Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SLGH005 White Birch Buyer's Guide - Is It Better Than a Rolex Datejust 41?

Grand Seiko vs Rolex may not sound as natural a rivalry as Rolex vs Omega. But since distancing itself from parent company Seiko in 2017, Grand Seiko has declared its ambitions boldly; all Swiss luxury watch brands are fair targets. For 2021, Grand Seiko launched one of its most impressive watches to date: the White Birch SLGH005. This video is a comprehensive buyer's guide for Grand Seiko's Rolex killer. Unlike many luxury watches, the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat "white birch" was nicknamed as such by the Grand Seiko designers who created it. Inspired by the Shirakaba birch forests that grow outside of the Shizukuishi Grand Seiko factory in Iwate prefecture, the SLGH005 employs a fearsomely complex 20-step process to recreate white birch bark on a hand-crafted watch dial. The 40mm stainless steel case reflects its Grand Seiko 9S heritage while also reflecting recent innovations in the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 series of which the Hi-Beat SLGH005 is a founding member. Internally, the Grand Seiko automatic caliber 9SA5 embodies a sea change in Grand Seiko's Morioka-based mechanical watchmaking. This movement is a clean-sheet design that better fills a display caseback. Whereas the previous Hi-Beat 9S85 was 28.4mm in diameter, the 9SA5 measures a modern 31.6mm in diameter. Revised bridge architectures ensure that the larger movement also appears more symmetrical in layout and more attractive to the eye. Now equipped with twin mainspring barrels, the 9SA5 boasts 80 hours of power reserv