Grand Seiko SLGA021 = Lake Suwa Before Dawn

Jan 26, 2023,16:38 PM
 

A five-day Spring Drive watch inspired by Lake Suwa stirred by the breeze before dawn.





To the southeast of the Shinshu Watch Studio, where Spring Drive watches are made, one will find the gently lapping waters of Lake Suwa, a constant inspiration for Grand Seiko. 

The dial of the Spring Drive SLGA021, evokes the surface of this very body of water. When you look upon it, don't you see gentle waves wafting over the wind-swept lake in the pre-dawn stillness? And like a gentle wind on an otherwise tranquil body of water, the dark blue color manifests differently depending on the angle at which light catches it. 

Following the Evolution 9 Style, the 40mm stainless steel case has a lower profile and center of gravity, ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist. Its faceted mid-case features a blend of Grand Seiko's Zaratsu polishing and hairline finishing, giving the whole watch a dynamic look and feel. This  level of finishing is accomplished by hand as it demands a high degree of skill. 

Powered by Caliber 9RA2, SLGA021 has a notable 120-hour (5-day) power reserve and an improved accuracy of ±0.5 seconds per day, or ±10 seconds per month. 9RA2 takes the power-reserve indicator off the dial and moves it to the case back side of the watch. The seconds hand glides across the SLGA021’s textured blue dial like flowing water, moving with the quiet, natural pace of time itself thanks to the Spring Drive movement just below the dial’s surface.



  

  

  



Specifications

Exterior
Exterior: Stainless steel
Case back: See-through & Screw case back
Glass Material: Dual-curved sapphire crystal
Glass Coating: Anti-reflective coating on inner surface
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m

Case size:
Diameter 40.0mm 
Lug-to-lug 47.9mm 
Thickness 11.8mm
Band width: 22mm
Weight: 176 g

Movement
Caliber no.: 9RA2 
Movement Type: Spring Drive, automatic winding
Accuracy: ±10 seconds per month (±0.5 second per day)

Other details / Features:
Screw-down crown
Power reserve indicator
Price Approx $9,000 US



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 By: frnkvizr : January 26th, 2023-19:43
What fascinates me is the small differences there are in the evolution 9 watches with a mechanical vs a spring drive calibre. The factories producing these are about 500km apart in Japan. Although at first they look identical, the cases are very very slig... 

Good observations!

 
 By: cazalea : January 26th, 2023-23:17
The Grand Seiko website makes fascinating reading, especially for someone who hasn’t known the history of GS. And even for me, having been to those ateliers in both places.

Accuracy?

 
 By: Bluecat 128 : February 26th, 2023-18:39
Like a famous Missourian, (show me!). For ≅$10,000, prove it!

For a Spring Drive, I believe the accuracy is there - any other SD owners care to speak up?

 
 By: cazalea : February 26th, 2023-19:49
WATCHTIME "Spring Drive accordingly achieves a far more accurate rate than a mechanical escapement. Seiko calculates the average deviation at 0.5 second per day and at most, 15 seconds per month. We measured a deviation of 0.1 second per day on the wrist....