SC5 is the direct result of the synergy of these two important assets, as its advanced functionality and its exquisite craftsmanship bear powerful testament.

A  Column Wheel for Maximum Operability

The column wheel mechanism is used to control the starting and stopping of the chronograph function.
This mechanism allows for smooth operation of the mechanism when the chronograph button is pushed, ensuring that the clutch (the power transmission mechanism) and lever components are not subjected to unnecessary torque.

A  Vertical Clutch

Mechanical chronographs use a power-transmission mechanism to transfer power to the stopwatch mechanism. The vertical clutch mechanism in the Tentagraph prevents the hands from jumping when the chronograph starts. This avoids the deviation that occurs frequently when using a horizontal clutch mechanism and allows for more accurate measurement.

Three-pointed Hammer

The three-pointed hammer ensures that all three chronograph displays (chronograph seconds, minutes, and hours) snap back to the zero position instantly and in perfect synchronization when the reset button is pressed.

The Dual Impulse Escapement Increases the Transfer Efficiency of the Power of the Mainspring.

The Dual Impulse Escapement is a unique mechanism which combines “direct impulse,” where power is transferred directly from the escape wheel to the balance, with conventional “indirect impulse.” Thereby, it transfers power to the balance through the mainspring with increased efficiency. -Conventional wisdom decrees that the more you increase the vibration rate of the balance, the lower the power transfer efficiency. This is because the escape wheel and pallet fork cannot keep up with the high oscillation speed. This challenge is met in Caliber 9SC5 as it has components made with MEMS technology to increase the escapement efficiency. Connecting these to the twin barrels allows for 10 beats per second while delivering a continuous operation period of 72 hours.

The New Grand Seiko Overcoil Delivers Precision and Increased Stability.

The overcoil in Caliber 9SC5 has a special feature in its curved shape that was decided after more than 80,000 simulations, as a result of which its performance is optimized in every possible position. The secret lies in the precision manufacture of the components and in the extraordinary adjustment skills of the watchmakers at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.

The Grand Seiko Free-sprung Balance Regulates the Isochronism for Long-term Precision and Stability.

For the fine tuning of the escapement’s precision, a free-sprung system which does not have a regulator has been incorporated. The four screws on the side of the balance can be turned to adjust the moment of inertia of the balance, allowing for fine tuning to make the watch faster or slower. As there is no regulator, the durability of the hairspring is increased, as is the precision over time.
The Grand Seiko Free-sprung Balance is equipped with a mechanism that alters isochronism under fixed conditions when the stud at the end of the hairspring rotates. Thus, it is possible to adjust the isochronism while still remaining a free-sprung system with no regulator.

A Balance with a Large Moment of Inertia and Twin Barrels that Enhance the Power Reserve

A power reserve of 72 hours is exceptional for a high-beat movement. Caliber 9SC5 achieves this with a combination of two technologies. First, the Dual Impulse Escapement has high energy efficiency and, second, the twin barrels deliver more power. In addition, the durability of the movement is ensured by a mechanism which decreases the load placed on the front gear train. Since the twin barrels deliver more power, a 10-beat movement with a balance of large moment of inertia is made possible.

Qu’est-ce qui rend le mouvement Mécanique 9S si spécial ?

Le concept de Grand Seiko est né de la volonté de construire la meilleure montre au monde. La collection continue de pousser la précision des montres mécaniques au-delà des limites de la technologie de chronométrage.
En tant que véritable manufacture, Grand Seiko intègre la technologie la plus récente à la richesse de son savoir-faire afin d’élever l’art de l’horlogerie à son apogée.

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Caliber 9SC5 Models