Unveiled for Watches and Wonders, SLGA015 is Grand Seiko’s newest high-performance diver’s watch and the latest entry into the brand’s Evolution 9 Collection. Rendered in High-Intensity Titanium and powered by the impressive 9RA5 Spring Drive caliber, SLGA015 features a dial inspired by the oceans that surround the Japanese archipelago.
SLGA015 measures 43.8mm in diameter, 13.8mm in thickness, and 51.5mm lug-to-lug. It is water-resistant to a depth of 200 meters and has a magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/m. High-Intensity Titanium provides heightened scratch and corrosion resistance and a substantial weight reduction (about 30%) compared to stainless steel, ensuring comfort on the wrist. The bezel insert is ceramic, a highly scratch-resistant material, and a first for a Grand Seiko diver’s watch to further enhance its durability.
In 2020, Grand Seiko introduced a new design philosophy called the Evolution 9 Style. Though it preserves the fundamentals of the Grand Seiko Style, the prevailing design ethos that has guided Grand Seiko since 1967, it also reimagines them for the next generation by setting new legibility, comfort, and beauty standards.
The mid-case features an eye-catching mix of Zaratsu-polished and hairline surfaces. This complex contrast in finishing techniques brings the watch and its geometry to life, and it highlights the unique qualities of the metallic alloy. The bracelet has a five-link design with flatter links that give it a distinct look, and the three-fold clasp is fitted with a secure lock and diver’s extension.
Each hand on SLGA015 is different in design and stands out clearly from the dial. The double index at twelve o’clock ensures that, even at depth, legibility is paramount. Readability is further enhanced using a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on the underside, which removes excessive glare from the dial. Nighttime visibility is achieved through the ample use of LumiBrite on the titanium hands and indexes. A power reserve indicator is positioned at nine o’clock, providing balance to the date at three.
The dial is deep black, inspired by the Kuroshio Current, also known as the Black Stream, that flows northwards past Japan toward the Arctic North Pacific and is one of the largest ocean streams in the world. The tumultuous tides caused by the Black Stream lend themselves to the distinct surface texture and deep black color of SLGA015’s dial.
Unveiled on the 60th anniversary of Grand Seiko’s creation, 9RA5 is a next-generation Spring Drive movement. Due to the implementation of several innovations, among them a new IC package, Dual-size Barrels, and Offset Magic Lever, 9RA5 is made slimmer, more structurally robust, and more accurate with a rating of ±10 seconds per month and a power reserve of five days. This is the second Grand Seiko watch in continuous production to feature a 9RA movement.
SLGA015 will be available in July 2022, first as a Boutique Online exclusive, and then from Grand Seiko Salons starting in August 2022 for $11,600.
