Article of the week
Louis Erard Unveils the Limited-Edition Gravée Main

Since 2021, Louis Erard has been redefining the boundaries of Métiers d’Art, from Grand Feu enamel and guilloché to wood marquetry, and soon, gold wire inlay. Now, Gravée Main opens a new chapter, paying tribute to one of the oldest crafts in watchmaking hand engraving.
Gravée Main represents a new milestone in Louis Erard’s Métiers d’Art series. This limited edition of 99 unique timepieces places hand engraving at center stage, with every metal element entirely engraved and finished by hand, a meticulous process that requires more than 50 hours of work. 

Introducing Grand Seiko Introduces the Evolution 9 Moonlight Birch

Nature-inspired design meets Grand Seiko’s latest high-beat caliber

Grand Seiko’s Birch series first debuted in 2022 with the inaugural white-dial version. Since then, the collection has expanded with several variations. That design now returns in stainless steel with a navy blue dial, unveiled as the Grand Seiko “Moonlit Birch.”

The watch is housed in a stainless steel case measuring 38.6mm in diameter, 45.0mm lug-to-lug, and just 9.95mm in thickness, giving it an elegant and refined profile. A box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface ensures excellent legibility while maintaining a classic look. 

The see-through sapphire caseback, secured by four screws, reveals the finely finished movement within, adding a modern touch to the timeless design. With its slim proportions and narrow bezel, the case embodies the understated elegance characteristic of a Grand Seiko dress watch.

The navy blue dial is described by the brand as “an ode to the moonlight scene of Iwate’s birch trees,” near the birthplace of mechanical Grand Seiko timepieces and the Hiraniwa Plateau, known for its vast white birch forests. These trees have long served as a source of inspiration for Grand Seiko, and here, the dial’s intricate and irregular texture takes on a deep navy hue, “expressing the beauty of white birch trees appearing faintly in the moonlight.”

True to Grand Seiko’s philosophy of simplicity, the dial retains a clean and symmetrical layout, with polished steel hands and applied indices. To preserve this balance, the power reserve indicator has been discreetly placed on the movement side.

Powering the watch is the in-house, manual-winding Calibre 9SA4, a high-beat movement operating at 5Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour). It delivers precision with an accuracy rating of -3/+5 seconds per day. Designed for long-term stability, the movement is equipped with twin barrels that provide a generous 80-hour power reserve.

Completing the watch is a cow leather strap that matches the dial in both texture and tone, secured by a stainless steel three-fold deployant clasp.

The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Moonlit Birch joins the brand’s permanent collection, priced at EUR 10,200, equivalent to AED 43,900.

 

For more information, you can visit Grand Seiko's official website.

Technical specifications: Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Moonlit Birch
  1. Reference: SLGW007 
  2. Case: Stainless Steel case, dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating  
  3. Diameter: 38.6 mm
  4. Thickness: 9.95 mm
  5. Water resistance: 30 m
  6. Dial: blue dial, birch bark texture, applied indices and hands in steel, faceted and polished 
  7. Movement: manual winding, Grand Seiko calibre 9SA4, Hi-Beat, accuracy -3/+5 seconds per day, twin barrel, 47 jewels
  8. Frequency: 36,000 Vph (5 Hz)
  9. Power reserve: 80 hours
  10. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve on the back
  11. Bracelet / Strap: leather strap in blue, stainless steel three-fold deployant clasp
  12. Availability: Permanent Edition
  13. Price: EUR 10,200 Which is equivalent to 43 ,900 AED

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