Grand Seiko Did It Again! Meet The SLGH005 With White Birch Dial

When I opened up our Fratello mailbox this morning, I found Grand Seiko’s press release on this new SLG005 White Birch watch. I couldn’t help to think of the house where I grew up. In my memories, it was a large house with a nice garden and driveway. At the end of the driveway, where the road started, was a white birch.

I write in my memories, as in reality, the house wasn’t that big. I realized this when the same house next door was offered for sale on a popular housing platform. But as a kid, you perceive things in a different way, perhaps. What I noticed when looking at our previous neighbor’s house for sale, is that our old house was also partly on the pictures. It looked so different, and a lot has changed. The white birch was also gone, I noticed. A pity, as its silvery hue gave the garden quite a bit of character, much in the same way as it does on the new Grand Seiko SLGH005.

Grand Seiko SLGH005 White Birch

Gerard, Bert, Rob, and I visited the Grand Seiko boutique in Paris last year. We managed to make the trip in between lockdowns. At the time, we might have dared believe things were starting to revert to normal. Little did we know, that small window in which we were able to travel would soon close.

During our visit, Grand Seiko showed us the new SLGH003. The SLGH003 is a limited-edition watch with the new Grand Seiko 9SA5 movement. We wrote about it here. There’s a lot to love about that watch, and in fact, I ordered one for a friend and it is still waiting for him in my safe. Every once in a while, I take it out to admire it (keeping all the protective stickers on, of course). Not only are the case and dial incredible, as always with Grand Seiko, but the 9SA5 is also a joy to look at.

Our very own Rob Nudds wrote an in-depth article on this new caliber, with its new escapement construction (Dual Impulse Escapement) which you can find here. As you might know, Rob used to be a watchmaker and knows his stuff. Make sure to give his article a read for all the ins and outs on caliber 9SA5.

White Birch — The New Snowflake?

To me, the attraction with Grand Seiko is often in its dials. That’s the reason I chose the Mt. Iwate dial for myself, and of course why I love the Snowflake (like everyone else). But looking at this white birch dial — wow. There’s so much depth to the dial, it is incredible. And, with all due respect, the power reserve indicator (as we’re used to seeing on the Snowflake) is a welcome absentee in this instance. I am getting used to the power reserve indicator I have to admit and know it is almost a “signature” thing, but there are times I could do without it for sure. The new Grand Seiko SLGH005 has a dial that — despite the 3D texture — looks very clean. I love it.

According to Grand Seiko, the white birch trees can be found in the northern part of Japan. Very close to the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi. And by using it as inspiration for one of its dials, the brand has added one more watch that has the “Nature of Time” spirit. But, in all honesty, although I love a good story, the dial reminds me of my own white birch and not the ones located in a forest in Japan I will probably never get to see.

I am refraining from writing a whole lot more about this new Grand Seiko SLGH005 White Birch, as I want to go hands-on with it. Then I will gladly (very gladly) tell you all about it.

Not a limited edition

I won’t lie to you. I scrolled down the four-page press release super quickly, just to find out whether this watch is something I am able to afford, and whether I am able to source one. The retail price of this watch will be approximately $9,100 according to Grand Seiko, with the price due to be finalized upon its release in March 2021.

That’s a price I can definitely stretch to, at least at some point. Pleasingly, it seems to be a bit less than the limited edition SLGH003 (which was €10,000 here in Europe). What’s more important, is that it isn’t a limited edition. It means I can save up a bit for one. I need this watch and I have to admit that I have not been that enthusiastic about a new Grand Seiko model for quite some time now. But this one changes the game again. And I even told myself my next one would be a GS with a Spring Drive. Well, it will be the next one after the Grand Seiko SLGH005, I guess.

More information via Grand Seiko online. All specifications of this new Grand Seiko SLGH005 can be found below in the chart.