Hands-On The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver

Photos by Masaharu Wada

Well, folks, it’s finally here. With the endless pleas for a new dive watch likely still echoing within Shinshu’s walls, Grand Seiko has given us a new dive watch. Previously, this came with asterisks - too big, too thick, outdated clasp - but that’s no longer the case. The new Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 launches in blue or green, sports a 40.8mm High-Intensity Titanium case, a bracelet with an excellent new clasp, and as its admittedly lengthy name would suggest, the most accurate Spring Drive movement, ever. Come to think of it, there’s not much to nitpick here, though, for the sake of argument, I will try my best.

The most notable departure from the Grand Seiko diver norm is the Ushio’s new case. The sharp, multi-faceted design measures a versatile 40.8mm in diameter and 12.9mm thick, while offering 300 metres of water-resistance for the first time in a GS. Made of High-Intensity Titanium, these are pretty much the best specifications for a luxury dive watch one could expect, combining a clever choice of materials and a diameter that gives enough presence, while combating what is still a pretty thick movement. While I didn’t have a pair of calipers on hand when I got hands-on with the watch in Geneva, I’d say the lug-to-lug distance is right around 48mm, comparable to a modern Submariner, which is the spiritual nemesis of the Ushio.

Any decent modern dive watch is only as good as the bracelet it comes with, and I’m so happy that Grand Seiko continues to improve its offerings. The U.F.A. Ice Forest’s micro-adjustment was great (and long overdue), but the Ushio takes it to a new level, with a mildly tapering, multi-finish bracelet and a new clasp design that befits a watch of this price point. The toolless adjustment is fantastic and operates smoothly despite having titanium components - something that’s not always true thanks to the material’s oft-gritty feel - with the added benefit of an 18mm wetsuit extension. As a sports watch clasp, however, Grand Seiko felt the need to add a double security feature, achieving it with the sliding GS locking mechanism, which indicates it’s unlocked by a hidden red stripe.

On the wrist, all of this makes for a very slinky fit. The lightness of titanium will always be a pleasant surprise when trying on a full-size dive watch like this, and it reminds me of the wearing experience something like a Pelagos 39 offers, which is very high praise. Where the Ushio pulls ahead of its competition is the quality of finishing. Titanium has long been an excuse for dull, matte surfaces - but no longer, whether you’re a micro or big box brand - and Grand Seiko is thankfully aware of that.

As part of Grand Seiko’s efforts to demystify its product offering and do a better job of categorising it, the new Ushio diver very clearly belongs to the Evolution 9 collection. It’s the first addition to the Evolution 9 range that I could immediately recognise as being part of it, thanks to the aforementioned case finishing hallmarks and dial design, despite being a departure from the usual Birch look that has dominated the collection thus far. It’s a sign that Grand Seiko is continuing to get better at delineating the hallmarks of their collections while applying them to different watch styles - Evolution 9 now includes the “GADA” Birches, a chronograph, and now a diver. Most importantly, they’re doing this without losing the GS DNA that has proven to be such a draw in the past, and keeps their watches from relying on the formulaic release cycles of their European competition.

The hands are a combination of arrow and truncated dauphine, while the indices are broadened for improved legibility - both well-translated from their Evolution 9 guidelines. Set against gradient backdrops, the blue dial is more saturated in person than press images may let on, while the green really makes the fume effect stand out. Both feature the tide-inspired “Ushio” pattern that has given the watch its name, and are as pretty as you’d expect given GS’s penchant for natural inspiration. With that in mind, I did promise I was going to try my best to nitpick, so here I go: I don’t see the point of having a power reserve indicator on an automatic watch.

With the case dimensions in mind, we’ve now gotten confirmation that Grand Seiko’s premier dive watch is not going to be some svelte skin diver that’s just a sorry excuse to put a rotating bezel on a Snowflake. The bold hands and indices, and the knobbly crown and bezel keep the ethos of the brand’s previous, hunky dive models, but scales it down to a more appropriate size.

Being the (Grand) Seiko nerd that I am, a palladium-cased V.F.A. is still my ultimate grail, so seeing the U.F.A. name was an easy way to get me on board. The 9RB1 U.F.A. does more than just pull at enthusiasts’ heartstrings, however, as it proved to be a meaningful evolution of the brand’s existing architecture. Here, it’s hidden behind a solid caseback - not a downside in my eyes, as it surely helped save a few millimetres of thickness given the depth rating - sporting a 72-hour power reserve.

Just like the model that debuted U.F.A., this is the most accurate mechanically powered (i.e. mainspring-powered) movement on the market thanks to the Spring Drive quartz regulation tech, promising a rate of +/- 20 seconds per year. For comparison, your average mechanical movement would be happy with that as its daily rate. Needless to say, this is far from your average mechanical movement.

Can you tell I like this watch? Okay, great - because I do. Grand Seiko was clearly doing just fine without a properly compelling diver in their line-up, but the addition of the Ushio makes them even harder to ignore, especially when you consider pricing. The watch market in general has been subjected to upwardly creeping RRPs over the last few years - Grand Seiko very much being a part of that - and yet, the Ushio, with its improved specs and higher-grade movement, is somehow less expensive than its predecessors. I’m not the first one to point this out, either, and I’m just worried GS will somehow catch on and realise before I pull the trigger. Until then, the only question is: blue or green?

Brand: Grand Seiko
Model: Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver
Reference Number: SLGB023 (blue) and SLGB025 (green)

Diameter: 40.8mm
Thickness: 12.9mm
Case Material: High-Intensity Titanium case and bracelet, ceramic bezel insert
Dial Colour: Blue/green "Ushio" tide-inspired dial
Indexes: Lume-filled Evolution 9-style applied indexes
Lume: Lumibrite
Water Resistance: 300m
Strap/Bracelet: High-Intensity Titanium with three-step micro-adjustment and dive extension

Caliber: 9RB1 UFA (Ultra Fine Accuracy)
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, power reserve
Diameter: 30mm
Thickness: 4.7mm
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: N/A
Jewels: 33
Chronometer Certified: No, but ±20 seconds per year (approximately ±3 seconds per month)
Additional Details: 4,800 A/m magnetic resistance

Price: 17,700 AUD
Availability: From June 2026, available now for pre-order with dispatch scheduled for June/July 2026 with full tracking
Limited Edition: No

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