Inspired by the white birch forests of Shizukuishi, the award-winning SLGW003 highlights Grand Seiko’s mastery in harnessing nature’s beauty
The Grand Seiko SLGW003 from the Evolution 9 Collection has received the prestigious “Best of the Best” award in the Product Design category at the 2025 Red Dot Design Awards. This top honour is selected by a panel of 24 international design experts and recognises outstanding achievement across 51 sub-categories, including fashion, accessories, electronics, and furniture.
The SLGW003’s dial is inspired by the slender white birch trees that surround the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where the watch is meticulously crafted. Its intricate, multi-dimensional pattern beautifully captures the texture of birch bark, paying homage to the natural landscape of its origin.
As part of the Evolution 9 Collection, the SLGW003 continues the legacy of Grand Seiko’s iconic 44GS model from 1967. The case features alternating Zaratsu-polished, distortion-free mirror surfaces and fine hairline finishes, creating a harmonious glow that defines the Evolution 9 aesthetic.
A Red Dot jury says, “Everything about the SLGW003 from the Evolution 9 Collection by Grand Seiko – from the proportionality of the components to the details such as the finishing and polishing – looks incredibly balanced and harmonious, a rare thing for a watch. The design language developed over decades by the brand has found its highest form of expression in this watch.”
Designer Kiyotaka Sakai adds that while the watch has a substantial surface area that gives it a bold presence, the overall thickness appears restrained thanks to the thin, hand-wound movement. “This contrast between visual weight and structural elegance is a key aspect of the design. The gently curved case that follows the contours of the wrist, combined with a low centre of gravity, ensures not only elegance in appearance but exceptional comfort. It’s a quiet triumph of proportion, poise, and wearability.”
Debuting at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024 and later nominated in the GPHG Men’s Watch category, the SLGW003 is powered by Grand Seiko’s manual-winding Caliber 9SA4. This movement is designed to enhance the tactile, auditory, and visual experience of hand-winding, reflecting Grand Seiko’s dedication to mechanical innovation and user satisfaction.
Established in 1955 and organised by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s most respected design competitions. The Product Design category is evaluated on nine criteria, including innovation, functionality, durability, and emotional content. In 2025, more than 7,900 products from over 60 countries vied for this prestigious recognition.
