Grand Seiko has always drawn inspiration from nature and applied these influences to its timepieces. In the past year alone, we have seen the Grand Seiko Ref. SBGR321, which celebrates the morning skies of Mount Iwate in Japan, and before that, the Grand Seiko Toge Special Edition, which evokes a mountain path through the same slopes, to name just two of several examples. Today, we take a look at the luxury watchmaker’s latest nature-inspired creation, the new Heritage Hi-Beat “White Birch” watch, Ref. SLGH005. SLGH005 
As its name suggests, the replica watches are most inspired by the white birch forest that grows next to Shizukuishi Grand Seiko’s atelier in Japan. According to the brand, this is where the birch trees grow in abundance, standing beautifully and mysteriously in every season, shimmering in every morning light, and providing a luminous silhouette at every dusk. The ever-innovative watch designers at Grand Seiko have used this stately backdrop as the template for the birch-patterned dial of their new model.
The 40mm diameter steel case is 11.7mm thick and, like all its counterparts in the collection, features Grand Seiko’s signature ‘Zaratsu’ style of ultra-sharp brushed and mirror alternately polished surfaces. The case has a relatively new shape, introduced by the brand exclusively for its Heritage collection, known as the “Series 9” style. Among its unique features, the Series 9 case design features wider lugs, a low center of gravity for a tighter fit on the wrist, and a flat-topped brushed bezel surrounding the dial.
The bark-inspired ‘White Birch’ dial is covered by a vintage-style box-shaped sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. The Series 9 style dial features a more contemporary set of traditional dauphine hands, matched with fluted applied hour markers. In addition, the outer edge of the dial is embellished with a curved minute ring at each 5-minute position. A steel contoured date indicator at 3 o’clock, partially affixed with the Grand Seiko logo, occupies the upper part of the dial, and simple blued steel seconds hands accompany the Series 9 hour and minute hands.
Inside the SLGH005 is the Grand Seiko Caliber 9SA5, one of the major Japanese fake watch manufacturer’s own ‘high-beat movements. Launched in 2020, this self-winding movement is one of the brand’s most prestigious movements, boasting a high frequency of 36,000 Vph, 47 jewels, an impressive 80-hour power reserve, and an accuracy of +5/-3 seconds per day. Protected by a sapphire case-back that makes the watch water-resistant to 100 meters, the movement is exquisitely decorated and topped by a skeletonized rotor.
