Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Mount Iwate Ice-Blue SLGH027
Based on the much-liked White Birch, the SLGH027 gets a stunning ice-blue, mountain-like textured dial.
Following the introduction of the Evolution 9 collection, with a new generation of mechanical and Spring Drive movements in 2020, Grand Seiko released a watch that will become a hit, the White Birch SLGH005. With its impressive dial, newly designed case and innovative movement, the watch made quite an impression… So much so that it became the base for multiple new models, such as the Spring Drive White Birch, the Minamo SLGA007, the Night Birch, the Green Birch, the Genbi Valley or the Atera Valley. But it’s now time for this watch to finally get the Mount Iwate treatment, with the new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 reference SLGH027.
As most of you might know – and if you don’t, have fun reading this – Grand Seiko’s production is divided into two separate facilities, one dedicated to Spring Drive watches (the Shinshu Watch Studio) and another dedicated to mechanical watches (the Shizukuishi Studio). The first is located near Lake Suwa, which gave us multiple water-inspired watches, the second is located next to Mount Iwate, which resulted in dozens of watches with textured dials inspired by this mountain. And while we have seen such dials in most of the collections, there was not much to find within the Evolution 9 collection, aside from the SLGH019 Midnight Blue and the Tentagraph SLGC001.
But the new Grand Seiko SLGH027 goes further than just applying the traditional Sunray-like Mount Iwate texture to the White Birch. It introduces a new, deeper, richer texture that mimics the looks of the mountain seen from above, with more pronounced and less regular pattern – a bit like a radial take on the White Birch. In addition, Grand Seiko applies a handsome, appealing ice-blue colour to this dial, combined with a blued steel seconds hand. Other than that, we have the classic, oversized and faceted applied markers and hands, unique to the Evolution 9 collection.
For the rest, we’re into known territories, with the same modernized case found in the White Birch or the Atera Valley. Measuring 40mm in diameter, with a thickness of 11.7mm and a length of 47mm, the Mount Iwate SLGH027 is made of Ever-Brilliant Steel, a whiter, shiner proprietary alloy with 1.7 more pitting resistance than traditional stainless steel. The case is finished mostly with brushed surfaces, highlighted by Zaratsu polished accents. It features a box-shaped sapphire crystal, a screwed see-through caseback, a screw-in crown and is water-resistant to 100m.
Inside the case is the modern and powerful calibre 9SA5, a new generation of automatic movement equipped with the brand’s Dual Impulse Escapement, a free-sprung balance and beating at a high frequency of 5Hz. Two barrels arranged in sequence ensure a comfortable power reserve of 80 hours. The watch comes on an Ever-Brilliant Steel bracelet, closed by a folding clasp with GS logo in 18k rose gold.
Available as of May 2025 from GS boutiques and selected retailers, the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Mount Iwate SLGH027 is a limited edition of 1,200 pieces priced at EUR 11,500. For more details, please visit Grand-Seiko.com.
