Last year, renowned Japanese watch manufacturer Grand Seiko introduced the well-received Grand Seiko SLGH005 ‘White Birch’, a high-beat timepiece celebrating the white birch trees of the Hiraniwa Plateau in northern Japan. Praised for its intricate dial and Calibre 9SA5 movement alike, the watch took home the best Men’s Watch accolade at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards. Now, Grand Seiko has expanded upon the collection, adding a second white birch iteration. To the untrained eye, the new Grand Seiko SLGA009 ‘White Birch’ watch looks largely the same as its predecessor, however, the difference lies in its heart.
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The Grand Seiko SLGA009 ‘White Birch’ is powered by the new Spring Drive Calibre 9RA2 movement, boasting a five-day power reserve and delivering that covetable smooth glide of the seconds hand. The 9RA2 movement was released late last year, with the in-house movement hand-assembled in Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio to ensure precision and accuracy. Not just an innovative movement, the 9RA2 is also a thing of beauty; a frosted-finish and diamond-cut bridge lines and hole edges capture the light and make the choice of a sapphire crystal caseback an apt one.
While the dial itself looks rather similar to its older brother, the SLGA009 draws its inspiration from the forests of Shinshu, where the watch manufacturer’s factory is based. It retains the tempered blue seconds hand of the SLGH005, however, the textures on the dial are slightly more delicate, reflecting the tranquillity of the Shinshu forests. Part of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 collection, the SLGA009 adheres to the ideals of design set out by this category, promoting beauty, legibility, and ease of use. The Zaratsu polished, distortion-free mirror finish and delicate hairline finish provide the case with a quiet and harmonious glow; powerful hands and prominent, grooved markers ensure legibility; and the case has a lower centre of gravity coupled with considered bracelet dimensions that ensure wearing comfort.
Together with the SLGH005, the Grand Seiko SLGA009 ‘White Birch’ forms the basis of the Evolution 9 collection. The Grand Seiko SLGA009 ‘White Birch’ is priced at $13595 AUD and is available via the Grand Seiko webstore and at selected physical stores.
Words by Theo Rosen
