REVIEW GREUBEL FORSEY DOUBLE BALANCIER A DIFFERENTIEL CONSTANT CELLINI

Grand Seiko: The Story of Two New Tentagraphs



Bringing you two very different styles of high-precision chronograph performance, meet the new Tentagraphs Grand Seiko, which will debut at Watches & Wonders 2025.

The Caliber 9SC5 Tentagraph movement created by Grand Seiko is the epitome of the master watchmaker’s unremitting pursuit of extreme precision in the field of mechanical timekeeping. Caliber 9SC5 vibrates 10 times per second, which not only has excellent precision, but also helps to keep time.

In addition, the energy-efficient Double Impulse escapement combines the power of two synchronized barrels to provide strong power for up to three days, even when the chronograph is started. Proprietary testing also provides guarantee: each watch undergoes 20 days of comprehensive in-house testing to ensure that each Tentagraph watch meets the brand's standard parameters of +5/-3 seconds per day.

Now, with this year’s Watches & Wonders releases, Grand Seiko fans have two very different, yet equally evocative and ingenious options for wearing this precise technological marvel on their wrists: the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph SLGC009 and the Evolution 9 SLGC007 Tentagraph.

Do I hear a roar?
Since its founding in the 1960s, Grand Seiko has used the Tokyo Lion as a design cornerstone. In 2019, the brand’s design team reinterpreted the Tokyo Lion’s design to create an aggressive, angular, statement-making sports watch.

Now, the new Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is the first “lion” to feature a mechanical chronograph movement. It is also the first watch in Grand Seiko’s sports collection to be made from the brand’s proprietary bright-hard titanium alloy.

This avant-garde alloy is brighter than traditional matte titanium, highlighting the watchmaker’s signature fine grain and shining Zaratsu polished surface. At a glance, the angular 43mm case structure sets it apart from standard titanium.

Meanwhile, the dial pattern is inspired by the tawny mane of an apex predator, paired with claw-shaped, diamond-cut, luminescent hour markers, adding a “king of the jungle” vibe to the expected three-register layout of this roaring chronograph.

The new tawny rubber strap continues the wildlife colorway, but flip the strap over and you’ll see that even this detail has been “lionized.” The design of the padding under the strap is inspired by the paw pads of big cats, building on the metaphorical theme of this watch, and together with the slightly curved transparent caseback, it enhances the overall comfort and wrist safety of this rugged sports chronograph.

Upgraded chronograph pushers, 20 bar water resistance, and 4,800 A/m (amperes to meters) of magnetic resistance enhance the watch’s appeal.

Do I hear the mountains echo?
As is always the case with Grand Seiko, the design is inspired by the natural beauty of Japan. The new Evolution 9 SLGC007 Tentragraph, a more recognisable modern sports chronograph design than the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph, is a fitting visual ode to Japan’s snow-capped Mt. Iwate.

The “Evolution 9” watch style aims to capture the intersection of Grand Seiko technology and Japanese aesthetics, and this watch’s embossed ice-blue dial with three deep black subdials framed by an equally deep black tachymeter bezel perfectly embodies this clever goal.

Crafted from high-strength titanium, with classic mushroom-shaped chronograph pushers and a sturdy titanium link bracelet with a triple-folding clasp, this 43.2mm chronograph is more traditionally sports chronograph-style than its beefy sibling. However, the overall specifications are identical.

Final Thoughts
These two Tentagraphs are more than just a simple swap of colours and materials for two watches with similar internals and dial designs. Indeed, when you place these two Tentagraph watches side by side, one message becomes apparent: while both draw inspiration from nature, the attention to detail and abiding respect for the natural world ultimately translate into profound differences in the final products.