Although many Grand Seiko watches are heavily rooted in the brand’s archives, its Evolution 9 collection represents the modern expression of the Japanese manufacturer’s identity. Originally launched in 2020 to celebrate Grand Seiko’s 60th anniversary, the Evolution 9 series features the latest generations of movements, along with an updated rendition of the brand’s signature design language. Among the most recent additions to the lineup for 2024 is the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025, which is crafted from titanium and fitted with a dial inspired by the waters in Japan’s Atera Valley.

While the overall style of Grand Seiko’s Evolution 9 collection is inspired by the brand’s famous 44GS model from 1967, it represents an updated twist on this classic design rather than being a faithful recreation of the model like many of the watches from the brand’s Heritage collection. At a quick glance, the new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 is essentially a titanium version of the limited-edition SLGA007 from 2021. More specifically, the new SLGA025 could also be described as a new dial variation of the titanium SLGA019 launched last year in 2023.

Crafted from the brand’s “high-intensity titanium” alloy, the case of the new Grand Seiko SLGA025 offers identical proportions to its Spring Drive 5 Days siblings from the Evolution 9 collection. It measures 40mm in diameter by 11.8mm thick, with lugs that are set 22mm apart and extend to create an overall lug-to-lug profile of 47.9mm. Similarly, a dual-curved sapphire crystal (with anti-reflective treatment on its interior surface) protects the dial, while a screw-down display caseback is fitted to the reverse side of the watch. At the 3 o’clock location is a signed screw-down crown that helps guarantee 100 meters of water resistance.

The overall layout of the dial fitted to the new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 SLGA025 is more-or-less identical to other Spring Drive 5 Days models from the series, and it represents an updated version of the brand’s classic design language. The applied hour markers offer a three-dimensional appearance with finely grooved upper surfaces set against sharp polished facets, and the handset is a modernized rendition of the dauphine-shaped hands that are frequently found on the brand’s Heritage collection models. An extra-wide marker is applied to the 12 o’clock location to help provide a clear orientation of the time, while the minute track is printed along an angled chapter ring. Just like many of Grand Seiko’s other watches, the Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 is devoid of any luminous material to keep the visual emphasis on its finely finished surfaces.

Since this wouldn’t be a proper Grand Seiko release without some type of nature-inspired dial, the new Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 features a blue/green dial that pays tribute to the waters of the Atera River, which resides in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, where Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive watches are manufactured. The dial’s surface is brushed with a gentle asymmetric pattern before being coated in a transparent blue/green finish, and its distinct design is intended to recall the appearance of moving water. Over the years, Grand Seiko has produced multiple different models with water-inspired dials, although the dial fitted to the new SLGA025 is a bit more abstract than what can be found inside other Evolution 9 Spring Drive models like the SLGA019 and SLGA021, which both feature dials with a wave motif inspired by Lake Suwa.

Powering the new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 is the brand’s Caliber 9RA2 Spring Drive movement, which represents a significant evolution compared to the Caliber 9R65 that has historically been used inside its time-and-date Spring Drive models. With an accuracy rating of +/-10 seconds per month (+/-0.5 seconds per day), the Grand Seiko Cal. 9RA2 benefits from a tangibly longer power reserve than its Cal. 9R65 predecessor, offering five days of autonomy (approximately 120 hours), rather than the three days that we traditionally expect from Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive models. Additionally, rather than having its power reserve indicator on the dial, the Cal. 9RA2 relocates this display to the reverse side of the movement. The sapphire window in the caseback reveals a small blued hand that tracks the remaining duration of autonomy.

Fitted to the 22mm lugs of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 is a matching titanium bracelet, which features the brand’s usual five-link design that consists of three larger links separated by two smaller center links. The majority of the bracelet’s surfaces appear to be brushed, although the links have high-polished bevels running down their outer edges, and the bracelet is constructed from entirely solid components with solid end-links connecting it to the case. Although no images of the clasp are available at this time, the spec sheet for the new Grand Seiko SLGA025 states that its bracelet is completed by a triple folding clasp with a double push-button release. It is reasonable to assume that the clasp is largely the same as what can be found on its siblings from the Evolution 9 collection.

Due to their next-generation movements, Grand Seiko’s Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive watches are quite a bit more expensive than its entry-level models with the previous generation of calibers. Since the new SLGA025 is crafted from titanium, it naturally also costs more than its stainless steel siblings. Consequently, the new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025 has an official retail price of $10,500 USD, which (rather curiously) is a hundred bucks more than what the brand currently charges for otherwise identical watches with different dials. All things considered, the new Grand Seiko SLGA025 is an aesthetically pleasing timepiece with an impressive internal movement, although the same can be said about many of the brand’s offerings, and the big question for potential buyers will be whether they prefer this particular model over any of the other Spring Drive watches with water-inspired dials. For more information on the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days SLGA025, please visit the brand’s website.