Introducing: Grand Seiko’s 38mm 62GS SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” And 37mm Evolution 9 SLGB006 “Ice Forest At Dawn”
The only sense of nature you can experience when spending days on end in Geneva’s Palexpo event center is by handling Grand Seiko novelties. Yes, we sometimes joke about the plethora of nature-inspired dial designs that the Japanese brand releases. Still, they’re most welcome during Watches and Wonders. After a couple of steamy sessions in tiny conference rooms under scorching lights, the Evolution 9 SLGB006 “Ice Forest at Dawn,” for instance, brings cool relief. And the 62GS SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba,” a watch with a dial reminiscent of cherry blossoms and fresh leaves, serves as a reminder that spring is presenting its splendor outside the conference center’s walls.
Watches and Wonders 2026 marks the fifth appearance of Grand Seiko on the watch world’s main stage in Geneva. And it feels very natural. This year, Grand Seiko added a new variation to its Heritage Collection based on the 62GS design. The SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” is a 38 × 12.9mm watch in an 18K yellow gold case. Winning case designs benefit from as few changes as possible, so this novelty features the 62GS’s familiar bezel-free construction first introduced in 1967, with the sapphire crystal mounted directly onto the case. The idea behind this was to maximize the dial opening. Well, it worked back then, and it works today. The SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” is not large, but its appearance is prominent without being too exuberant. The surfaces alternate between Zaratsu polishing and hairline brushing, emphasizing the angular profile with finesse.
The 38mm Grand Seiko 62GS SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba”
Although the “Sakura-Wakaba” is not a sports watch, the 100m water resistance rating makes it suitable for daily wear despite its precious-metal construction and dressy looks. It’s not just the yellow gold case that comes across as dressy. The dial, featuring a light golden-green tone inspired by the seasonal combination of cherry blossoms (桜, sakura) and young leaves (若葉, wakaba), also contributes. As you would expect, the dial is a miniature work of art.
A textured finish reflects light across its surface, while the perfectly finished, crisp, applied gold markers and gold hands serve two purposes — impressing the watch fan with their meticulous execution/shape and providing excellent legibility. Although the SBGH376 has a framed date window, its lovely dial remains free of clutter and perfectly balanced.
Inside the characteristically shaped case beats the automatic caliber 9S85. This Hi-Beat movement operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour and offers a 55-hour power reserve. You can expect a stable and precise rate from it thanks to Grand Seiko’s incorporation of proprietary alloys and manufacturing techniques for key components.
The 62GS SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” comes on a brown crocodile strap with a calfskin lining and matching yellow gold pin buckle. How’s that for a classic combination? The price of the SBGH376 is €33,500 in Europe, and it joins the regular-production lineup.
The Evolution 9 SLGB006 “Ice Forest at Dawn”
Another yellow gold novelty is the SLGB006, a watch from Grand Seiko’s Evolution 9 Collection. The 18K yellow gold 37 × 11.4mm case follows the Evolution 9 design language. This means it features a mix of brushed and polished surfaces and is fitted with a box-shaped sapphire crystal and a screw-in exhibition case back. Again, this is a well-dressed creation that can handle a splash, as the “Ice Forest at Dawn” is water resistant to 100 meters.
The dial gives the watch its name, and it’s a dark, textured surface with a gradient effect that evokes winter landscapes. That miniature landscape is inspired by larch trees, which, in the coldest days of the year, get a shimmering coat of ice that sparkles in the warm light of winter dawn. Enter the applied gold markers and hands, both thematically congruent and legible.
A power reserve indicator is integrated into the movement, but thankfully, you won’t find it on the front. It would be a shame to let it disturb the clean time-and-date display. Instead, you’ll see it when you turn the watch over.
It’s a U.F.A.
The “Ice Forest at Dawn” is powered by a Spring Drive movement. In this case, it’s Grand Seiko’s caliber 9RB2, offering a 72-hour power reserve. But the autonomy is not its party piece. That is the annual accuracy of ±20 seconds. Yes, this is a U.F.A. movement. The abbreviation stands for “Ultra Fine Accuracy,” and it designates a new standard of precision introduced in 2025. If your Grand Seiko is a U.F.A., it’s the most accurate mainspring-powered watch ever created by the brand. To quickly refresh your memory, a Spring Drive movement incorporates a temperature-compensated quartz oscillator paired with an integrated circuit, along with traditional mainspring energy storage.
The “Ice Forest at Dawn” comes on a black crocodile strap with a calfskin lining, and it closes with an 18K yellow gold push-button folding clasp. The SLGB006 is a limited edition of 80 pieces and costs €44,700 in Europe.
Which of these two yellow gold Grand Seiko novelties captured you more? Was it the 38mm 62GS SBGH376 “Sakura-Wakaba” with its fresh spring vibe? Or do you prefer the more mysterious glow of the 37mm SLGB006 “Ice Forest at Dawn”?
By the way, I don’t expect to see any negative comments about the case sizes and proportions; if you ask me, they are close to perfection. Or do you think these dressy all-arounders should have been less than 10mm thick?
