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

The more I write about Japanese watches the more I find myself longing to visit the country. Grand Seiko’s deft use of texture and colour, inspired by the diverse landscape of their home nation, has convinced me of Japan’s beauty without ever having stepped foot there. Their latest piece of textural art comes in the form of the new Evolution 9 ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hi-Beat SLGH019.

Getting into specifics, the dial has a radial pattern of small, engraved ridges that fan out from the central hand stack. It’s akin to a sunray brushed finish but with a rough, coarse appearance like that of the shale slope of a mountain. Or perhaps it’s the impression of a mountain as seen from directly above – with ridges, cliffs and sharp ascents leading to the central peak.

However, it’s not so simple as that because the dial is presented through the lens of ‘Midnight’, meaning it has a dark navy colour instead of the colour of an actual mountain. It’s similar to the tone used on the Tsuki Tenshin, a watch that was also inspired by the depths of night. The use of a dark tone highlights the dual aspects of serenity and danger that mountains such as Mt. Iwate possess.

Beyond the new dial, it’s business as usual for Grand Seiko. As part of the Evolution 9 collection the ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hi-Beat SLGH019’s case has a 40mm diameter and a sporty, facetted design made from high intensity titanium. Titanium is one of the most robust materials in watchmaking thanks to its lightweight and highly scratch resistant properties, making it one of the best materials for adventure watches. So, while I wouldn’t recommend it, the SLGH019 isn’t the worse choice of wristwatch for an expedition to Mt. Iwate.

Inside, the watch houses the Hi-Beat movement 9SA5 with automatic winding and specs-wise, it’s seriously impressive. It has an 80-hour power reserve, accuracy of +5/-3 seconds per day and a frequency of 36,000 vph with dual impulse escapement.

As for availability, the Seiko Evolution 9 ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ Hi-Beat SLGH019 is an online exclusive, meaning you can only buy it from official Grand Seiko web boutiques. It’s priced at £8,840, which slots it right between its step-siblings, the £9,000 Night Birch and £8,500 Green Birch. The ‘Midnight Mt. Iwate’ might not be my favourite Grand Seiko of 2022, but it definitely adds to the reasons I want to visit Japan.