Grand Seiko Expands Its Tentagraph Collection With New Snow Blue Chronograph

Two years ago, Grand Seiko introduced its first mechanical chronograph, the Tentagraph. Now, at Watches & Wonders 2025, the brand is doubling down on its Tentagraph line with two new models joining the family: the silvery-blue dial SLGC007 and an additional bold take on the Tokyo Lion design with a mechanical chronograph movement. For now (and to make things a little more convenient for yours truly), we’ll be sticking to the more approachable of the two and dive into the SLGC007, but we’ll have more to say about the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph here soon, so stay tuned. Onward into the SLGC007 we go. 

Until now, Grand Seiko’s staple mechanical chronograph offering has only been available in the form of the SLGC001 with its nearly monochromatic blue dial and dark blue trio of chronograph subdials. The model at hand feels a touch punchier, sportier, and if I’m being completely honest here, a bit cooler with its Panda-style tricompax layout. Okay, the brand is technically calling the exact shade of the dial a cool, “snow blue,” and if you’re a stickler for the rules, maybe you will disagree with my labeling this as a panda dial, but I’m going to push forward with that label anyway. The high contrast between the shimmering dial and the black subdials is good enough for me, even if we’re not technically working with the typical white and black hues here. 

Given that we’re deep in the Grand Seiko universe here, you already know that the textural dial in question is, in some way, inspired by nature. In this case, the texture and hues of the dial pay homage to Mt. Iwate in winter, and the etched pattern is inspired by mountain ridges under fresh snow. In addition to the black chronograph subdials, this model features applied indices, a slanted date window between four and five o’clock, and a ceramic tachymeter bezel in black. 

Aside from the color elements, the SLGC007 doesn’t shake up the brand’s Tentagraph formula. This piece is within the brand’s Evolution 9 collection and is made of titanium with a 43.2mm diameter. I will admit that this watch is on the thicker side, at 15.33mm thick, but I guess that’s the price you pay for a Grand Seiko mechanical chronograph. The movement in question is the automatic mechanical Hi-Beat Chronograph Caliber 9SC5, which, I think I can safely say, remains as impressive now as it was at its debut two years ago with its 10 beats per second frequency and 72-hour (that’s three days!) power reserve. 

Overall, I wouldn’t say that this addition to the Grand Seiko family was out of left field, but it does feel like it scratches a certain necessary itch within the brand’s current portfolio. It’s Grand Seiko putting its own spin on panda dial chronographs, nature-inspired textual dial and all. If you felt that the first blue monochrome Tentagraph was a bit too tame, I would venture to guess that you’ll probably be more drawn into the magic of the SLGC007, but that’s your call, not mine. 

The Grand Seiko SLGC007 is available now at the price of $14,100. For more information, please visit the brand’s website here.