Is the New SLGA009 White Birch worth it?

If money were no object, I would absolutely get the SLGA009.  Thinner profile, 5 day power reserve, textured dial like the Snowflake but dialed up to 11 (pun intended).  

With regard to sizing:

• The Snowflake felt slightly too big for my wrist, so I passed on it
• The White Birch fit much better on my slim wrist, so I purchased the White Birch
• Going from a thickness of 12.5mm (Snowflake) to 11.8mm (White Birch) made a big difference in terms of wrist feel for me
• Lug-to-lug also made a difference for me
• Most of all, though, switching the White Birch to a strap made a HUGE difference for me.  The solid end links on the GS bracelets add significant length.  Thus, switching it out for a leather strap helped to make the watch wear significantly smaller - and, in my opinion, make the watch look nicer

Can't go wrong with either watch though!

This is incredibly insightful (and also dangerous) information for me. Thank you!

I have actually put my snowflake on a strap for the past year and have not gone back to the bracelet so I completely understand.

If there's one thing that's holding me back is that I really like the hour indices and hands of the old snowflake. That full mirror look really gets me every time the blued seconds hand sweeps over them.

However, your experience does tell me that I'm going to enjoy a much better quality of life improvement if I get the SLGA009. I have now lots to think about!

Would you by any chance know how long the lug to lug is with the end links included?

I'm happy I could be helpful!

Have you gone to the AD to try the SLGA009 in person yet?  I'm guessing that once you see it and put it on the wrist, you'll immediately know if it's for you or not, yeah?

Unfortunately, I don't know what the total length is with the end links included.  If I had to guess, it's probably ~1.4mm shorter than that of the Snowflake.

The Snowflake is an incredible watch.  The one drawback to the White Birch is that it's stainless steel.  

But, ultimately, this is an enthusiast forum.  And so, if you're asking, "Should I get the White Birch, even though I love my Snowflake?" the answer is always going to be:

I don’t know if this picture will help but I have 17 cm (6 3/4”) wrist. I tried this on yeasterday.

Actually I have tried in person. I think there's a marginal but noticeable gain in wearability. I do however, know that it ultimately are these narrow margins that make all the difference.

I am a fan of the titanium on the Snowflake and have kind of been holding out for the spiritual successor of the SBGA011/211 to consider a full upgrade, especially if its wearability is improved and a lot of the elegance of the Snowflake is preserved.

I feel the SLGA009 is the closest it has ever been to it (although in some respects not quite), and I kind of want it to be an upgrade in every way to make it worth the leap.

Just one of those collector conundrums you know. And so yes - I hear your clarion call! 

Thanks man - no worries I've actually tried it in-store and I just happen to have a wrist that's ridiculously small that I ultimately make concessions for my love of these watches!

I call my wrist size both a blessing and a curse. A blessing only because it means my choices are significantly limited - else I may go on and bankrupt my finances with all the watches I can wear and want!

You know what?  Based on what you've said, I've totally re-thought my position.  I now think you should stick with the Snowflake.  Here's my reasoning now:

• The change in wearability really would be marginal, at best.  0.7mm thickness doth not a world of difference make
• Beyond that, you already have the Snowflake on a strap, which is the key to having GS watches wear more comfortably
• Finally, you like the fact that the Snowflake is titanium!  That is key.  I suspect that GS got a ton of feedback from the U.S. market that U.S. watch buyers want the heavier feel of stainless steel for the illusion of "heavy = luxury."  And I'm sure GS complied happily, as it almost certainly costs GS much, much, much more to create titanium cases, with the level of polishing they do - probably more expensive an industrial process than if they used precious metals!

All that being the case, the White Birch isn't going to rock your world.  The 5 day power reserve is a "nice-to-have," but if we're being honest with ourselves, not a "must-have."  It's a cool spec that has almost zero real-world impact - like having a Porsche 918 with a top speed of 214mph...  cool spec, but when are you ever going to actually use it?

I'd originally thought that your post was, "Help me justify this purchase!"  In which case, this being an enthusiast forum, my main goal was to simply be helpful and say, "Yes!  Absolutely, this purchase will change everything about your life, and you must buy it right now!"  But, given that this is really a discussion now about actual differences / gains, I would say the gains are marginal at best, and in the case of titanium versus stainless steel, a definite step backward.

One final thought:  You might want to wait for GS to release a titanium watch with the new 9RA2 movement.  That would be the ultimate new watch!

Wow. Thanks so much and I truly appreciate the very honest view here.

I belong in a smaller group of enthusiasts that truly believe the Snowflake has to be in titanium as it lightness of material is in its name - like when was the last time you had a heavy snowflake.

I completely concur that that a titanium 9RA2 movement will probably kill my wallet as I would so want one. However, your point on there being a significant market segment that does not appear to appreciate titanium may also mean that GS will probably only ever execute it in smaller batches.

Well, my friend, you have saved me a pretty penny - for now! Cheers!

Well, I'm not here to totally absolve you of your duty to spend recklessly on toys you don't need.  For your consideration, the SBGJ255:

• GMT functionality
• 44GS case!  It looks like a TIE Fighter from Star Wars!!!
• Hi-beat movement, with gold colored oscillating weight.  Per the website: "The gold tone is achieved through a process of anodic oxidation in which the metal is subjected to electrolysis so as to generate an oxide film. Titanium oxide film produces color according to the light refraction index, enabling production of different colors by varying the thickness of the oxide film"

This is the only GS in titanium with the 44GS case (at a "reasonable" price) that I could find in the entire collection.  I think what this tells you is that titanium must be so hard to work and polish to GS's exacting spec with the 44GS case that they don't do it unless it's for a super expensive piece, like the SBGC221.

In the words of Tim Mosso, you my friend, are a man after my own heart... LOL

If there's one watch that sparked an interest amongst their Hi-Beat, it would be the Mt Iwate 44GS.

I should probably not give you more ideas to feed the beast I try to keep in check!

OMG!  Which Mt. Iwate?  The SBGJ201 white dial?  Or the SBGJ235 blue dial?

Both are just stunning!

The Mt Iwate that has always caught my eye is the SBGJ201. The SBGH235 is nice, but the 201 has this OG vibe.

So you know you've got me really thinking of late - and my silence has also for me to continue to mull over in my watch addicted thoughts.

For some context, I actually made the difficult move to sell my first luxury watch, the 1861 Moonwatch Professional after being a hesalite proponent for years. And what did I get to replace it? The 3861 Sapphire sandwich. Why did I do it?

• Fit on the smaller wrist. The Lug to Lug reduced marginally. The mid case sat lower on the wrist. And the fully tapered bracelet that no longer had the flare of the old 1861.
• Movement upgrade. A fully METAS, manually wound chronograph? I want to be able to see it.

And so, I find that this whole SBGA211 to SLGA009 gives me a whole feeling of deja vu all over again.

I bought my SBGA211 a few years ago in spite of knowing the fit could be better, because I just really felt the SBGA211 epitomised the meaning of its name and I admired the Spring Drive technology.

And so I'm finding myself seriously considering the upgrade even if it means I may have to look for a different watch to scratch my titanium shaped hole. It is hard though (wearing the SBGA211 as I type this). There is no hope for this watch addict. 😂

And so I've really gone and done it. I'm a new owner of the SLGA009. Looks like soon I've to bid farewell to my SBGA211. Unfortunately I can't keep both. Thanks for all your thoughts man. Cheers!

PS: I tried the SBGJ255. Frankly, once you have felt the fit on wrist on the Evolution 9 series, the 44GS case feels like a UFO on wrist. But I think improvements will definitely be in store for the latest Everbrilliant range since they have thinned down the 44GS a bit too.

Well then, both congratulations and condolences are in order!  Congratulations to you, and condolences to your bank account!

That SLGA009 is absolutely killer!!!

Robert-Jan Broer of Fratello chooses it over the SLGH005!

https://www.fratellowatches.com/grand-seiko-white-birch-slga009-2/#gref

Thanks man! and yes I hereby wish my bank balance condolences too.

By the way I just put together a full visual comparison on a separate post here - let me know what you think!

https://www.watchcrunch.com/watchaddictwt/posts/comparing-the-spring-drive-flagships-of-grand-seiko-4568