So awesome to see them both up close and personal like that. Very helpful info and great presentation. I do hope you keep both, they punch way above their weight against the swiss competition.
I'm torn, but I think the White Birch captures everything that is special about GS... I wear it more than my two prized solid gold Rolex and Patek watches!
great review. I would prefer the SLGA007 Lake Suwa. Besides the preference for the spring-drive movement, I do love the dark blue dial. I can see the wavy lake when I stare at the dial. The white birch.....not so much
They’re both gorgeous IMO. I’ve had a good look at the white birch and was really taken with it but my eye has definitely shifted to the slga007- that dial!
I’d like the white birch with that 9RA2 spring drive. That amount of accuracy along with 120 hours of PR is insane. Love the incorporation of the PR on the backside. They should consider adding that to their hi-beats as well. PR indicator is such an useful complication. Wish they would upgrade their bracelet to include micro adjustments and taper more (eg 22mm to 18mm). Thanks for the great comparo!
The Lake Suwa is so stunning. A bit surprised they didn't make that a regular watch in their lineup. Seems to me they left a lot of money on the table by making it a limited edition. Seems like a design with such wide appeal that they could have sold a ton of them over many years.
I definitely prefer the White Birch. The watch has the more interesting and fancy ZB. In addition, the case looks larger, which also looks better due to the very wide bracelet. The movement is more beautifully finished and the most important thing for me, the White Birch has a purely mechanical movement because the Spring Drive is a mechanical quartz hybrid. But what I really like about the Spring Drive is the creeping second hand.
Yea. That smoothness of the second hand on the spring drive is unlike no other. Definitely the smoothest hand on the market. Why I’m trying to find one.
Really nice sidexside comparison between two amazing watches. You have 2 of the very best GS has to offer. If I had to choose, I think the LS would slightly edge out the WB. I'm a big fan of the spring drive movement. But both are really amazing. Another great video, Toran!
I already have the white birch and I've been waiting on the lake suwa which I'll hopefully get it in two weeks. My AD already contacted me because one is coming soon.
Thanks Toran! I’m not ready to make a purchase of this magnitude in the next 3 months, so I probably won’t be able to buy either (new): will have to wait to see what GS releases later in the year. This being said: For me, it would have to be the Lake Suwa. I love the blue dial, and if I were only going to have one GS, I would want in on the most advanced spring drive offering. I can certainly see the argument for the dual impulse automatic, though. (In the back of my mind, I’m also steering towards a JLC in the long term. So many factors to weigh…)
Agree both watches are beautiful, however, the WB wins for me based on higher visual presence. I have the 005 as a dress watch. You have to see this watch in the flesh to fully appreciate how stunning it look. Its is super comfortable almost forget Im wearing it, unlike my SBGJ248 GMT spring drive at 14.5mm thick. The latter is like carrying lots of loose change in one pocket. Still an awesome watch though. Great review and look forward to more like this.
I love the Spring Drive with the power reserve on the back! Exclamation point. GS did come out with a Lake Suwa without the gold. I will have to take out a (mortgage) loan for it....and Omega '57 Seamaster reissue, and Rolex Sky Dweller. 🙂
Great comparison with many good points noted. Although not a buyer of either, I think I would go Lake Suwa here despite the gold accents which I am trying to get past. I do like them both though.
Congrats Toran, you're living the GS dream! My preference is for the 007 and if I had to bet knowing your love of blue dials I think you'll be flipping the WB before too long. All the best in the new year!
Oh that blue dial is incredible I'll have to look at one of those in person sometime, the gold accents just make that dial. I'd take it over the WB, it looks smaller and is less silver. The WB should be called the silver birch because there is nothing white about that dial. Its even more silver in person.
I agree I love both! So difficult to chose one or the other, but I think I like the Lake Suwa a slight more but have to see both in person first because pictures dont do these watches justice!
Absolutely right. It is for this reason why I am holding back, as I am sure they will improve the bracelet. They must have received so much flack on this issue. Virtually all GS models have the same bracelet.
I would pick the Blue dial 120 hr. spring drive. I have the Golden Snowflake so a blue dial would be a contrasting dial. I also like the spring drive which by its nature is anti magnetic, keeps the same time as its reserve decreases unlike mainspring and barrel movements. If I were going for a hi beat I would want a video vs. the Zenith Defy the new model that is also a 5 beat sec movement.
Got them side by side, picked the lake Suwa at the end, it just looks much more stunning especially under sunlight. [I was lucky to have SLGA 007, SLGA 009 and SLGH 005 on-hand to compare when I was purchasing.]
I just ordered that 007 - can't wait to see it in person. I would like a watch with the 9SA5 but the 005 isn't the one for me - I just don't love the look like I do the 007. I'll wait to see what else they use it in. Grand Seiko is on the move with these new watches imo.
Lucky you. In our area we were requested to fill in a reservation form on the GS website. I missed out unfortunately as the webpage wouldn’t load for me….when it did finally load the subscription had been filled. I own the WB, the Omiwatari and another Lake Suwa inspired watch. Was hoping to complete the collection….Pretty pissed with GS about it if I’m honest, I felt it was an unfair way of securing an allocation, especially since I made my first inquiry after the press release in September.
No contest. The SLGA007 wins hands down. No inaccurate mechanical movement can compare with higher accuracy Spring Drive at a lower price. It's that simple. Imagine paying all that money for that mechanical movement and you don't even get superlative chronometer performance, on average.
i know what your saying but, myself and i feel others are into mechanical watches for more than accuracy, if you want accuracy check your phone watches are glorified jewlery art with little mechanical gears and wheels that what we love about them and a spring drive movement as accurate as it is can be very boring, the new 80 hour high beat is amazing the 5 day spring drive movement looks a bit boring i feel but i know what your saying when it comes to accuracy, im saying theres more to a watch then the time and alot of people need to understand this as its always spoken about on GS forums btw i have a snowflake and a sbga375 so i think i can speak as a GS owner here
@@WilliamButtel I agree that it isn't about the time. I couldn't care less what time it is. I actually got into them because of the cool, beautiful mechanical movements. I still like to watch the watch repair videos. But once I started buying them, my obsession with accuracy took over. I understand both perspectives.
So far G.S has actually only put the new springdrive movement 9RA2 in Limited Editions, first SLGA001, then SLGA007 and SLGA008 (140 pcs gold). Currently there is NO non-LE version with the new 9RA2 springdrive movement! The Snowflake staple watch still has the old SD. It wouldn't make sense in the long run to keep producing new models with the old SD movement, so seems likely the Snowflake is due for a revamp with this reasoning, or anohter new SD watch that becomes a part of the catalogue with the 9RA2 and not just LE.
Don't understand why people complain that the stripes are running vertical on the white birch with the reason that on the real trees it's horizontal. Just think, when it's on the wrist and your arm is hanging besides you then it becomes horizontal :p
If the White Birch (SLGH005) is priced higher than the Lake Suwa (SLGA007) become of the Hi Beat movement on the White Birch, why is the Spring Drive version (SLGA009) of the White Birch the same price as the Hi Beat version (SLGH005)?
Is the finishing of the hands and hour indexes identical? The white birch have polished top surfaces I believe. Does the lake suwa have brushed or polished top surfaces?
Honestly, not sure how you could go with the birch one here. The Lake Suwa is more accurate with the spring drive, better power reserve, cheaper, and on top, it’s a limited edition. You get soo much more in this than the white birch imo!
`Not even a fair match. Minamo wins by every aspect of comparison. 2021 sounds like a generous number as limited edition but I am not able to purchase it at retail price already.
The new white birch with the spring drive is slga009 and it looks better than the old birch imo. Now comparing the slga007 vs slga009 I can’t decide which is more gorgeous 😱 The new spring drive tech is improved with the power reserve on the back instead of the front. Can’t wait for the titanium versions of the 9RA2 caliber.
6:06 it is mimicking the Shinshu birch forest near the Grand Seiko factory and not mimicking the bark of the birch tree like you mentioned. Thus the dial design is accurate, please do some fact checking and don't regurgitate the inaccurate content of other UA-camrs. Monkey see, monkey do.
I have the Lake Suwa, but I am gonna get the birch too! thank you for the comparison
As much as I understand the hype and excitement over the new SD movement, I'm a fan of the high finishing and the technical superiority of the hi beat
So awesome to see them both up close and personal like that. Very helpful info and great presentation. I do hope you keep both, they punch way above their weight against the swiss competition.
Two absolutely gorgeous watches but I agree, the SLGA007 is superior with the 5 day spring drive.
I'm torn, but I think the White Birch captures everything that is special about GS... I wear it more than my two prized solid gold Rolex and Patek watches!
great review. I would prefer the SLGA007 Lake Suwa. Besides the preference for the spring-drive movement, I do love the dark blue dial. I can see the wavy lake when I stare at the dial. The white birch.....not so much
They’re both gorgeous IMO. I’ve had a good look at the white birch and was really taken with it but my eye has definitely shifted to the slga007- that dial!
They're both gorgeous; I'd go for the 007 for the spring drive.
Can't go wrong with either of these beauties
I’d like the white birch with that 9RA2 spring drive. That amount of accuracy along with 120 hours of PR is insane. Love the incorporation of the PR on the backside. They should consider adding that to their hi-beats as well. PR indicator is such an useful complication. Wish they would upgrade their bracelet to include micro adjustments and taper more (eg 22mm to 18mm). Thanks for the great comparo!
Thanks for the feedback 👍
They literally made the Slga 009, which is basically the Slgh005 with 9RA2
The Lake Suwa is so stunning. A bit surprised they didn't make that a regular watch in their lineup. Seems to me they left a lot of money on the table by making it a limited edition. Seems like a design with such wide appeal that they could have sold a ton of them over many years.
My guess is that it's going to be a regular production watch eventually
They will change their mind..
@@shafikkarim9052 Can they do that? Make something limited and then later make it a regular part of their lineup?
@@Postdisclosureworld hmm my bad. probably not exact the same. My guess the series 9 case & different dial color. Just like white birch
@@shafikkarim9052yea. They could make a variant but they wouldn’t make exact one as a regular watch when this is a limited edition.
I understand your choice of both. But with a Minamo (the 007) incoming, my preference is totally clear: the Minamo!
I definitely prefer the White Birch. The watch has the more interesting and fancy ZB. In addition, the case looks larger, which also looks better due to the very wide bracelet. The movement is more beautifully finished and the most important thing for me, the White Birch has a purely mechanical movement because the Spring Drive is a mechanical quartz hybrid. But what I really like about the Spring Drive is the creeping second hand.
Yea. That smoothness of the second hand on the spring drive is unlike no other. Definitely the smoothest hand on the market. Why I’m trying to find one.
Really nice sidexside comparison between two amazing watches. You have 2 of the very best GS has to offer. If I had to choose, I think the LS would slightly edge out the WB. I'm a big fan of the spring drive movement. But both are really amazing. Another great video, Toran!
Thank you for taking the time to check out the video Chaz :)
2:40 that dial looks like a picture of the sea. Gorgeous!.
I already have the white birch and I've been waiting on the lake suwa which I'll hopefully get it in two weeks. My AD already contacted me because one is coming soon.
Thanks Toran! I’m not ready to make a purchase of this magnitude in the next 3 months, so I probably won’t be able to buy either (new): will have to wait to see what GS releases later in the year. This being said: For me, it would have to be the Lake Suwa. I love the blue dial, and if I were only going to have one GS, I would want in on the most advanced spring drive offering. I can certainly see the argument for the dual impulse automatic, though. (In the back of my mind, I’m also steering towards a JLC in the long term. So many factors to weigh…)
Thanks for your feedback. Take care!
Grand Seiko makes absolutely beautiful watches ⌚
Hmmm... I love the WB dial more, looks cooler and nicer, but I prefer the spring drive movement than the Hi beat.
Agree both watches are beautiful, however, the WB wins for me based on higher visual presence. I have the 005 as a dress watch. You have to see this watch in the flesh to fully appreciate how stunning it look. Its is super comfortable almost forget Im wearing it, unlike my SBGJ248 GMT spring drive at 14.5mm thick. The latter is like carrying lots of loose change in one pocket. Still an awesome watch though. Great review and look forward to more like this.
Thanks, I appreciate your feedback on the WB👌
Picking my 005 up from my AD this Friday can't wait! It must look amazing texture looks sick, especially I bet under lets say golden hour light 🙂
I love the Spring Drive with the power reserve on the back! Exclamation point. GS did come out with a Lake Suwa without the gold. I will have to take out a (mortgage) loan for it....and Omega '57 Seamaster reissue, and Rolex Sky Dweller. 🙂
Beautiful.
I chose the SBGA413 as I couldn’t imagine parting with this. I almost chose one of these instead though.
These are very nice.
Great comparison with many good points noted. Although not a buyer of either, I think I would go Lake Suwa here despite the gold accents which I am trying to get past. I do like them both though.
Thanks for the feedback 👍
Congrats Toran, you're living the GS dream! My preference is for the 007 and if I had to bet knowing your love of blue dials I think you'll be flipping the WB before too long. All the best in the new year!
Thanks Bill. Have a great New Years ahead.
Great comparison Toran, thanks.
Oh that blue dial is incredible I'll have to look at one of those in person sometime, the gold accents just make that dial. I'd take it over the WB, it looks smaller and is less silver. The WB should be called the silver birch because there is nothing white about that dial. Its even more silver in person.
Thanks Nef. I agree that the WB dial is very much silver, instead of white.
Both great watches Toran. I’m in watch buying lockdown until I do a major purge. Congratulations 🍾 and merry Christmas 🎄!
Thanks for the feedback UWC.
I agree I love both! So difficult to chose one or the other, but I think I like the Lake Suwa a slight more but have to see both in person first because pictures dont do these watches justice!
Toran - two great watches to have in a collection...are you sure you are not going to Sanjay one, or even both of them at some point? Happy Holidays!
Grand Seiko is killing it last 3 years love both of mine
whats ur fav gs?
@@Mysteryboy0007 I have the sbga211 snowflake an the blue dial gmt quartz
TORAN!! You are a Legend! Thank you for another fantastic video and congrats again on the Minamo 😉👍
Many thanks for the feedback Sanjay 👍
I just wish GS would make tapering bracelets with some micro adjustment.
Absolutely right. It is for this reason why I am holding back, as I am sure they will improve the bracelet. They must have received so much flack on this issue. Virtually all GS models have the same bracelet.
I would pick the Blue dial 120 hr. spring drive. I have the Golden Snowflake so
a blue dial would be a contrasting dial. I also like the spring drive which by
its nature is anti magnetic, keeps the same time as its reserve decreases unlike
mainspring and barrel movements. If I were going for a hi beat I would want
a video vs. the Zenith Defy the new model that is also a 5 beat sec movement.
SLGA007 dark blue dial with silver bracelet looks a lot better, plus it is a limited edition which retains value better. 007 is the one for me.
Got them side by side, picked the lake Suwa at the end, it just looks much more stunning especially under sunlight. [I was lucky to have SLGA 007, SLGA 009 and SLGH 005 on-hand to compare when I was purchasing.]
mind if I ask where you bought it?
Awesome review thanks 🙏🏻!!
Both are phenomenal watches!
I just ordered that 007 - can't wait to see it in person. I would like a watch with the 9SA5 but the 005 isn't the one for me - I just don't love the look like I do the 007. I'll wait to see what else they use it in. Grand Seiko is on the move with these new watches imo.
Lucky you. In our area we were requested to fill in a reservation form on the GS website. I missed out unfortunately as the webpage wouldn’t load for me….when it did finally load the subscription had been filled.
I own the WB, the Omiwatari and another Lake Suwa inspired watch. Was hoping to complete the collection….Pretty pissed with GS about it if I’m honest, I felt it was an unfair way of securing an allocation, especially since I made my first inquiry after the press release in September.
Can you expand on what you mean by just ordered ? On Greg market ?
@@olizk Online Grand Seiko boutique in US - just happened to find it in stock
@@danhem100 That sounds like a nice collection. This is my first GS but I can see it leading to more.
@@danhem100 ....i own the wb as well and the 007. I m going to sell one of them.
Lake Suwa looks amazing
I wonder why the designers of the Swiss luxury watch brands didn't come up with interesting dials. since the sunburst is already the maximum
Great video! Glad found someone doing reviews in Ontario. Do you know of a good GS AD?
Thanks for the feedback. I would recommend Bandiera near Vaughan as my preferred Grand Seiko AD👍
White birch looks more substantial. The Dial, Dial, Dial!!!!
That 007 is just perfection 👍
No contest. The SLGA007 wins hands down. No inaccurate mechanical movement can compare with higher accuracy Spring Drive at a lower price. It's that simple. Imagine paying all that money for that mechanical movement and you don't even get superlative chronometer performance, on average.
....the white birch i purchased is very accurate + 2 seconds a day
i know what your saying but, myself and i feel others are into mechanical watches for more than accuracy, if you want accuracy check your phone
watches are glorified jewlery art with little mechanical gears and wheels that what we love about them
and a spring drive movement as accurate as it is can be very boring, the new 80 hour high beat is amazing the 5 day spring drive movement looks a bit boring i feel but i know what your saying when it comes to accuracy, im saying theres more to a watch then the time and alot of people need to understand this as its always spoken about on GS forums btw i have a snowflake and a sbga375 so i think i can speak as a GS owner here
@@WilliamButtel I agree that it isn't about the time. I couldn't care less what time it is. I actually got into them because of the cool, beautiful mechanical movements. I still like to watch the watch repair videos. But once I started buying them, my obsession with accuracy took over. I understand both perspectives.
They actually just released a White Birch with Spring Drive
Imagine paying all that money for spring drive and still be less accurate than your phone
So far G.S has actually only put the new springdrive movement 9RA2 in Limited Editions, first SLGA001, then SLGA007 and SLGA008 (140 pcs gold).
Currently there is NO non-LE version with the new 9RA2 springdrive movement! The Snowflake staple watch still has the old SD. It wouldn't make sense in the long run to keep producing new models with the old SD movement, so seems likely the Snowflake is due for a revamp with this reasoning, or anohter new SD watch that becomes a part of the catalogue with the 9RA2 and not just LE.
Don't understand why people complain that the stripes are running vertical on the white birch with the reason that on the real trees it's horizontal.
Just think, when it's on the wrist and your arm is hanging besides you then it becomes horizontal :p
If the White Birch (SLGH005) is priced higher than the Lake Suwa (SLGA007) become of the Hi Beat movement on the White Birch, why is the Spring Drive version (SLGA009) of the White Birch the same price as the Hi Beat version (SLGH005)?
It white birch isnt showing the bark. It is a macro shot of a forrest of white birch trees. The recently released white birch shows the close up bark.
Love both but 007 lake suwa my favorite one
Lake Suwa for me
Lake Suwa + spring drive! 👍
I can’t excuse not buying a limited edition over a mass produced one
Both beautiful watches…
In Vancouver B.C. there is no allocation of the Minamo limited addition. Does anyone recommend purchasing it over Chrono24?
Hmu, I have one for sale.
@@xmagnusx3605 oh really, let’s get in contact
Is the finishing of the hands and hour indexes identical? The white birch have polished top surfaces I believe. Does the lake suwa have brushed or polished top surfaces?
The finishing is similar between these two watches as far as I can tell. Cheers
005 all day. Superior movement, superior case (thinner, even though the watch is completel mechanical), better movement finish, richer dial.
Lovely watches but the 22mm bracelet with such a small taper is a huge miss imo. Makes the watch feel so much more chunky
Honestly, not sure how you could go with the birch one here. The Lake Suwa is more accurate with the spring drive, better power reserve, cheaper, and on top, it’s a limited edition. You get soo much more in this than the white birch imo!
IF GS made that Lake Suwa a non limited edition (and dropped the price by 1k), they would sell a TON !!!!
How many links did you take off from each side for a good fit?
I took out one link from the 6 O'clock side of the watch for a good bracelet fit
@@EverydayWatchGuy So you have 1 1/2 links left on the 6 o’ clock side and 3 1/2 on 12 side?
Love the White Birch!!!
I can't see how a hibeat is superior than the super accurate and complex Springdrive movement.
The ending line 😂
我比較喜歡SLGA007諏訪湖，完美的GS
`Not even a fair match. Minamo wins by every aspect of comparison. 2021 sounds like a generous number as limited edition but I am not able to purchase it at retail price already.
Prefer the 007, good comparo
The new white birch with the spring drive is slga009 and it looks better than the old birch imo.
Now comparing the slga007 vs slga009 I can’t decide which is more gorgeous 😱
The new spring drive tech is improved with the power reserve on the back instead of the front. Can’t wait for the titanium versions of the 9RA2 caliber.
The new green birtch dial is the shit.
They lost me at $11K. These should be priced more in line with the Aqua Terra
The white birch is MUCH harder to read due to the lack of contrast
If wishes were fishes. Maybe someday. :)
White birch is fugly. Too much bling bling. Lake suwa is beautiful and probably the best from Grand Seiko
Needs a tapered bracelet!
12000 for seiko give a break
Lake suwa > snowflake
6:06 it is mimicking the Shinshu birch forest near the Grand Seiko factory and not mimicking the bark of the birch tree like you mentioned. Thus the dial design is accurate, please do some fact checking and don't regurgitate the inaccurate content of other UA-camrs. Monkey see, monkey do.