Matt Clymo 
Grand Seiko is known for its art imitating nature design philosophy, and the new Evolution 9 Mt Iwate is no exception.
Japan has always been on my list of places to visit, ever since I did four years’ worth of Japanese back in high school. Don’t ask me to speak it, that was a long time ago and I’ve since forgotten most of what I learned. Shikata ga nai, or as the French say, C’est la vie. But, what I haven’t forgotten, and appreciate still, is the culture, the philosophy and the way many people live in harmony with nature, or Satoyama.
And, perhaps no other watch brand better embodies this philosophy better than Grand Seiko, to the point that when a new release drops, you know that the dial will be inspired by the natural surroundings of the Grand Seiko Studio in Shizukuishi. The new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 is no exception, with a dial that has been inspired directly from Mt Iwate, which can be seen in the distance from the Grand Seiko Studio.
The designers at Grand Seiko have taken the dial inspiration from Mt Iwate, but rather cleverly, from a top-down aerial view. When looking at the dial directly, you can see the ridged striations radiating out from the centre, like you would see the ridges and crevasses of the snow-capped mountain should you be doing a scenic flight over the mountain. The colour has been chosen to reflect the blue hues of the surrounding streams and sky, but looking at numerous pictures of Mt Iwate, you can also see the light blue-grey hue of the mountain itself blending into the clouds and sky. Hat’s off to Grand Seiko for this!
Aside from the dial, the watch has been done in the Evolution 9 style, with its combination of angular, multi-faceted lugs, and sweeping case curves that assist in the way the watch wears on the wrist. With a diameter of 40mm, a thickness of 11.7mm and a lug-to-lug of 47mm, on paper, this piece should wear like a dream. Grand Seiko has designed the watch to have a low centre of gravity, so this will aid the way the watch sits and wears. Having worn quite a few Grand Seikos, I can attest to their ability to be a comfortable everyday watch, which is exactly what they should be.
The case and bracelet are made from Ever-Brilliant Steel, a special type of alloy Grand Seiko uses that gives it a high corrosion resistance as well as a brighter shine. Ever-Brilliant is similar to 904L steel but with a higher Chromium content and less Copper making it more resistant to corrosion and has a whiter, brighter hue. However, 904L is slightly more scratch-resistant and defends against acidity better, so each has its merits.
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Inside the Grand Seiko Mt Iwate beats the High Beat 9SA5 Calibre. Beating at a harmonious 5Hz, or 36,000 VpH, the 9SA5 has an 80-hour power reserve and offers an accuracy of -3 / +5 seconds per day. In my experience with Grand Seiko, the accuracy will most probably be closer to +/- 2 seconds per day, but this will obviously depend on how it’s worn and the model itself generally speaking. It is a nicely decorated movement, with striping across the bridges that are inspired by the ripples of the Shizukuishi River near the studio where the watch is made.
Initial Thoughts
Grand Seiko watches are just beautiful watches, no matter which way you look at them. Even the simplest models have perfectly finished hands and indices with Zaratsu polishing, but when you get into models like the Evolution 9 Mt Iwate, those dials just take it up another level. Photos in many cases don’t do these pieces justice, and you really do have to see them in person to appreciate the detail and the way they play with the light.
In the instance of the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Mt Iwate, you can see great care has been taken to get the evocative feel of the mountain into the dial design. In fact, when I first saw it, my mind was instantly transported to Japan and what the snow-covered mountain would look like. Or perhaps it is because I’m planning my next holiday and I’m dreaming of somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. In any instance, you get my drift.
While the case design is nothing new here, with the Evolution 9 collection being around since 2021 and paying homage to the design language established in 1967 with the iconic 44GS, it is still a piece that is designed for comfort, wearability and classic looks on the wrist. It is a piece that won’t turn heads in the average cafe, but those who know, will know – it is a IYKYK kind of thing. The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Mt Iwate is limited to 1,200 pieces and is available now from Grand Seiko boutiques and online from May 2025, with pre-orders open now.
Reference: SLGH027G
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 40mm x 11.7mm thick x 47mm lug-to-lug
- Case Material: Ever-Brilliant Steel, brushed and polished
- Dial: Light Blue with radial pattern
- Movement: Automatic winding 9SA5 beating at 36,000 VpH / 5Hz
- Power Reserve: 80hrs
- Water Resistance: 100m (10 BAR)
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment.
- Bracelet: Ever-Brilliant Steel, brushed & polished with three-fold clasp with push button release (parts of clasp in 18k rose gold and titanium)
