Introduction to Credor Watches

cazalea · 2018-07-31T19:17:47Z

Discover Credor, Seiko's ultra-luxury brand. Explore its history, philosophy, and high-end watches known for Japanese aesthetics and artisanal craftsmanship.

cazalea

WPS member · Seiko forum

21 replies19315 views23 photos

Cazalea's "Introduction to Credor" provides an invaluable resource for understanding Seiko's ultra-luxury brand, often overshadowed by Grand Seiko. This article meticulously outlines Credor's philosophy, history, and diverse range of high-end timepieces, emphasizing their unique blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and advanced horological techniques. It is essential reading for collectors seeking to explore beyond mainstream luxury watches and appreciate the artisanal mastery of Credor.

21 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

Credor is a brand managed by Seiko, using movements and cases created in the usual workshops, using GS techniques but more hand work, more decoration, jewels, cloisonne, enamel, ceramic, maki, and other fine art techiques to "kick it up a few notches" over other brands.

I have had a few Credors over the years, and currently own 5. From left to right we have a mechanical automatic movement, automatic Spring Drive, manual Spring Drive, manual chronometer, and a manual skeleton.

I thought there might be a dozen watches in the Credor line-up. Boy, was I wrong!

I always thought Credors were a bit nicer; more dressy; clean but a bit more stylish than Grand Seiko; but on about the same level technically. And above all the other Seiko brands (maybe Galante is up there too).

HISTORY

I didn't know the brand was launched 44 years ago. The name implies Crest of Gold, or pinnacle of gold. It was originally a collection of all Seikos cased in precious metals. The logo represents mountains reaching up to the stars in the sky.

PHILOSOPHY

Credor is intended to represent:

"Originality that is world-class"

"Aesthetic sense unique to Japan"

"A universality beyond culture and time"

"Harmonious proportions"

"Accurate detail with careful attention to detail"

I should have known better than to give myself ONLY a month to research a Seiko subsidiary brand (sub-brand or in this case, super-brand)!

In an effort to get this introductory article finished while I am still in the month of July, I restricted my research to watches over 1 million yen (about $9000 US).

Thinking that would give me only a handful, I was wrong. Here's what I found:

SUMMARY OF CURRENT CREDOR MEN'S WATCHES (Priced above 1 Million Yen)

	Credor Men's Watches available in Japan 2018
Model Number	Collection	Size	Case	Movement	Dial	Band	Units	Price

GBAQ961	Masterpiece	37	white gold	6870 thin manual	Ando Cloisonne "Basteille" shows dial pattern through translucent enamel	Crocodile	no limit	1,900,000
GBAQ963	Masterpiece	37	white gold	6870 thin manual	Ando Cloisonne "Basteille" shows dial pattern through translucent enamel	Crocodile	40	1,800,000
GBAQ970	Mens	37	pink gold	6870 thin manual	white dial, pink gold markers	Crocodile	no limit	1,300,000
GBAQ971	Mens	37	white gold	6870 thin manual	white dial, white gold markers	Crocodile	no limit	1,400,000
GBAQ976	Mens	34	yellow gold	6870 thin manual	UTD=Ultra Thin Dress	Crocodile	no limit	1,200,000
GBAQ977	Mens	34	white gold	6870 thin manual	UTD=Ultra Thin Dress	Crocodile	no limit	1,250,000
GBAQ984	Masterpiece	36x26	yellow gold	6870 thin manual	UTD=Ultra Thin Dress	Crocodile	no limit	1,200,000
GBAQ985	Masterpiece	36x26	platinum	6870 thin manual	UTD=Ultra Thin Dress	Crocodile	no limit	1,200,000

GBAR021	Mens	36	white gold	8J81 Quartz	octagon	white gold	no limit	2,300,000
GBAR022	Mens	36	yellow gold	8J81 Quartz	octagon	yellow gold	no limit	2,200,000

GBAT039	Mens	37	white gold	8J80 Quartz	octagon diamond bezel	white gold	no limit	2,800,000
GBAT040	Mens	37	yellow gold	8J80 Quartz	octagon diamond bezel	yellow gold	no limit	2,700,000
GBAT943	Mens	32x32	platinum	8J80 Quartz	TV shape, texture; 43 diamonds	platinum	no limit	4,100,000
GBAT945	Mens	32x32	platinum	8J80 Quartz	TV shape mother of pearl; 87 diamonds	platinum	no limit	4,500,000
GBAT949	Mens	33	platinum	8J80 Quartz	round textured dial	platinum	no limit	3,200,000

GBBD961	Mens	38	white gold	6899 thin manual	engraved skeleton & mother of pearl	Crocodile	no limit	4,400,000
GBBD963	Mens	38	white gold	6899 thin manual	Hokusai wave on skeleton engraved	Crocodile	30	4,800,000
GBBD981	Mens	41x34	platinum	6899 thin manual	skeleton engraved	Crocodile	no limit	3,400,000
GBBD985	Mens	35	platinum	6899 thin manual	skeleton engraved	Crocodile	30	2,500,000
GBBD986	Mens	35	yellow gold	6899 thin manual	skeleton engraved	Crocodile	30	2,050,000

GBBF902	Mens	35x26	yellow gold	4J80 quartz	yellow gold	yellow gold	no limit	1,900,000
GBBF903	Mens	35x26	white gold	4J80 quartz	white gold	white gold	no limit	1,800,000

GBBY989	Masterpiece	40	platinum	6890 thin manual	engraved mother of pearl 16 diamonds on markers	Crocodile	8	9,500,000

GBCC996	Masterpiece	40	pink gold	6830 tourbillon, engraved	pink gold w/black shell inlay	Crocodile	no limit	11,000,000
GBCC997	Masterpiece	40	white gold	6830 tourbillon engraved	white gold w/blue shell inlay	Crocodile	no limit	12,000,000
GBCC999	Masterpiece	40	platinum, white/yellow gold + 48 sapphires	6830 tourbillon decorated and engraved	Kiyoshi Terai engraving. Kazuyoshi Tamura lacquer. Satoshi Hiraga masterpiece, Kosuhiro Kosugi (Nobuhiro Rinshi) is dealer		8	50,000,000

GBLP996	Mens	38	pink gold	7R87 spring drive manual wind	white with moon texture	Crocodile	no limit	2,000,000
GBLP997	Mens	38	white gold	7R87 spring drive manual wind	gold with moon texture	Crocodile	no limit	2,100,000

GBLQ998	Masterpiece	43	pink gold	7R06 sonnerie spring drive manual wind	No dial. bell striking every hour or every three hours; silent	Crocodile	no limit	16,000,000
GBLS998	Masterpiece	43	pink gold	7R11 repeater spring drive manual wind	No dial; decimal repeater ie to sound 1 hour 59 minutes it strikes hours × 1; 10 minutes×5; minutes x 9	Crocodile	no limit	35,000,000

GBLT998	Masterpiece	39	pink gold	7R14 spring drive manual wind	white porcelain	Crocodile	no limit	4,300,000
GBLT999	Masterpiece	39	platinum	7R14 spring drive manual wind	white porcelain	Crocodile	no limit	5,700,000

GCAR974	Mens	38	pink gold & stainless	8J81 quartz	EAU DE VIE whiskey brown dial with baguette diamond markers	Crocodile	80	1,000,000

GCLP989	Mens	38	stainless steel	7R87 spring drive manual wind	Maki and mother of pearl		120	1,000,000

NOTE: when I say "no limit" it means that they will make a watch to order but doesn't necessarily mean you will find them anywhere you look. When I did a search on eBay, I found over

100 Galante watches for sale, from $2500 to $9000
400 Credor watches for sale, from $85 to $8500
1000 Grand Seiko watches for sale $70 to $20,000

My intention was to illustrate the whole list presented in this table, but in the interest of space and desire not to bring our imaging solution to its knees, I will include a few select large images.

LADIES WATCHES

You may not have noticed, but my table includes only the men's watches (hence the blue divider rows). The pink rows go on even farther than the men's so I will save them for another post. Here's a teaser anyway.

Now back to an assortment of men's watches...

MENS RECTANGULAR ULTRA THIN DRESS WATCHES

MENS ROUND THIN SKELETON DRESS WATCHES

MENS DIAMOND SET WATCHES

MENS TOURBILLON WATCHES

DECORATED DIALS

THE CHIMING WATCHES

MOVEMENTS

Please let me know if you want to see more!

Cazalea

About the Seiko Credor Ref. 6899

The Credor 6899 is a distinguished ultra-thin mechanical movement produced by Seiko's Micro Artist Studio, known for its exceptional craftsmanship and precision. This caliber is often found in Credor's most refined dress watches, emphasizing elegance and slender profiles. It represents the pinnacle of Seiko's traditional mechanical watchmaking capabilities, showcasing meticulous finishing and assembly. This manual-winding movement is designed for extreme thinness, allowing for very svelte case designs. The finishing typically includes polished bevels, Geneva stripes, and blued screws, executed to a high standard. Its compact architecture and precise regulation contribute to its performance within Credor's high-end offerings. The movement itself measures 1.98 mm in thickness, making it one of the thinnest movements available. It features 22 jewels and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour. For collectors, the Credor 6899 signifies a commitment to traditional horological artistry and technical mastery. Watches featuring this movement are often limited in production and highly sought after for their discreet luxury and the artisanal skill involved in their creation, making them significant pieces within the Credor lineage. The meticulous hand-finishing and assembly by the Micro Artist Studio contribute to its desirability among connoisseurs of high-end independent watchmaking.

Specifications

Caliber: 6899

Case: Platinum

Diameter: 37 mm

Dial: White

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

Credor and Grand Seiko were created with distinct concepts: Grand Seiko as the world's best practical watch, and Credor as the world's best dress watch, leading to different focuses in movement and design.
Credor is recognized for its pure elegance and exceptional case finishing, with recent collections like Kuon and Goldfeathers representing the brand's future direction.
The Fugaku Tourbillon showcases a comprehensive array of artisanal finishes, including anglage, enamel, and engraving, making it a significant piece for collectors.
Credor signifies elegance and simplicity, with its movement finishing also being highly regarded.
The author plans to continue researching and reviewing more Credor models, acknowledging the brand's extensive lineup beyond initial expectations.
Credor is an underappreciated brand that deserves more recognition for its beautiful watches, especially given the difficulty in finding information due to language barriers.
Credor's ability to thrive without extensive marketing suggests it has a dedicated client base that absorbs its production.

The Discussion

patrick_y

Jul 31, 2018

Wow, I've never seen those neither...

A brand that gets on by without any marketing because it already has enough clients to absorb its production... Oh, and you're one of those culprits who absorb production. You have FIVE Credors! You probably need a garage for your watches now!

KIH

Jul 31, 2018

A great post, our SEIKO Guru!

Credor may sometimes seen as “lower” level brand than GS. But those two were created by completely different concept: Grand Seiko - The world’s best practical watch. Credor - The world’s best dress watch. So, naturally, less mechanical watch (more Spring Drive) than Grand Seiko line, Spring Drive movement and the watches with it in are made in Shiojiri - Seiko EPSON. They seem to have strong “sibling rivalry”..... but fair to say that they fight on the different field. It’s really up to you and

jomni1

Jul 31, 2018

I thought Credor strives for High Horology aesthetics.

GS is more for high end tool watches.

cazalea

Jul 31, 2018

That's a good description

We can ponder this a bit more. They are not to everyone's taste, but the multitude of models means someone both Japanese and wealthy must be buying them. Cazalea

Spencer Karrington

Jul 31, 2018

Great Article!!

I have always felt that Credor is a VERY underappreciated brand that should have more recognition for all of the beautiful watches it creates. I would love to know more about the brand as it is difficult to get information because it is all in Japanese!! Thank you and I am very excited for the next episodes!!

FabR

Jul 31, 2018

Thanks a lot for this interesting introduction, I was only vaguely aware of Credit before your article and now you've made me quite curious about the brand!😁 [nt]