Introducing: Grand Seiko Launches Two New Tentagraphs With The SLGC007 And SLGC009 “Tokyo Lion” (Live Pics and Pricing)

What We Know

Grand Seiko just launched two new chronographs with its recently developed Tentagraph movements. As a refresher, the original Evolution 9 Tentagraph debuted in 2023. It was Grand Seiko’s first mechanical chronograph, and its name was an amalgamation of its several properties: ten beats per second, three-day power reserve, and automatic chronograph.

Now, two years later, we see the first expansions to the lineup in two new models. The first, the Evolution 9 SLGC007 Tentagraph, is pretty straightforward. It’s a new colorway on the existing Tentagraph, this time going for a panda-ish dial, with black subdials surrounded by a light blue main dial with the brand’s iconic Iwate texture. The black ceramic bezel adds some additional contrast to the model. Like its predecessor, the case measures a generous 43.2mm and a thickness of 15.3mm, with a lug-to-lug of 51.5mm. The case and bracelet are in Grand Seiko’s High-Intensity Titanium with an exhibition caseback to see the caliber 9SC5 within. It’s priced at $14,100.

The next chronograph released goes more visually extreme, pairing the edgy (literally) “Tokyo Lion” design language with the Tentagraph movement to get the Tokyo Lion Tentagraph SLGC009. This bold case, measuring 43mm in diameter with a case height of 15.6mm, gets the Brilliant Hard Titanium treatment, a step up from the High-Intensity Titanium from the SLGC007. 

The alloy is a shade brighter than the more reserved tones of traditional titanium. Also, it offers additional corrosion and scratch resistance due to the surface hardness, which is double that of regular stainless steel. With a case with so many facets, it’s a fitting treatment to help protect the case from everyday wear and tear.

Looking at the side of the Tokyo Lion case, the chronograph pushers offer a more aggressive presence than the pump pushers found on previous Tokyo Lion Spring Drive chronographs. It’s more appropriate for the case design and sits closer to the case. The dial features a texture that the brand says was inspired by the waving of a lion’s mane in the wind – a nice break from the river and mountain inspirations in other models. The subdials are sunken inwards, giving a three-dimensional depth, and the chronograph subdials are colored in a contrasting black with red and white accents. Applied indices have been redesigned to hold additional lume for legibility in the dark.

Flipping the watch around, you can see the caliber 9SC5 within, covered by a curved caseback for better ergonomics. Also new to this Tokyo Lion Tentagraph is a new rubber strap from Grand Seiko. I believe that this is actually the first rubber strap released by the brand, and it is paired with a titanium deployment clasp.

The SLGC009 is priced at $16,400 and will be available at Grand Seiko boutiques in August.

What We Think

Make no mistake, these two chronographs are large watches. But if you were already looking at the original Tentagraph with the dark blue Iwate dial, you may find that the new SLGC007 with the ice blue dial presents a compelling alternative with a bit higher contrast.

The Tokyo Lion Chronograph, to me, is most certainly the most interesting release out of the two. While I’ve loved the quirkiness of the past Spring Drive Tokyo Lion chronographs, the overall design was slightly disproportional in my eyes, with the pump pushers jutting out from an already enormous case. This new Tentagraph version represents a great refinement in my eyes and manages to shrink down the case in both dimensions from its hybrid-movement cousins. 

I also appreciate that the brand has doubled down and managed to make the already bold case somehow even more aggressive. There’s definitely a whiff of “concept-like” cases from other brands here, but overall, every element in the design seems more refined in this version, and the faceted rubber strap is a really nice touch. While I most certainly will not be able to pull this off, I am very eagerly awaiting seeing this on someone’s wrist.

Stay tuned for more over the coming days from Watches and Wonders – you can follow all of the show’s new releases right here.

The Basics

Brand: Grand Seiko
Model: SLGC007; SLGC009 Tokyo Lion
Diameter: 43.2mm (SLGC007); 43mm (SLGC009)
Thickness: 15.3mm (SLGC007); 15.6mm (SLGC009)
Case Material: Titanium
Dial Color: Ice blue (SLGC007); Golden brown (SLGC009)
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Yes, Lumibrite
Water Resistance: 100m (SLGC007); 200m (SLGC009)
Strap/Bracelet: Titanium bracelet (SLGC007); Rubber strap (SLGC009)

The Movement

Caliber: 9SC5
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 36,000 VpH
Jewels: 60

Pricing & Availability

Price: $14,100 (SLGC007); $16,400 (SLGC009)
Availability: SLGC007 is available now and the SLGC009 Tokyo Lion is available starting August 2025.
Limited Edition: No. 

For more, click here.

​Hodinkee 

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