Grand Seiko 'White Birch' Review - Worth the cost?

Unfortunately the 9SA5 movement seems to have loads of problems with accuracy (from forum feedback). The SLGA009 spring driver version (with the 9RA2 movement) seems to be a better, more bullet proof alternative to the original white birch.

Is $4500 a good price for this used?

Not gonna lie, this looks much better than any Rolex datejust

Congrats Bruce, your dad has bought a watch that would be handed to you, and you to your son. 😊

I agree. I too do not like seeing the Hi Beat/80 Hours text on the dial. However, the Spring Drive label is always nice to see and I appreciate that placement

Look how much more text there is on your Rolex! I prefer more sterile dials but the writing is not a game. changer for me.

Great reiew! I have to tell you, it is worth the money, amazing craftsmanship, artistry and technology incorporated in this piece. It doesnt bother me at all that announces the 80 h PR and the 5 herts info, for you could be irrelevant because of your knoweledge in watches, but for new enthusiasts it is a good piece of information that allows them to see the watch in a new dimension. The dial is just stunning and the fact that its idea came from the trees around the lab makes it more interesting. the polishing is bold and works so well. honestly I am just discovering Grand Seiko. I am impressed.
Thanks for your reviews, you are great

Your father’s taste is the best.

Co-Axial Black dial Seamaster 300 is the most beautiful Omega at this moment. Even compared with other expensive Omegas.

Same apply for Dual-Impulse White birch is the most beautiful GR at this moment, far more beautiful than GR SD 9RA2

Fantastic review

I agree with the view that the text “Hi-Beat…..” is completely unnecessary

Cool Mcgool! I want one so bad, but my wife will kill me. Still I think it might just be worth the risk. I am very envious.🇦🇺

That's a butterface watch. Bangin' body..horrible face.

From Japan. I bought SLGH005. Great watch. I live in the town next to the workshop that makes this watch. I would like to visit it next time.

The size of this watch is perfect. 39-40MM and 11-12mm thickness is perfect. I am going to buy the Tutor Black Bay 58 and this for this reason. Which one should I get first?

Very nice, but absolutely not like the hands special the hour hand and also the big 12 hour marker.
So not my grail.

Thumbs up for a good review and congratulations to your dad. Agree that the text at bottom of the dial is unnecessary and calls attention that isn't necessary. The "Hi-beat and 80-hour power reserve" don't need to be mentioned because at the price of this watch customers are likely to already be knowledgeable and informed. Especially as pointed out by some of the other commenters here that this timepiece has a special escapement that puts GS in rarified watchmaking company. IMHO take out the bottom text and let that be the Grand Seiko statement, they don't need to explain or feel that more needs to be said...we'll happily vote with our dollars.

GS is more like the Mercedes of watch world!!!

Great Video , think that’s sealed the deal for me was looking at another Rolled , but getting fed up with the brand tbh 👍

I like the description of the video.

The first time I saw this piece I had to have it! The dial and movement make it amazing!

Excellent purchase Mr Bruce Williams Sr!👍🏻

How is the finishing compared to other cheaper grand seikos and that Vacheron?

Wow nice watch bruce. I hope it is available in Riyadh,. KSA

I lol'd 🤣at the text on dial part... uh-hem...18 lines of text on every modern Rolex face

A very considered and professional review. I own this watch and adore the dial, and like the hour markers and hands. I appreciate the clever movement. I like this watch so much that I sold a few months old Datejust 41 silver dial with fluted bezel and jubilee bracelet retrospectively to cover the purchase price. Which was about the same as that Rolex was new. Because this GS is a more beautiful watch. As another point of respect, the movement is more sophisticated than that in the Rolex. I do wish that the White Birch had a more tapered bracelet. I am happy with the text on the dial. Like GS, I’m proud of the achievements in the movement. A superlative timepiece.

B Dub Senior

I agree with you. White Birch would be better without the text on the dial. I would be lost more with the beauty if without the text.

Fantastic watch. But as a daily I still prefer the snowflake. White birch is a little too flashy. And as you mention the writing at the bottom doesn’t help. Spring drive is much cleaner and the understated beauty of the snowflake with the textured dial that shows in different light during the day but becomes almost untextured and very legible at night kills. But would be great to have both!

That movement is visually and technically stunning! Hope the watch has been treating your father well Bruce.

Typically I agree about less print on the dail. But there are two white birch models, the auto from this review and the spring drive. Important to make sure you buy the right one.

i agree, i hope they remove the spec sheet on the dial.

If I could have only one watch this would be it.

Lovely watch. Congratulations to you dad! Great choice! 👏👏👏🤜🤛

I tried it on today in Kyoto and it was absolutely stunning. I had always thought I'd buy the Snowflake but now this is has overtaken it on my wishlist!

Very beautiful watch. I feel it's a bit overpriced though. The bracelet needs some taper and it needs a little more to justify the $9100 ask.

The watch will be impressive if the pattern on each dial is different. So I assumed the texture on the dial is made by some automated machine.

I recently picked up a 37mm SBGX with the 9F quartz. Even the quartz Grand Seikos are too good, I don't think I'll be tempted by other watches for a while.

One of the best watches you ever reviewed! I think when it comes to GS there should never be a question of “is it worth it”. There watches could be double the price and still worth it IMO.

I still have not been able to see one in person. I was also interested in the Spring Drive Blue Lake style model. Was also interested in the white birch. I live in the nation's capital and pretty much no one carries Grand Seiko. My best chance would be to hop a train to New York City. Kind of ridiculous. I also doubt they're going to have much in the way of resale value. I don't understand why just about nobody carries these watches. The experience has turned me off of the grand Seiko line.

Hi. I think it's still necessary to have the Hi Beat 36000 on the special dial that differentiates other grand seiko watches. It looks more high class and higher value piece of luxury watch. To me, this watch is so beautiful and eye catching, and even more prestigious than most Swiss made watches. Looking at the second hand movement so smooth and the dial so details,no other watches can challenge grand Seiko for this segment.

Wow sparkles like diamonds under the sunlight! But for $9k…not sure yet

Grand Seiko is so much better than Rolex. Significantly

I wonder if this new piece will hold the resale value

I was lucky enough to try this on in my local AD. It is beautiful. However, I prefer the Rikka early summer Hi-beat. 4 seasons release.

So glad to see they finally did something about the silly clasp, can't believe it took so long to correct the borderline horrible clasp of the snowflake etc.

It will achieve that icon status. This is the best looking Grand Seiko. Just beats out the Snowflake.

I see what you mean about the 80h power reserve writing on the dial; Just my personal opinion that it is worthy of still being put there simply because it is generally to this day still rather difficult to create the killer combination of thinner movement, cosc-comparable accuracy if not more accurate, and extended >70 h power reserve in a watch. So yes I think one should still show this off to a point. Not a totally fair comparison when it comes to price but Ball watches also did this when they created their in house movement for their Roadmaster series of watches. BTW I am spooked because I have the exact same two watch collection your father has just a week before watching this video. May your dad wear them in good health.

Is it just me or does the strap kind of let it down slightly. The case amd face is stunning, but the strap could be on a 500 dollar seiko

This is an amazing watch getting better by the day. Pictures do not do it justice, even a hands on view at a dealer can not show what this watch is all about. Until you can see what the dial does under moonlight can you really begin to understand what GS designers were trying to achieve. The dial literally comes alive under moonlight, exactly how a white bitch forest would look under those same conditions. This will be on my wrist for many many years to come.