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Grand Seiko debuts the Evolution 9 SLGH027 with a brand new Mt. Iwate dial

Grand Seiko debuts the Evolution 9 SLGH027 with a brand new Mt. Iwate dial

Zach Blass

Grand Seiko is known for its nature-inspired dials, and over the last few decades has produced staples such as the SBGA211 “Snowflake”, SBGA413 “Shunbun”, and SLGH005 “White Birch”. While such patterns continue to be remixed in various hues, this does not stop the brand from hand-crafting new moulds that bring new texture and sources of natural inspiration into the mix – for example last year’s SLGH021 “Genbi Valley”. And it is timely I bring up the Genbi Valley because following in its footsteps we have a new limited edition watch, the Grand Seiko SLGH027. Like the SLGH021, the SLGH027 has an Ever-Brilliant Steel Evolution 9 case (the second ever), uses the 9SA5 high-beat automatic, is a limited edition, and debuts an entirely new dial pattern.

The dial

Grand Seiko SLGH027 4

Like the Snowflake and rock-patterned dials used in the Shunbun, Grand Seiko’s Mt. Iwate pattern is certainly a brand signature – notably seen on pieces like the Tentagraph, which used the Mt. Iwate pattern in a rich shade of indigo blue reserved for special milestone pieces. The new SLGH027 has a Mt. Iwate-inspired dial, but not the same one we’re accustomed to. Also inspired by the volcano that serves as a majestic backdrop for Studio Shizukuishi where Grand Seiko’s mechanical watches are made, this new Mt. Iwate pattern has a much more pronounced texture. It’s still radial like the original, but also seemingly married with aspects of Grand Seiko’s birch texture.

Grand Seiko SLGH027 3

Its icy blue colour is said to be inspired by the purity of the sky and water surrounding the mountain, and the new patterned surface designed to evoke Mt. Iwate’s snow-covered ridges. The sportier Evolution 9 handset remains, with its broad dauphine hours hand and razor-sharp minutes hand still at the centre. Fittingly, considering the light blue of the dial, the central seconds hand has been masterfully fire-blued with the Grand Seiko name at 12 and movement disclosure text at 6 executed in a matching colour. Now, you could say the date disc once again does not match the dial in its standard black-on-white format, but it does compliment the brighter sloped outer minutes track nestled in the inner bezel.

The case

Grand Seiko SLGH027 7

The Evolution 9 case of the Grand Seiko SLGH027 may no longer be as novel as it once was, with the design first debuting in 2020. While the SLGH027 is the latest Evolution 9 watch to enter a collection that now spans over 30 references, it is notably the second-ever to be produced in the brand’s Ever-Brilliant Steel. Its case remains 40mm in diameter, with a thickness of 11.7mm and a lug-to-lug of 47mm, and is water resistant to 100 metres, secured by a screw-down crown. Its use of Ever-Brilliant Steel in place of something like 316L not only elevates its lustre, offering better contrast between the brushed and Zaratsu-polished surfaces, but it is also (potentially more importantly) even more corrosion-resistant. Ever-Brilliant Steel’s PREN value is 1.7 times higher than typical steel, so it’s not just a pretty face.

The bracelet

Grand Seiko SLGH027 9

Naturally, the watch is affixed with a case-matching Ever-Brilliant Steel bracelet, still fully brushed on the front of its multi-piece links. If you want to get super nerdy (or pedantic), the SLGH027 could be described as a tri-tone watch. In addition to the Ever-Brilliant Steel, an 18k rose gold Grand Seiko medallion sits on top of the clasp, which itself uses titanium parts – so three different metals, three (slightly) different tones.

The movement

Grand Seiko SLGH027 5

Inside and exhibited ticks one of Grand Seiko’s most advanced mechanical movements, the in-house automatic high-beat 9SA5, with an 80-hour power reserve that outlasts most high-beat movements that typically have lower stamina due to their higher frequencies. It also introduced Grand Seiko’s first overcoil hairspring, derived and optimised through over 80,000 simulations, and includes a free-sprung balance with a dual-impulse escapement developed by Grand Seiko. While very technical, its aesthetic is also worth appreciating, with its elevated finish comprised of high-quality striping and bevelling on its bridges shaped to depict the bending and flowing waters of the Shizukuishi River.

The verdict

Grand Seiko SLGH027 6

I know we all have our own personal preferences, but based on past debuts and the responses to them, it is safe to say many will be racing to their nearest boutique to try and secure one of the 1,200 pieces of this limited edition. But keep in mind, priced at US$10,500 or A$15,700, the SLGH027 will not hit boutiques until May 2025. That being said, the news is out, so it can’t hurt to cheekily inquire… With its silvered blue colour presenting a fresh take on a fan-favourite; a new, three-dimensional dial; and the icy white lustre of the highly corrosion-resistant Ever-Brilliant Steel, it’s got a lot going for it, and I haven’t even mentioned the movement! As I said before, this is a handsome, high-beat, daily wearer that I suspect Grand Seiko will have no little issue selling to both die-hard loyalists and newcomers to the brand.

Grand Seiko SLGH027 Limited Edition pricing and availability

Grand Seiko SLGH027 2

The Grand Seiko SLGH027 is a limited edition of 1,200 pieces and will be made available beginning in May 2025. Price: US$10,500, A$15,700

Brand Grand Seiko
Model Evolution 9 Collection 65th Anniversary Limited Edition
Reference SLGH027
Case Dimensions 40mm (D) x 11.7mm (T) x 47mm (LTL)
Case Material Ever-Brilliant Steel
Water Resistance 100 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s) Box-domed sapphire crystal front, sapphire caseback
Dial Silvered blue, patterned
Lug Width 22mm
Strap Ever-Brilliant Steel bracelet, triple-folding clasp w/ pink gold medallion and titanium parts
Movement 9SA5, in-house, high-beat automatic
Power Reserve 80 hours
Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Availability May 2025, limited to 1,200 pieces
Price US$10,500
A$15,700