An In-Depth Review of the Grand Seiko “White Birch” SLGA009

At a glance, you may be mistaken for thinking that the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SLGH005 and the Spring Drive SLGA009 (released in 2021 and 2022 respectively) are the same watch, albeit for their movements. I thought so too. If that were true, however, this would be one of the shortest articles in history. The SLGH005 has been reviewed many, many times before, and the general consensus is that people love it.

Its high-end spec has been tried and tested on the wrists of avid collectors and has been analyzed to the nth degree, yet seldom can anyone find much to fault about its design. The same can be said for the SLGA009. 

But let’s be clear, this is not the same watch. In this article, I will use this space to outline the uniqueness of the “White Birch” SLGA009 and how it differs from its sister watch, the SLGH005.

Before we get into it, a little on Grand Seiko, the brand itself…

About Grand Seiko

Many don’t know this, but Seiko and Grand Seiko are not the same brand. Both, however, are part of the Seiko Watch Corporation. Here’s where it gets confusing, though. GS (Grand Seiko) was actually part of Seiko at one point. It found its feet as an entity of its own in 2017, enabling it to focus on high-end manufacturing. 

So, while Seiko has always been the Japanese brand associated with quality and affordability, GS fills the gap for those looking for quality luxury. These watches may not hold the same value as a Rolex or AP watch, but they can definitely compete in the same space. GS focuses on in-house movements, crafts unique dials, and even applies its own case finishes.

But if you were wondering what makes Grand Seiko so special, it has to be watches like the “White Birch” that demonstrate the brand’s breadth of skill and technique in classic watchmaking. Those watches offer qualities on par with any reputable Swiss (and sometimes even more). The brand’s movements are just as superior. 

They are ultra-accurate, and that includes the Spring Drive, which gives the second hand that effortlessly gliding motion you see across the dial. Many Grand Seiko watches today nod to some of the brand’s first watches. That can only mean one thing: over the brand’s 50 years of watchmaking, barely anything has had to change, and that’s a really good thing. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, designer Taro Tanaka even created a set of rules called the “Grammar of Designs”. That new design language helped GS watches truly stand out.

Despite ceasing its production of quartz watches in 1975 and being reintroduced as Seiko’s sub-brand back in 1988, Grand Seiko has come a long way. It began specializing in mechanical watches from the year 1998 and has never looked back since. The company’s Spring Drive technology, launched in 2002, promised superior accuracy, putting the brand on the map for its expertise in movement manufacturing. 

Today, watches like the “White Birch” are pillars of the brand’s success. Watches like the SLGA009 are considered to be some of the best in the industry, and you can certainly see why. So, where did the manufacturer get its inspiration from when creating this watch?

The Inspiration Behind the Grand Seiko SLGA009

In the heart of the Shizukuishi region of Japan, white birch trees spearhead the soil that Grand Seiko’s watchmaking studios sit upon. They form a dense forest around the facilities, reaching up to around 40 feet tall. 

The white birch, which grows in abundance there, is also known as the Asian birch and is renowned for its striking white bark. The forest of trees and their white, textured tree trunks create a stark contrast against the unusual landscape here. Blue skies and crisp snow make the scenery look even more graphic and sheer in the winter.

The scene is a slice of unadulterated, minimalist beauty, which I think Grand Seiko experts manage to capture perfectly in the textured dial of this SLGA009 watch. 

Without even needing an introduction here, you can see from the outset that the dial of the “White Birch” is a talking point. It draws the eye in towards its deep furrows, creating a tapestry of contrasting silvery-white shades and shadows that evoke the surface of the bark itself.

The Origins of the Grand Seiko “White Birch”

The heritage of the Grand Seiko “White Birch” Spring Drive watch harkens back to the SLGH005 and, before that, the SLGH002 and SLGH003 models. All these measure a 40mm diameter and sit at a height of 11.8mm on the wrist. If your wrist sits in the 8-inch realm, this is the ultimate “Goldilocks” size for you. 

These watches all take inspiration from the earlier Series 9 watch, which was met with resounding success back in 1967. The Series 9 was designed by Taro Tanaka, who I mentioned earlier. He helped steer the direction and framework that all future GS designs worked to by outlining these simple values.

At the time, when Grand Seiko launched its “White Birch” SLGH005 watch, it marked the first of its kind to be equipped with the then-new automatic Hi-Beat Calibre 9SA5. For those who don’t already know, this engine benefits from the brand’s “10-beat” technology (because it beats ten times per second for higher precision). 

The next generation of the “White Birch” came equipped with the Spring Drive movement, which cleverly combines the benefits of mechanical and quartz technology into one.

Both of these models, inspired by Japanese nature, belong to a greater design concept that Grand Seiko calls the “Evolution 9” philosophy. It was created a couple of years before the “White Birch” arrived and acts as the backbone to which all models adhere to. Think of the Evolution 9 style as a sort of checklist of criteria that all GS watches adhere to. The concept focuses on three key areas; aesthetics, legibility, and comfort. 

From a legibility point of view, GS watchmakers create dial elements with flat planes and build them up on the surface of the dial to give them a three-dimensional effect. These angles reflect the light and cast shadows across the dial in ways I’ve never seen before. Moreover, the dial’s faceted features create sharp points and crisp lines that reflect the light along bladed edges, while curves are kept to a minimum to retain a sense of precision.

Grand Seiko “White Birch” SLGA009: In-Depth Review

It wasn’t until I had the chance to get some hands-on time with the SLGA009 that I could fully appreciate the differences between the Hi-Beat and Spring Drive “White Birch” models. Sure, we’re still talking about subtle differences here.

However, subtle differences mean a lot in the world of horology, where just a couple of millimeters of growth in a lug-to-lug measurement can take a watch from manageable to overbearing. It is, after all, the small differences that watch connoisseurs really appreciate.  

Luckily, Grand Seiko is all about the small differences. Examples of meticulous attention to detail can be seen in so many of its watches – the subtle nods to nature here and there and the dials that capture the interplay between light and shadows, for example. 

All these practices can be attributed to Grand Seiko’s unique manufacturing processes, which I mentioned earlier. In every sense of the word, these are a class above Seiko timepieces, and for good reason.

Boy, does it make all the difference to hold this watch and turn it under the light? Suffice it to say, photos of this watch don’t do it justice. When you look head-on at the dial, those planes and polished surfaces I mentioned earlier are all there. But you don’t get to witness the three-dimensional effect of the dial until you hold it in your hand and turn it under the light. 

All the crevices, grooves, and furrows of the dial come to life as light washes over them. This is perhaps where the SLGA009 differs the most from the Hi-Beat model. It is subtler in some ways, but more effective in others.

The Dial

You really do get a sense of what those white birch trees look like in the flesh when you gaze into the dial of the Seiko “White Birch” Spring Drive watch. What initially drew me into the display was the subtle modifications that GS has thrown in during the transition from the Hi-Beat movement to the Spring Drive. 

The standout difference is that the dial texture on the SLGA009 is less aggressive. The grooves are not so prominent, and the shade of the dial is much whiter than the silvery tones of the former model. I think it’s this difference in dial color that wins me over. Give me a white dial over a silver one any day. In this case, it makes the design look cleaner and more contemporary.

At the same time, the beauty of the textured dial is subtle and more discreet. You have to work a little harder, delve a little deeper even, to appreciate its hidden beauty and I like that. On the contrary, I think the whiter dial allows you to pick up the branches of the birch tree more easily when you do take a closer look.

Next up, the date at 3 o’clock. This one is subtler in design, with a thinner frame that’s less bold and “blocky”. In reference to those integral Evolution 9 tick-list features, the faceted hour markers are ready and waiting for me to read and are meticulously polished. 

The hour hand has a chopped-off tip, and the blued second hand now has a capped pinion, which gives the dial a better feel of completion. In contrast, the Hi-Beat movement features the exposed silver pinion tip, making the display look a little unfinished. Call me “OCD”, but unless we’re talking abstract watch designs, I like my dial elements rounded off nicely and neatly. Of course, this also helps aid legibility.

If you look towards the lower portion of the dial, you’ll see the “Spring Drive” and “Five days” lettering above 6 o’clock, which brings me to talk about the power reserve. One of the first things that really interested me about this watch (and the Hi-Beat version before it) is the fact that Seiko removed the power reserve indicator from the dial and relocated it to the back of the case. 

I don’t feel this takes anything integral away from the design, nor does it add anything either. The “White Birch” is a watch that you can appreciate for its clarity, and if clarity means relocating the power reserve to the rear of the watch, then so be it. Plus, you still get to enjoy the beautiful blued hand, which displays the autonomy of the watch clearly and elegantly.

The Movement

Speaking of the power reserve, that indicator is a monitor for the beating heart of the Grand Seiko SLGA009 “White Birch” – the Spring Drive Calibre 9RA2. If you were wondering how this sophisticated movement works, it uses a thermo-compensator, which checks for fluctuations in temperature hundreds of times throughout the day. 

The spring-powered movement has an electro-magnetic breaking system and is regulated by a quartz crystal. This movement promises a power reserve of 5 days and features an off-set magic lever to allow for extra thinness.

Both the Hi-Beat and Spring Drive calibers are great movements. But if I were to pick one, I’d have to opt for the Spring Drive, mainly because this is a completely unique invention by Grand Seiko. It shows how the brand wants to pitch itself in the industry – as a boundary pusher and innovator.

Materials

The Grand Seiko SLGA009 watch is crafted from stainless steel and benefits from a ton of Zaratsu and matte finishes. The top of the bezel is flat and brushed, creating an understated frame around the textured bark-inspired dial. Zaratsu polishing is also evident on the sides of the bezel. 

Turn the case, and you’ll see the sides are also executed with a brushed finish. Grand Seiko equips the front and back of the watch with a piece of sapphire crystal glass. On the front, the anti-reflective technology on the glass grants a clear view into the dial. The glass is also incredibly hard to scratch up, helping to preserve the dial for years to come.

The Case and How It Wears

I mentioned earlier that the 40mm diameter of the “White Birch” Hi-Beat is the sweet spot for the average-sized wrist. The same can be said for the Spring Drive. But since my female wrist can’t testify to how this watch wears in real life, I researched what collectors make of the dimensions of this watch. 

Just like the SLGH005, the case wears well, but only on those wrists measuring at the top end of the 6” scale. Anything below that may not feel the full benefit of the case’s angular profile and its short lugs. Still, the watch has a low center of gravity, enabling it to sit better on the wrist.

I like the fact that Grand Seiko opts for a very slightly domed sapphire glass top. It does protrude slightly over the top of the bezel, but its design helps keep the dimensions of the watch in proportion and protects the dial from impact. 

The crown is another obvious difference compared to the Hi-Beat version. It’s larger and grooved for an easy grip. It still bears the Grand Seiko logo on its surface but feels and looks more prominent.

The Bracelet

The matte sides of the case feature drilled lugs that make for easy strap changes. That said, strap options for a 22mm to 20mm tapering bracelet may be harder to acquire than, say, a 22mm to 18mm. This is only a gently tapering bracelet, but it helps bring the profile of the watch down and fits better on the ventral side of the arm. 

The bracelet is a stainless steel three-link design with a three-fold clasp and push-button mechanism. I’ve seen the watch on a black alligator leather band; it looks equally stylish and classic. What I think would look particularly cool is a brown leather strap on this watch to bring out its more casual side.

Conclusion

Quite often, Japanese watches are considered cheaper alternatives to traditional Swiss timepieces. But that’s not always the case. Brands like Grand Seiko break that mold with designs like the “Snowflake” and the “White Birch”. 

The Japanese watchmaker crafts timepieces from high-end materials and uses cutting-edge technology to create some of the industry’s finest sports and dress watches. Grand Seiko is a name I often use to argue against these stereotypical views on Japanese quality.

As I mentioned, there are some subtle but significant differences to note between the Grand Seiko “White Birch” SLGA009 and the Hi-Beat version. That said, this is a beautiful watch in its own right. Its key features are a distinctly smooth sweeping second hand, courtesy of the Spring Drive movement, and an attractive, white birch-inspired dial leveraged by artisan finishes and high-end case executions. 

The dial is white now, and the crown is larger. The watch also promises greater accuracy and boasts a more discreet dial decoration that somehow achieves an even truer bark-effect finish.

I’d love to see more dial techniques emerge as Grand Seiko continues to grow and evolve. For models like the “White Birch”, this is about as good as it gets. This is a watch for daily wear. It’s sophisticated enough to pair with elegant attire, but it also looks great in a jeans and shirt ensemble. 

But remember to err on the side of caution if you’re looking at donning your 5-6” inch wrist with a Grand Seiko like this. Go try one on to get a feel for whether the tapered bracelet and shortened lugs feel in proportion with your wrist.