Grand Seiko 45GS Re-Creation Caliber 9SA4
New Release

Grand Seiko 45GS Re-Creation Caliber 9SA4

By cazalea · Sep 3, 2024 · 13 replies
cazalea
WPS member · Seiko forum
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Cazalea introduces Grand Seiko's re-creations of the iconic 1968 45GS, highlighting the brand's commitment to its heritage and continuous innovation. This post delves into the technical advancements of the new Caliber 9SA4 movement, emphasizing its performance and the enhanced tactile experience for collectors.

In 1968, Grand Seiko introduced the 45GS, just one year after the 44GS, the legendary creation that established the brand’s design code, the Grand Seiko Style.  Although the two watches were nearly identical in styling, the 45GS featured a dramatic upgrade in terms of stability and performance with the brand’s first manual-winding high-beat movement, the Caliber 4520. 



Now we have two re-creations of this milestone; one in stainless steel and the other in 18k yellow gold.The new creations closely follow the original case and dial designs. The original angular case design, which featured flat, mirror-polished surfaces and curved case sides, has been re-created using Grand Seiko's latest watchmaking technology. The design creates a remarkable brilliance based on the interplay of light and shadow, which has been at the core of Grand Seiko's design book since it was established in 1967 with the 44GS.



Both watches are powered by Grand Seiko's latest hand-wound, high-frequency mechanical movement, the Caliber 9SA4. The new 9SA4 was made in pursuit of high rate stability and precision, beating 10 times per second; however, it also achieves a power reserve of 80 hours when fully wound thanks to Grand Seiko's highly efficient Dual Impulse Escapement and two barrels. It uses 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.

Not only was Caliber 9SA4 made to achieve the height of performance in high-beat watchmaking, but the movement was also designed with particular attention to the tactile, aural, and visual sensations encountered during hand-winding to create an ideal experience for the watch's owner.  Though the new Caliber 9SA4 has many of the same characteristics as 9SA5, 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. The click is in the shape of a wagtail, a bird recognized as special to Morioka, a city close to the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where this and all Grand Seiko mechanical watches are crafted. Thanks to the redesign of the movement, the bird-like pecking motion of the click is visible to enjoy through the sapphire crystal case back during the hand-winding process. 

Together with the delicate finishing of the movement 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 power-reserve indicator on one of the movement bridges tells the watch’s state of wind. The movement achieves a higher winding efficiency thanks to a rearrangement of the gear train and redesign of the parts, so that Caliber 9SA4 achieves a power reserve of 80 hours with 15 percent fewer crown rotations than are required to achieve the same power for Caliber 9SA5 when winding it by hand. 



Caliber 9SA4
Driving system: Manual-winding
Frequency: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)
Accuracy (mean daily rate): +5 to -3 seconds per day
Power reserve: 80 hours
Number of jewels: 47

Specifications
18k yellow-gold case and clasp (SLGW004) and Stainless steel case and clasp (SLGW005)
Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
See-through case back
Water resistance: 3 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 38.8mm, Thickness: 10.4mm

Crocodile strap with 18k yellow gold buckle (SLGW004) 
Crocodile strap with stainless steel buckle (SLGW005)

Pricing 
Recommended retail prices in Europe:
Limited edition of 200 SLGW004 at  €32,200
Limited edition of 1,200 SLGW005 at  €10,400





About the Grand Seiko Heritage Collection Ref. SLGW005

The Grand Seiko SLGW005 is a limited-edition model within the Heritage Collection, designed as a recreation of the 45GS. This reference is notable for its distinct case design and the integration of a modern high-beat manual-wind movement, distinguishing it from other contemporary Grand Seiko offerings. It represents a specific aesthetic and technical direction within the brand's historical reinterpretations, focusing on a more traditional, dress-oriented profile.

This timepiece features a stainless steel case, measuring 38mm in diameter and 10.3mm in thickness, with a box-shaped sapphire crystal. It houses the manual-wind Caliber 9SA4, which operates at a high frequency and provides a power reserve of approximately 80 hours. The movement is visible through a sapphire exhibition case back, allowing appreciation of its finishing and construction. The water resistance is rated at 30 meters.

Appealing to collectors who value historical fidelity combined with advanced horological mechanics, the SLGW005 offers a refined alternative to Grand Seiko's more sport-oriented or larger-cased models. Its limited production and use of stainless steel position it as a significant piece for enthusiasts of the brand's heritage and high-end craftsmanship. The dial color is a subtle silver, complementing the stainless steel case.

Specifications

Caliber
Caliber 9SA4
Case
Stainless Steel
Diameter
38mm
Dial
Silver
Water Resist.
30m
Crystal
Box-shaped sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
KM
KMII
Sep 3, 2024

Now I hope they sell out quickly, before I get sorely tempted. Yes, I do have the original 4520-8000 but this looks like one of the coolest launches in the recent years to my eyes 🤩👌🏻👍🏻 Here the older grandpa:

AQ
Aquaracer1
Sep 3, 2024

Perfect proportions as well!

CA
cazalea
Sep 3, 2024

I don't know if you saw my comments about Autumn Dial Watch #1 but they say the 700 units sold out already (last Friday I think) while I was fussing around getting my finances together ...

AQ
Aquaracer1
Sep 3, 2024

Wow, that was fast! 😎

MU
Musto27
Sep 15, 2024

I thought that they will struggle to sell it because of the price!

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