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Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Watches

Author: Jasson Chris
by Jasson Chris
Posted: Apr 14, 2015

1986, Basel Fair. SEIKO’s first Kinetic prototype was unveiled as the AGM or Automatic Generating System watch, the first of its kind that converted kinetic movement into electrical energy. 20 years later, the Kinetic platform is at great heights and stands parallel to solar energy-driven watches. The Kinetic movement is equally beneficial to both bionomics and environment and by today’s standards, they can be called high-performance watches with the convenience of withstanding harsh, extensive usage.

The Kinetic platform creates a suite of three Kinetic calibers for men: 7D46, 7D48 and 7D56 in the auto-relay, perpetual calendar arena. They made their first appearance at Baselworld 2005, combining Kinetic convenience and quartz accuracy with a perpetual calendar, correct to the year 2100. All three combine classic mechanical beauty to the wizardry of microelectronics. The perpetual calendar complication uses a mechanical gear train with more than a hundred components besides the world's smallest ultra-sonic motor (0.4 mm thick) driving the whole show.

It also uses photo sensor to recognize certain marks on every gear of the gear-train to double check the correctness of the calender. Equipped to carry on till February 28, 2100, the calender shall require manual intervention after that. There shall be no more automatic adjustments for date, day, months and leap years.

There are 232 parts in the caliber in total, which is roundabout the same for most upper-tier mechanical watches. But, this is different. Seiko suspends the rotor with magnetic levitation to go around friction-free and churn out the same amount of electricity as an insane speed of 100,000 rpm or so would have. How? The rotor’s torque load is very high and this is for driving the step-up/multiplier gears inside turning the tiny dynamo. Yes, this one indeed whirrs at 100,000 r.p.m. But this is one part of the story; we still haven’t got into Seiko's unique, Auto-Relay technology that’s also incorporated in these calibers.

Auto-Relay technology is the thing that keeps the Seiko Chrono ticking from the insides throughout its dormancy. When not worn or moved for 24 hours, they go into a sleep mode, which can stretch to a max of four years. The hands and everything else stops moving, only the internal clock keeps the counts. This conserves energy.

As it detects any motions, the hands automatically move to the correct places and resets to the current time.

The Seiko Kinetic Perpetual calibers share the same specifications except one, which is the leap year indicator. Cal. 7D46 and 7D56 show that with hands; for cal. 7D48, it’s a disc.

Who must go for one of these? Anyone who needs one watch or own no more than a couple of other watches (okay, till 6) and in a habit of wearing on daily rotation. But if you are too much of a sedentary guy, it just might give you some exercise.

About the Author

We are a well-established online retailer of watches with customers from all around the world. Being a trusted dealer of Citizen, Seiko, Casio, Tissot and Polar brands of watches, all our watches are 100% genuine and brand new.

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Author: Jasson Chris

Jasson Chris

Member since: Apr 14, 2012
Published articles: 83

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