Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours SLGW007

A textured blue dial evokes a moonlit birch tree in this manual-winding, 10-beat mechanical timepiece.

This 10-beat, manual-winding mechanical watch is based on the “Evolution 9 Style,” a unique design grammar that takes the fusion of Grand Seiko’s spirit with the aesthetic sensibilities of Japan to a higher level. Its textured, navy-colored dial evokes the bark of a white birch tree illuminated by the moon. Featuring a slender stainless steel case that is a mere 9.95mm thick, the creation has an appearance worthy of a Grand Seiko dress watch. The bezel is refined, with a narrow profile that complements the lugs, whose clean lines are echoed on the dial by the indexes. The manual-winding movement is the Caliber 9SA4, which features a high number of vibrations, 10 per second, to maintain a stable level of accuracy, as well as a generous power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Dial reminiscent of a white birch appearing faintly in the moonlight

Upon the Hiraniwa Plateau in Iwate Prefecture, the same prefecture that is the home of the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where Grand Seiko’s mechanical watches are manufactured, an impressive forest of white birch trees extends across a large area of roughly 1,000 acres. The dress watch’s dial is fashioned in a finely detailed design that expresses the beauty of the irregular patterns of tree bark. The color of the dial is navy, with a slight hint of fading, evoking the bark of a white birch bathed in moonlight.

Strap that harmonizes with the dial in both texture and color

The strap features a beautiful, soft texture with small bumps and a color that blends with the dial to reinforce the image of a white birch illuminated by the moon.

Caliber 9SA4

This movement is the result of Grand Seiko striving daily toward the goal of the ultimate in manual-winding timepieces. It features a high number of vibrations, 36,000 per hour, to maintain a stable level of accuracy, as well as a generous power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Today, the ritual of winding a watch is one of life’s pleasures

The simple act of turning the crown taps into the senses to forge a deeper connection with time’s natural flow. In the 1960s and ’70s, manually wound 10-beat Grand Seiko creations were manufactured in the pursuit of better rate stability and higher precision. This year, for the first time in more than 50 years, Grand Seiko announces a new hand-wound high-beat movement, Caliber 9SA4.

Striving to create the ultimate hand-winding experience

Though the new Caliber 9SA4 has many of the same characteristics as 9SA5 which was released in 2020, nearly 40 percent of the base movement has been redesigned and reconstructed with careful consideration given to the tactile, aural, and visual sensations experienced during winding. The movement’s click, the part that holds the ratchet wheel to prevent the unwinding of the mainsprings, and the click spring, have been tailored to perfect their feel and sound, and the crown stops when the movement is fully powered. Also, a power-reserve indicator on one of the movement bridges tells the watch’s state of wind.

A beautiful movement inspired by the nature of Shizukuishi

The Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where Grand Seiko mechanical watches are made, is surrounded by rich nature, an ever-present source of inspiration. The click in Caliber 9SA4 is in the shape of a wagtail, a bird recognized as special to Morioka, a city close to the studio. Thanks to the redesign of the movement, the bird-like pecking motion of the click is visible to enjoy during the hand-winding process. Together with delicate finishing inspired by the Shizukuishi River, Caliber 9SA4 not only showcases the very best of Grand Seiko’s mechanical watchmaking capabilities but also captures the beauty of the studio’s natural surroundings.

A thoroughly redesigned and reconstructed movement based on Caliber 9SA5

As with Caliber 9SA5, the new 9SA4 beats 10 times per second while achieving a power reserve of 80 hours when fully wound thanks to its highly efficient Dual Impulse Escapement and two barrels. Both movements use the Grand Seiko Free-sprung Balance and a hairspring with overcoil. As a result, Caliber 9SA4 benefits from the rate stability, resistance to outside interference, and high performance that have long characterized Grand Seiko’s high-beat movements. And, as with other Grand Seiko mechanical movements, 9SA4 is tested in six positions at three different temperatures over 17 days to ensure it meets the Grand Seiko Standard.

Technical specifications

Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Manual-winding Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours

Reference: SLGW007

Case

• Material: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 38.60 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 45.00 mm
• Thickness: 9.95 mm
• Glass: Box shaped sapphire crystal
• Case back: See-through case back, with 4 screws
• Splash resistant
• Magnetic resistant: 4,800 A/m

Dial and hands

• "Moonlit Birch": navy-colored dial

Movement

• Calibre 9SA4
• Manual winding movement
• Mean daly rate: +5 to -3 seconds per day
• Normal using accuracy: +8 to -1 seconds per day
• Power reserve of approx. 80 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, seconds
• Power reserve indication on the back

Strap and buckle

• Cow leather strap
• Three-fold clasp with push button release
• Lug width: 20 mm

MSRP

• EUR 10'200
• USD 10'000

For more information, please visit grand-seiko.com