Grand Seiko SLGA025 Review: The Emerald “Atera Valley”

Grand Seiko is widely known for its incredible dials. If that’s news to you, then boy, are you in for a treat today because the watch I’m reviewing is one of my favorite Grand Seiko dials to date. It’s a new addition to the Japanese watchmaker’s Evolution 9 collection and does something a little different to what we’ve seen before. 

When it comes to their more complicated dial designs, Grand Seiko typically elects something raised, a pattern that has an obvious visual texture. The Grand Seiko “Snowflake” is one of the best examples I could use, mimicking the look of snow with a grained white finish. You also have designs like the Grand Seiko “Whirlpool”, which lives up to its name with a swirling, whirlpool-like raised pattern in the brand’s very own dark blue hue. 

But the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 doesn’t have a dial that’s grooved, recessed, or grained; it’s a dial that appears almost completely smooth – at first – bringing to life the movement of the Atera River. This is a flowing stream found in Grand Seiko’s home country of Japan, which splits the Atera Valley into two parts, giving life to the floral and fauna surrounding it.

The Evolution of the Evolution 9 Collection

I was just about to type that the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 collection is one of my all-time favorite Grand Seiko designs. And that’s not wrong; it really is. But I also know that if you present me with one of their Heritage or Elegance models, I’m probably going to say the same. It’s hard to pick a favorite from a brand that does everything right. 

That said, I really enjoyed what Grand Seiko has been doing with their Evolution 9 collection lately. These watches are a powerful reimagining of their classic 44GS design from 1967. 

This was a watch that was precise, modern, and largely inspired by the beauty of Japanese nature. Today’s iteration is much the same, boasting refined details, a sharp case, slender profile, and an otherworldly dial. 

Over the last few years, Grand Seiko has evolved its Evolution 9 collection even further to make it more advanced and streamlined without the design ever losing its original charm. Some of these developments have been spotted in the shape of more legible, multi-faceted hands and broader markers, shortened lugs, and cases with a lower center of gravity for incredible comfort. 

What’s inside is just as impressive. The Evolution 9 watches feature Grand Seiko’s leading technology with both mechanical movements and Spring Drive options available. These are pieces that cement the brand’s dedication to accuracy and innovation, exuding an almost minimalist type of beauty that enhances its modern and timeless aesthetic. 

Now, there are little to no Grand Seiko Evolution 9 watches that I don’t like, but there are certainly some that I like more than others. But after trialing a particular model this past week, I might just have found the watch to take first place. With one of the most breathtaking dials I have ever seen, I’m talking about the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025.

A Modern, Streamline Titanium Case

The case of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch is a familiar sight, boasting much of the same specs and tech as the Lake Suwa SLGA019 and its other brothers and sisters in the Evolution 9 collection. 

Like some of those models before it, reference SLGA025 boasts a high-intensity titanium case, a material that’s not just lightweight but a whopping 30% lighter than steel. I’ll get onto how this watch wore on my wrist shortly, but it’s safe to say that with its slender profile, sharp edges, and weightless finish, this felt unnoticeable in the best way. 

The grade 5 titanium material also has super scratch resistance, adding further resilience and durability to the design compared to standard stainless steel. It’s a metal with a slightly different look, too, being a little darker than steel and having more of a utilitarian finish rather than the bright gleam found on polished steel dress watches. 

The case of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch is still finished at the same high level as we’ve come to expect from this Japanese watchmaker. They have utilized their Zaratsu polishing technique on several elements of the case. 

This technique is a hallmark of Grand Seiko and involves carefully polishing surfaces using a spinning tinplate to create a distortion-free mirror finish. The case alternates between Zaratsu-polished surfaces and fine brushed finishes, creating a stunning play of light and shadow that enhances the watch’s streamlined aesthetic. 

The SLGA025 also has the same short, ergonomically shaped lugs, contributing to how it wears so well and low on the wrist. Its dimensions include a 40mm diameter and an impressively thin 11.8mm profile. The width from lug to lug is 47.9mm, so all in all, this is a compact, easily wearable timepiece for most wrists. 

The knurled crown, positioned at 3 o’clock and embossed with the Grand Seiko (GS) logo, is not only aesthetically pleasing but practical, with a design that allows easy manipulation without compromising the watch’s streamlined look. 

The dial is also protected by a dual-curved sapphire crystal glass that has an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface, enhancing both durability and readability. This type of crystal minimizes glare and provides a clear view of the dial from any angle. 

Flipping the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 over, the exhibition case back offers a glimpse into one of Grand Seiko’s legendary Spring Drive movements (more on that shortly, I promise). 

The case back is also made of sapphire crystal, allowing the wearer to admire the movement’s intricate details without any obstruction. Finally, the case is finished with a water resistance of 100 meters, reinforcing this release as a watch that will effortlessly perform in both casual and active settings.

The Best Grand Seiko Dial Yet?

If it wasn’t already clear, the standout feature of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch is its dial. It’s once again a Grand Seiko dial I urge you to go see in the metal. It is absolutely breathtaking, and while I will try my best to describe its appearance to you, I guarantee my words and Grand Seiko’s photos won’t do it justice. 

The color is a rich emerald green that, according to the luxury watch brand, is inspired by Japan’s Atera Valley. The surface has a delicate, almost flowing texture that perfectly mimics the movement of water, or in this instance, the gentle movement of the Atera River. It’s a really subtle texture – nothing like the raised elegance of the Snowflake or Whirlpool – but one that is gentle, simple, and yet undeniably awe-inspiring. 

From afar, the dial looks like a classic emerald dial, which alone is beautiful for its unique shade of color, but up close, you can notice this delicate wave-like texture. 

The texture is incredibly random, not easy-to-guess lines should you or I draw our interpretation of waves. In fact, it looks so legit that I can picture the Atera River’s current and how its flow changes depending on the rocky sediment it passes over. 

It’s a refreshing take on color and texture that adds depth and character. And the green hue isn’t overly bright or flashy. There’s a gentle, natural quality to it that draws the eye without demanding attention. I love how Grand Seiko has made this feel artful and understated. The overall effect is soothing yet fascinating, a feeling you don’t often get in watch dials. 

And, of course, as if the surface of the dial wasn’t beautiful enough, you have all the hand-finished details of the dial’s hands and markers. Like the rest of the Evolution 9 collection, they are brightly polished, sharp, and wide, allowing for easy reading even at a quick glance. 

The surface of the dial is made to be the star of the show, though, with the only other features worth noting being an integrated date window at 3 o’clock, a silvered applied GS logo and white text at 12 o’clock, and lettering for the movement and water resistance at 6 o’clock.

Movement 

To top the list of specs for the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch off, it comes powered by one of the Japanese company’s in-house Spring Drive movements. 

Now, I won’t go into the complete details of how this remarkable technology works – I’ll leave that to YouTube – but in short, this is a movement that combines the best of both the traditional gear-driven mechanism of a mechanical watch and the precision of a quartz oscillator. 

It offers a continuous sweep of the second hand and an impressive power reserve, making it a marvel of engineering that perfectly complements the mastery of the dial and case.

The exact caliber in use here is the Caliber 9RA2, a manufacture movement Grand Seiko has meticulously developed and hand-built at their Shinshu Watch Studio. Compared to the previous 9R6x series, the 9RA2 brings significant enhancements in size, performance, and overall functionality. 

I know the size is something a lot of Grand Seiko enthusiasts have been dreaming of: a slimmer Spring Drive powered watch like this Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025. 

It’s this slimmer movement that has allowed the case of the SLGA025 to sit so low at 11.8mm. It also boasts a remarkable five-day power reserve from dual barrels, a quick date change, and exceptional accuracy of +/- 0.5 seconds per day. 

As mentioned, there is an exhibition case back so you can admire the technology of the Spring Drive movement when the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive watch is off your wrist. There’s plenty of handsome decoration to enjoy, including a power reserve indicator that is integrated into the movement’s plate and marked by a royal blue hand.

A Matching Titanium Bracelet

If there’s anywhere to find fault with the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025, it would be in its bracelet. That said, I am about to be picky here. The titanium bracelet is stunning, don’t get me wrong, and meticulously hand-finished to mirror the case, featuring a robust three-link design. 

But I know that a huge drawback of the bracelet for many will be the absence of any micro-adjustment. This makes it a little harder to find the perfect fit, especially since our wrists tend to swell and contract throughout the day. That said, there are half links included, so you can get a close to perfect fit.

A taper on this 22mm-wide bracelet would have been nice, too, but I can appreciate Grand Seiko standing firm on their taperless construction to ensure better balance and ergonomics on the wrist. The three-link construction is fully brushed, adding to its streamlined, sophisticated charm. 

It might have been nice to have some of Grand Seiko’s Zaratsu polishing on the smaller intermediary links for a bit more light play, but again, I’m being incredibly picky here. The high-intensity titanium bracelet is completed by a three-fold clasp adorned with the Grand Seiko logo in relief. It also comes with a twin-trigger release system, so it’s nice and secure.

My only other complaint about the bracelet is that it comes with push pins for sizing rather than screws, which feels less than ideal for a watch of this price point. Grand Seiko does pretty much everything perfectly, but their bracelets let them down just a little when you get up close. 

That said, you can easily swap this bracelet out for another if you wish. It’s 22mm lug width offers plenty of versatility to find alternative straps, all of which will look good next to this gorgeous dial.

On-Wrist Experience

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch wears beautifully, as you’d expect from a watch of this caliber. Constructed from high-intensity titanium, it feels incredibly lightweight, almost like a second skin, while still exuding undeniable presence on the wrist. Even with my relatively small 5.5-inch wrist, the watch maintained a confident look, thanks largely to that captivating dial that I honestly can’t stop staring at.

Though a bit oversized for my frame, the dimensions are still manageable for most wrists, with a 40mm case diameter, a 47.9mm length, and a slim 11.8mm thickness. The male end links extend the lug-to-lug distance to about 51mm, making the watch more suitable for those with wrists around 6.75 inches or larger. 

The 22mm lug width also adds to its broad profile, which is unusual for a Grand Seiko of this size, but it works well with the watch’s bold presence. This is also one of Grand Seiko’s slimmest Spring Drive watches, so it’s perfect for slipping under shirt cuffs, making it an excellent choice for both daily wear and more formal occasions.

Price & Availability

Retailing brand new for $10,500, the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 watch isn’t the Japanese watchmaker’s most affordable model, but that’s not what you expect when you look at a full titanium watch with a rare dial and a Spring Drive movement. 

In my opinion, although it’s a heavier price tag than some of their other references, every dollar is worth it. It really is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and innovation, and you can almost guarantee that if this exact piece was launched by one of the well-known Swiss watch brands out there, the price would be even higher.

Since the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ Spring Drive SLGA025 was only launched this autumn as a permanent part of the brand’s Evolution 9 collection, I wasn’t expecting to see many on the pre-owned market just yet. But boy, was I wrong. 

There are quite a few second-hand models out there, but since they’re not all that old and barely worn, they’re still close in price to those brand new. If it was me, I’d choose one brand new at a Grand Seiko authorized retailer like Exquisite Timepieces. You’ve got the confidence, then you’re receiving a genuine watch with all the official warranty and paperwork.

Conclusion

Considering its case finishing, wearable dimensions, striking geometry, and undeniably captivating dial, the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Atera Valley’ SLGA025 delivers serious value for its price. 

The five-day Spring Drive movement is both robust and impeccably accurate and it’s a pleasure to be able to watch the technology work through the case back when the watch is off the wrist. While the bracelet could benefit from a few refinements, like micro-adjustments or screw pins, it’s a minor concern when the rest of the watch excels so impressively.

If I had the cash in hand, I would have already purchased this watch. Instead, though, I’m going to pop it onto my wish list and hope, with a bit of luck, Santa is feeling extra generous this year! I know that some may feel this watch is a touch on the pricey side, and the vibrant blue dial may seem bold compared to the classic navy or black options. 

But that choice is all a matter of taste; for me, this watch ticks every box of a beautiful, wearable, and accurate Grand Seiko. My only real piece of advice: go see this dial in person. Please.