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Grand Seiko Launches the New SLGB005 "Ice Forest – Violet Dawn" UFA Limited Edition Steel Watch



The Grand Seiko SLGB005 is the third watch in the "Ice Forest" collection, following the 2025 "Watches & Wonders" collection.

Notably, this is the first UFA in Ever-Brilliant Steel.

It features a purple "Violet Dawn" dial with the brand's signature "Ice Forest" texture/pattern.

As a longtime Grand Seiko fan and collector, the debut of the Ice Forest collection at Watches & Wonders 2025 was incredibly meaningful to me and all Grand Seiko fans worldwide. My only minor complaint is that I don't need another silver-blue dial in my collection. I love the 37mm dial size, and the new UFA Spring Drive movement is the icing on the cake. But the only thing missing for me is a more unique (and dare I say, less conventional) dial color. Silver and blue are two of the most reliable dial colors, and I already have quite a few in my collection. Therefore, the new Grand Seiko SLGB005 "Ice Forest - Dawn Violet" seemed to satisfy my desire perfectly.

The smoky purple dial is the star of this limited edition, undoubtedly its most visually striking element. Regarding its natural inspiration, Grand Seiko explains: "East of the Shinshu Haute Horlogerie Studio lies the Kirimine Plateau, where, in the depths of winter, trees can be seen covered in frost. As dawn breaks, the frost catches the first rays of sunlight, awakening in an ethereal purple glow."

For a more thorough understanding of this edition's framework, I absolutely encourage you to watch (or read) my hands-on review of the SLGB001 and SLGB003 Ice Forest duo, which debuted at Watches & Wonders 2025—the former in platinum with a leather strap, the latter in GS high-strength titanium with a case-matching bracelet, debuting Grand Seiko's fine-adjustment system.

Notably, these two watches mark the first time that Grand Seiko Spring Drive watches are available in a more compact 37mm case size. They also debut a brand-new movement, the three-day power reserve 9RB2, which utilizes Grand Seiko's new UFA (Ultra-Fine Precision) standard, meaning the 9RB2 boasts an annual accuracy of less than 20 seconds (six times more accurate than the 9RA2). Finally, the SLGB003's fine-adjustment clasp allows for 6mm of dynamic adjustment in 2mm increments.

However, this watch marks the first time that the 37mm Evolution 9 case is crafted from the brand's Ever-Brilliant Steel material... Perhaps somewhat frustratingly, however, it lacks the micro-adjustment clasp found on the titanium SLGB003—honestly, a bit puzzling, but hopefully a steel micro-adjustment clasp will be available soon...

I particularly appreciate that Grand Seiko used a purple dial on this watch, firstly because purple isn't a color they use often, or for that matter, any brand. It's also worth noting that Grand Seiko doesn't often offer fumé dials. Therefore, this watch won't clash with other watches in a Grand Seiko collector's collection, or any collection encompassing a wide range of brands.

My current Grand Seiko watches include those with white (SBGA211), silvery pink (SBGA413), gray (SBGK009), and dark green (SBGH283) dials. I also own blue dials from other brands. So, I have to ask, "How many similar watches with the same dial color can I own?"

Brand: Grand Seiko
Model: Evolution 9 "Ice Forest - Violet Dawn" UFA Spring Drive Limited Edition
Reference: SLGB005
Case Dimensions: 37mm (depth) x 11.4mm (height)
Case Material: Ever-Brilliant Steel
Water Resistance: 100m, screw-down crown
Crystal: Sapphire front and back
Dial: Smoky Purple with Ice Forest pattern
Bracelet: Ever-Brilliant stainless steel bracelet with triple-folding clasp
Movement: 9RB2, in-house developed, automatic, Spring Drive
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve (movement side)