Grand Seiko Evolution 9 "White Birch" Spring Drive white dial steel bracelet 40 mm

The pitch

In 2021, Grand Seiko won the first prize for the Men's Watch at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix with its SLGH005 model inspired by the slender silhouette of the white birch trees of the Hiraniwa plateau in northern Japan. A consecration for the Japanese Manufacture! Released the same year, this timepiece was enthusiastically received by watch lovers around the world for its intricate dial texture, its revolutionary Hi-Beats caliber and the brand's new stylistic signature.

For 2022, Grand Seiko's second watch studio is also releasing a watch with the design of this SLGH005, equipped with the brand new state-of-the-art 9RA2 Spring Drive caliber with innovative technology. This new timepiece is also reminiscent of the forests of the Shinshu region, which is home to the workshop where all Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are made. It is definitely an exceptional piece!

Le futur design Grand Seiko

Underneath the features of this SLGA009 is the aesthetics of the new Evolution 9 design, which will become an important part of the Grand Seiko signature in the years to come. This new design is obviously based on the Grand Seiko style, which has guided the creation of Grand Seiko watches since 1960. The Evolution 9 style retains the fundamental elements of the Manufacture but adapts them for the new generation by setting new standards in legibility, aesthetics and ease of use.

The hands of this White Birch are powerful, and its applied and faceted indexes are grooved to ensure perfect legibility. Its 40 mm steel case alternates between Zaratsu polishing, for a mirror finish without the slightest distortion, and brushed finishing, giving the case a discreet and harmonious shine. The case is also wider at the lugs and has a much lower center of gravity to improve comfort on the wrist.

An exceptional mechanism

This Grand Seiko is powered by the revolutionary Spring Drive Caliber 9RA2 offering a power reserve of 5 days and a high precision of 0.5 seconds per day. Recent and reliable, the 9RA5 caliber was first introduced in 2020. The seconds hand glides smoothly over the delicately textured dial and brings us closer to the natural, fluid and peaceful flow of time. The finishing of the movement is also superb! It reflects the frost that covers the trees of Shinshu in winter. The edges of the bridges and the screw passages are meticulously chamfered to reflect the light from all angles. The rubies and the blue power reserve indicator add a touch of aesthetic brilliance.

If there is only one caliber to remember at Grand Seiko, it is the Spring Drive!