Grand Seiko SLGA007 Review | Best Watch of 2021?

Awesome, awesome, awesome review!  I've subscribed and liked the video!  Gonna go back into your full catalogue and watch all your content!  Can't wait for your review of the White Birch.

Though, funny enough, if I were the reviewer, I would give the #1 spot to the Minamo / Lake Suwa, and the #2 spot to the White Birch.  😜

I got both in hand here, and I'm not even basing that rating on the tech and the specs in the Minamo.  I actually prefer the Minamo dial to the White Birch dial.  I know, I know, I know...  I'm the guy whose taste in things ensures that those things get discontinued.  I loved "Arrested Development," which means that nobody watched that damn show and it immediately got canceled.  I loved Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which means it made like $2.53 in the global box office.  

But, hear me out:  The Minamo dial is understated.  You only catch the texture and lake surface ripple motif in certain lighting and at certain angles.  Every time you do, it feels like a revelation.  Meanwhile, the White Birch is IN YOUR FACE.  Ain't nothing subtle about it whatsoever.  It's screaming at your eyeball from across the room.  It's beautiful, but a bit shouty, no?

In any event, love your content and looking forward to more great videos!

Thank you thank you! Congrats on owning both just like me. Umm...Arrested Development and Scott Pilgrim were both great! 

Sooo I fully agree with your assessment of the watches and actually like the birch more because of what you said. The texture is so bam! In yo face! I love it. I also love the movement. It's gorgeous, but I get some people can care less about that. I know I'm in the minority here, but that white birch just gets me. Ahhh but they're both awesome! 

Great review man, and thanks as always for making the reviews  personal to you. Can’t wait for the White Birch review!

I was lucky enough to get the Minamo, and spent a LOT of time considering the white birch last year (tried it on several times), here’s a couple of my way-too-into-the-details observation:

• The 9 series case is stupid good on the side profile; you really have to put it on to notice how snugly it sits on your wrist. The mirror polish on the bevels also help visually keep the profile small, it’s truly truly fantastic.
• Both movements are stunning, and yes I do see the starry sky on the Minamo movement, and it is lovely. Thanks GS marketing department!  
• The White Birch wore a LOT wider on my wrist, visually, than the Minamo. To the point where I just can’t see myself getting the WB because of it. The white dial and vertical pattern visually emphasizes the bracelet width just a bit too much for me; it’s not there on the 007 because of the dark dial and horizontal-ish patterning.
• That said, the hands, hour markers, and even that flat bezel top are all clearly designed bottom up for the WB. The wide angular hands (polished to stand out btw, where it’s brushed on the Minamo) and chunkier, faceted hour markers were made to contrast the textured WB dial, with the flat, brushed bezel there to frame it all. That same legibility translates totally across to the Minamo, but that flat bezel has to be my one knock on the 007 - it’s too reflective against the subtle blue waves on the dial. Any light source in the room gets directly reflected back at you when you look dead on to the dial, even with the brushing. And it totally gets in the way when you try to get a closer look at that exquisite wave dial. (This is not a problem on the WB because everything else is so bright)

That said, I don’t regret my purchase for a second, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be needing that 5 day power reserve for a while :) And despite it not working for me on my wrist… I think I agree with Brandon that the WB juuuuuust edges the Minamo.

Love you stuff man and the "Minamo" is a helluva watch! Congrats on getting one!

Now I'm kicking myself for tuning one down!!  This is where my long game approach to watch collecting bites me in the ass.  Excellent review as usually my friend!  

 excellent video and I'm enjoying mine past a week now. design, materials and workmanship are top tier, the watch is built like a tank.

Interesting point in that Brandon feels the WB edges Minamo, they are similar but the dials and movements are completely different. The Minamo wears a bit sporty and is more robust for sure. I love them both. I own both the Minamo and 60th Anniversary GS 9SA5 which I call Jor-El. cheers.

Hands down one of the greatest releases by Grand Seiko together with the Shirakaba and Omiwatari 🙌

Damn! That is one gorgeous timepiece! 

Found my way here ! Enjoyed the video! 

Just got mine this weekend. Great experience at the GS Boutique on Rodeo Drive!

Congrats! Those guys are great! They seem more like actual watch enthusiasts than the other brand stores I've been to.

I’m eagerly anticipating delivery of my 007…

I haven’t yet seen the White Birch in person. In some videos/pictures, the dial looks very aggressive. In others, it appears much more subtle. I worry that it will overlap too much with my Snowflake. The good news is that it is NOT a limited edition, so i should have plenty of time to make up my mind!

Awesome video review.  Enjoying mine every day 😀

I'm looking to pick one of these up soon from another collector.  Would be my first GS and have been waffling between the SLGA007 and 009.  For those of you that have both of these, which is getting more wrist time and why?  What prompts you to wear one over the other?

After a few months of wear, any other experiences to share pro or con?

I had my blue omega SMP on when I first saw this at a GS boutique and it was nuts to see to vastly different blue wave dials side by side. This dial is so next level it hurts. Absolutely killer.

This may be my ideal dress watch! Imagine how that dial sings on a light brown leather strap! Love GS!