Grand Seiko Announces the SLGH019, and the Debut of the Mt. Iwate Dial in the Evolution 9 Collection

We might be at a point where every new Grand Seiko release feels like a slight iteration on what came before, but that doesn’t change the fact that sometimes they stumble onto something that is absolutely drool worthy. The brand has taken some heat in some parts of the watch community this year for releasing seemingly endless variations on existing watches without actually producing anything “new.” Grand Seiko has a particular pattern of slotting familiar dial textures with new colors into case shapes that have been around for awhile using either a next gen movement for a five figure price point or a legacy caliber for something more affordable. While it makes actually tracking new releases somewhat more difficult, the end result is an enormous array of choices for the consumer, which is clearly one way Grand Seiko believes they can differentiate themselves from competitors in a positive way (more watches are a good thing). Also, sometimes, it results in a watch like the SLGH019, a perfectly winning combination, and an immediate standout in a long year of releases. 

There’s nothing in the component parts of the SLGH019 that we haven’t seen before. The case is in the now well understood Evolution 9 form factor (titanium, this time), the movement is the high frequency 9SA5 featuring Grand Seiko’s proprietary dual impulse escapement, and the dial brings back a much loved dial texture in a classic Grand Seiko color. Easy enough to dismiss if you’re an armchair quarterback and on the more cynical side. But have you gotten a look at that dial? 

The dark blue dial features the fan favorite “Mt. Iwate” pattern, inspired by the view of the peak from the Grand Seiko studio where many of the brand’s watches are produced. The fine ridges in the dial are both evocative of a craggy mountain vista and aesthetically beautiful in their own right. These dials have a sheen to them and an almost iridescent quality that makes them really sing in the light, and over the years Grand Seiko has produced a number of variations of the Mt. Iwate in different colors, always leaving a slightly different impression. The blue here is inspired by the concept of “Mt. Iwate at Midnight.” 

The SLGH019 marks the debut of the Mt. Iwate dial in an Evolution 9 watch. Seeing the result, it’s hard to believe Grand Seiko waited this long. The Evolution 9 platform features standardized handsets and hour markers that are designed to be more reflective than those found in other Grand Seiko references, so the combination of the highly dynamic dial with these new dial accents should be impressive in the metal. 

In terms of specs, there are no real surprises here. The case is still 40mm in diameter and features the same controversial 22mm lug width and bracelet design as prior Evolution 9 efforts. The 9SA5 caliber is rated to +5/-3 seconds per day with an 80 hour power reserve, and is viewable through the sapphire crystal display back. The Evolution 9 watches are meant to be robust, capable daily wearers, and the relatively recent addition of titanium to the collection only bolsters that idea. 

The retail price for the SLGH019 is $10,400, and it’s an exclusive release to Grand Seiko’s online boutique. The watch is expected to ship in November. Grand Seiko