Originally stemming from Seiko deciding to create a new luxury-focused watch range, Grand Seiko has not become a lodestone of the Japanese watch industry and a paragon of horological brilliance and beauty. Becoming an independent entity in 2017, Grand Seiko is known for having some of the most impressive watch movements in the world, merely ticking by behind their immaculate dials which often take inspiration from nature, history, or the brand itself. Debuting last week at Watches and Wonders in Geneva, the company now gives us its first hand-wound movement in 50 years.
Implemented in the brand-new SLGW002 and SLGW003 — additions into the Evolution 9 collection — the Caliber 9SA4 movement builds off the success of its Caliber 9SA5, which was introduced back in 2020 and featured a high-beat escapement, a longer 80-hour power reserve, and incredibly thinness at just 5.18mm. Now, with a new hand-wound function, the movement is even slimmer at 4.15mm. Meanwhile, it keeps the same power reserve and an accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds per day. The movement can be viewed through the caseback where it features a subtle power reserve indicator.
Now, let’s highlight the watches in which this Caliber 9SA4 has been implemented. Fitting in with the ethos of the Evolution 9 series, the SLGW002 and SLGW003 are both dress watches through and through. Keeping the same dimensions as one another with 38.6mm diameters, the main difference between the two references is the case materials. While both surround the white birch-inspired dial design, the SLGW003 features a Brilliant Hard Titanium case and the SLGW002 comes with an 18k rose gold case — the latter of which is limited to just 80 pieces.
Priced at either $10,700 or $45,000, respectively, the Evolution 9 SLGW003 and SLGW002 will land this August. Head over to Grand Seiko’s website to learn more.
