The Grand Seiko SLGW005 and SLGW004 are modern recreations of the 1968 45GS, built around the same hand-wound, 10-beat Calibre 9SA4. The decisive differences are material, price, production quantity and distribution: SLGW005 is stainless steel, limited to 1,200 watches and was sold through boutiques and selected retailers; SLGW004 is 18K yellow gold, limited to 200 and reserved for Grand Seiko boutiques.
What the 45GS represented in 1968
Grand Seiko introduced the 45GS in 1968, a year after the 44GS. It retained the Grand Seiko Style’s sharply defined case language while introducing the brand’s first manually wound high-beat movement, Calibre 4520. The new SLGW references revisit that combination rather than simply placing a vintage logo on a contemporary case.
SLGW005 and SLGW004: the essential differences
| Specification | SLGW005 | SLGW004 |
|---|---|---|
| Case and clasp | Stainless steel | 18K yellow gold |
| Strap | Crocodile | Crocodile |
| Buckle | Steel clasp | Gold buckle |
| Movement | Hand-wound Calibre 9SA4 | Hand-wound Calibre 9SA4 |
| Diameter / thickness | 38.8 mm / 10.4 mm | 38.8 mm / 10.4 mm |
| Worldwide edition | 1,200 pieces | 200 pieces |
| Japanese launch price (tax included) | ¥1,342,000 | ¥4,235,000 |
| Distribution | Grand Seiko boutiques and selected worldwide retail partners | Grand Seiko boutiques only |
The watches share their dimensions, movement, dial concept and published resistance specifications. In practical terms, choosing between them is primarily a decision about precious metal, budget and scarcity—not a choice between different mechanical platforms.
Calibre 9SA4: the shared 10-beat movement
Each watch uses Grand Seiko’s hand-wound, 10-beat Calibre 9SA4. Its balance runs at 36,000 vibrations per hour, or 10 beats per second. Grand Seiko states a mean daily rate of +5 to −3 seconds per day, an 80-hour power reserve and 47 jewels.
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- See-through case back
- Date display
- Screw-down crown
- 40mm Diameter
- Weight 178.0 g
What is technically notable
The US product description identifies 9SA4 as Grand Seiko’s first 10-beat manually wound movement in more than 50 years. It also highlights a free-sprung balance and Dual Impulse Escapement. These are manufacturer specifications; the published material does not establish independent accuracy results or long-term service performance.
Because the movement is manually wound, the owner winds the watch rather than relying on an automatic rotor. The long stated reserve allows it to run for up to 80 hours when fully wound, according to Grand Seiko.
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- Three-fold clasp with push button release
- Dual-curved sapphire crystal
- Power reserve display on the back
- Power resrve Approx. 72 hours(3 days)
How faithfully do they recreate the 1968 45GS?
Both references use a period-inspired dial layout with “SEIKO” at 12 o’clock, GS and HI-BEAT markings at 6 o’clock, a 36000 frequency indication and the Second Seikosha emblem. Those details make the historical link explicit while the 9SA4 brings the mechanics into Grand Seiko’s current high-beat lineup.
The case follows the same design vocabulary. Grand Seiko describes a sequence of distortion-free, polished flat surfaces with curved sides, using alternating light and shadow to express Grand Seiko Style. The modern watches are not dimension-for-dimension museum copies—the published specifications establish the 38.8 mm by 10.4 mm contemporary case—but their dial graphics and surface treatment are deliberate 45GS references.
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Case, crystal and resistance specifications
- 38.8 mm diameter and 10.4 mm thickness for both references.
- Box-shaped sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating.
- Transparent caseback showing Calibre 9SA4.
- 3 bar water resistance.
- 4,800 A/m magnetic resistance.
The shared 3-bar rating is suitable for ordinary splash resistance, not a specification for swimming or diving. The gold and steel models have the same published dimensions and resistance figures despite their different case materials.
Price, production and access
Launch pricing
Grand Seiko Boutique Online Japan listed launch prices of ¥1,342,000 including tax for SLGW005 and ¥4,235,000 including tax for SLGW004, with both scheduled for release on 9 November 2024. Australian recommended retail pricing was AUD 13,900 for SLGW005 and AUD 41,050 for SLGW004. These regional prices are not interchangeable and can change, so a local boutique’s current quote takes precedence.
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- Calendar-linked time difference adjustment function
- Movement Caliber 9S86,
- Dual-curved sapphire crystal
How limited is each model?
SLGW005 is limited to 1,200 pieces worldwide, including 425 allocated to Japan. SLGW004 is limited to 200 worldwide, including 175 allocated to Japan. The allocations show why the gold watch was substantially harder to encounter outside boutiques: most of its global quantity was designated for Japan.
Where they were sold
SLGW004 was a boutique-only model. SLGW005 had broader authorized distribution through Grand Seiko boutiques and selected retail partners worldwide. Broader distribution does not mean unlimited production; the steel watch remains a numbered limited edition.
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- Power Reserve Approx. 55 hours(3 days)
- Accuracy +5 to -3 seconds per day (when static) / +10 to -1 seconds per day (normal usage accuracy)
- See-through case back
- Three-fold clasp with push button release
Can you still buy an SLGW005 or SLGW004?
Availability is regional and time-sensitive. The official US boutique page lists SLGW005 at US$9,700 and marks it “No Longer Available.” That status applies to the US page at the cited time; it does not prove that every country or authorized retailer is sold out. The gold SLGW004’s boutique-only distribution makes direct boutique inquiries especially important.
- Contact a Grand Seiko boutique in your country and ask for the exact reference number.
- Check selected authorized retailers for SLGW005, whose distribution was broader.
- Request confirmation of remaining numbered-edition inventory, regional price and warranty terms before paying.
- Do not infer worldwide availability—or worldwide sell-out—from one regional product page.
Which 45GS recreation makes more sense?
Choose SLGW005 for the historically styled daily option
The steel SLGW005 keeps the recreated dial and case language while offering the same 9SA4 movement and dimensions as the gold model at a much lower launch price. Its 1,200-piece run and broader authorized distribution also make it the more accessible reference.
Choose SLGW004 for precious-metal exclusivity
SLGW004 provides the same mechanical architecture in an 18K yellow-gold case and clasp with a gold buckle. Its 200-piece worldwide edition and boutique-only channel make scarcity and precious-metal ownership the central reasons to pay the premium; it does not offer a different published movement specification.
Bottom line
SLGW005 and SLGW004 are two material executions of one modern 45GS concept. Both deliver the recreated 1968 dial language, 38.8 mm case, hand-wound 36,000-vph Calibre 9SA4, 80-hour stated reserve and 10.4 mm thickness. SLGW005 is the stainless-steel, 1,200-piece version with wider authorized access; SLGW004 is the 18K yellow-gold, 200-piece boutique edition. Verify local inventory directly, because availability and pricing vary by region and date.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
