Grand Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hi-Beat SLGH019 with Mountain Ridge Textured Dial

The far more I generate about Japanese watches the additional I find myself longing to go to the country. Grand Seiko’s deft use of texture and colour, inspired by the various landscape of their dwelling country, has convinced me of Japan’s beauty without the need of ever getting stepped foot there. Their most current piece of textural art will come in the sort of the new Evolution 9 ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hello-Beat SLGH019.

Having into details, the dial has a radial sample of little, engraved ridges that fan out from the central hand stack. It’s akin to a sunray brushed complete but with a tough, coarse visual appearance like that of the shale slope of a mountain. Or perhaps it is the perception of a mountain as observed from instantly over – with ridges, cliffs and sharp ascents leading to the central peak.

Having said that, it is not so easy as that mainly because the dial is offered by the lens of ‘Midnight’, indicating it has a dark navy color in its place of the color of an true mountain. It is identical to the tone applied on the Tsuki Tenshin, a observe that was also motivated by the depths of night time. The use of a darkish tone highlights the dual elements of serenity and threat that mountains these types of as Mt. Iwate have.

Over and above the new dial, it’s organization as standard for Grand Seiko. As aspect of the Evolution 9 selection the ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hello-Conquer SLGH019’s scenario has a 40mm diameter and a sporty, facetted style manufactured from large intensity titanium. Titanium is just one of the most sturdy supplies in watchmaking thanks to its light-weight and hugely scratch resistant homes, building it a single of the most effective products for experience watches. So, although I would not endorse it, the SLGH019 is not the even worse selection of wristwatch for an expedition to Mt. Iwate.

Inside of, the watch houses the Hello-Conquer movement 9SA5 with automated winding and specs-smart, it is significantly spectacular. It has an 80-hour electric power reserve, precision of +5/-3 seconds per day and a frequency of 36,000 vph with twin impulse escapement.

As for availability, the Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hello-Conquer SLGH019 is an on the internet exceptional, meaning you can only buy it from formal Grand Seiko internet boutiques. It’s priced at £8,840, which slots it appropriate between its step-siblings, the £9,000 Night Birch and £8,500 Environmentally friendly Birch. The ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ may possibly not be my favorite Grand Seiko of 2022, but it absolutely adds to the causes I want to check out Japan.