Grand Seiko SLGB006 UFA Spring

Zach Blass

As a well-known fan of Grand Seiko, when the brand not only first launched UFA Spring Drive and a micro-adjust clasp, but also debuted these two massive detail-leaps in a new 37mm case size at Watches and Wonders 2025 with the inaugural Ice Forest duo, it is fair to say I was pretty stoked. At Watches and Wonders 2026, Grand Seiko debuted the first of its kind in 18k yellow gold, the SLGB006 UFA Ice Forest at Dawn. Naturally, there is a lot for Grand Seiko fans to like about this watch. However, there is one thing I would change…

The case

While I certainly appreciate more white metals – steel, titanium, white gold, and platinum – there is something about yellow and rose gold that really best showcases case finishing. The brushed lines feel richer, and the polished surfaces appear with even more depth. As arguably the best case finisher in the business, the Zaratsu finishing really comes through on the 18k yellow gold surfaces of this faceted case. There are many alternations between hairline brushed and distortion-free mirror finishing; the light and shadow element really communicated from whatever angle you view the case.

From a size perspective, its 37mm diameter and 44.3mm lug-to-lug span is perfect for those who prefer something that skirts the line between modern and vintage in regard to wrist presence. At 11.4mm thick, it is slender for a sporty watch but a bit taller than a dress watch. However, this is ultimately an example of robust elegance, as the case is 100 metres water-resistant – though it is not screw-down like the titanium SLGB003. But, anyway, more on that depth rating in a bit.

The dial

Shock! What a surprise! Grand Seiko strikes again with another captivating dial, its overall aesthetic said to evoke “Shinshu’s winter forests as the first light of day strikes the frost-laden trees” and therefore has been aptly nicknamed the “Ice Forest at Dawn.” The Grand Seiko SLGB006, while not overtly visible, does have the Ice Forest pattern incorporated into the dial like the SLGB001, SLGB003, and SLGB005 that preceded it. It is so faint you may question me even telling you it is there.

That being said, what can unmistakably be seen is a deep black dial brightened by gold-coloured specks achieved through a unique coating technique. The result is a dial that mimics the effect of a sun pillar, which Grand Seiko tells us is “a rare atmospheric phenomenon in which emerging sunlight reflects off ice crystals suspended in the air, creating the illusion of a towering column of light.” It has this aventurine-like sensibility that is both reserved and stunning at the same time. Lastly, you have an exquisitely finished set of applied hour indices and hands that are colour-matched to the case, and a non-intrusive date complication at the 3 o’clock position bordered with a dial-blending white-on-black disc peering out beneath a golden frame.

The strap

Okay, here is where we arrive at the one thing I would change. There is nothing inherently wrong with the black crocodile leather strap affixed to the Grand Seiko SLGB006. It is by all means a handsome and correct choice that suits this watch well. To make things even more premium, you have an 18k yellow gold deployant clasp too. Now, I know most people would not necessarily purchase this watch with a mind to swim with it, but the Evolution 9 case geometry, by even Grand Seiko’s admission, is rooted in a sporty sensibility and it does boast a 100-metre depth rating. This is why, if I could have my way, I would have been very curious to see this watch outfitted with a slim rubber strap compatible with the deployant or even a premium textile.

This would give the watch a casual, but not too casual edge, while also indulging its ability to safely get wet. Now that tapered bracelets with micro-adjust have fully arrived in the Evolution 9 range, this would be my next challenge for the brand, as it has yet to really explore and develop rubber straps that sit flush to its various geometries nor any textile options – something I think Japan would have plenty to offer.

The movement

In the same way that the dial tributes the nature of Shinshu, so does the 72-hour in-house automatic UFA Spring Drive calibre 9RB2. The movement is decorated with a Shinshu frost finish that adds a fine grain that almost looks matte when looking at the movement from a distance. Up close, it has a subtle reflective quality, almost like diamond dust, that has a nice serenity to it. Following consumer feedback, the 9RB2 boasts a power reserve indicator on the movement side so as to leave the dial more uninterrupted. But, of course, the real headline of the calibre is its UFA, Ultra Fine Accuracy, regulation within 20 seconds per year. This is one of the most accurate precious metal spring-driven watches in the world, and the only reason I am saying one of the most is because of the SLGB001 ‘Ice Forest’ in platinum – equally accurate as it also uses the 9RB2 and at the top of the leaderboard with this SLGB006.

The verdict

Ultimately, the Grand Seiko SLGB006 UFA Spring Drive Ice Forest at Dawn is a very well-executed design that represents some of the best of what the brand has to offer: an eye-catching, intricate nature-inspired dial, a beautifully finished and faceted case, and a UFA Spring Drive movement with unparalleled accuracy. At US$43,600, there will inevitably be some who believe it is quite aggressively priced. However, the Zaratsu detailing on this precious metal case goes well beyond what many of the brand’s direct competitors would offer, and Grand Seiko’s precious metal offerings are also more scarce and rare – often limited edition, like this SLGB006, which is limited to just 80 pieces. And, unlike the watches you are comparing to this one, when these 80 pieces are sold, I doubt more than a tenth of the run will ever really find its way onto Chrono 24. That bundled in with a subtly complex dial and the most accurate spring-driven movement in the world, the price picture perhaps becomes a bit clearer.