cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
17052
Last of 2014 or First of 2015: the Credor 4S76 Node
I needed a new watch at the end of the year like I needed a new hole in my head. But I wanted one. It had to be a reasonable price, and novel - some kind of complication(s) I don't already have. It would be nice if it was a Seiko of some kind.
(This seems like a confession - was this an impulse or a compulsive buy?)
Maybe both. Here's the story ...
I saw an appealing Brightz watch SARN001 in a recent post by czg. It appealed to me technically, but the appearance was a bit too "modern" for my taste.
As I looked around on the web, I noticed a number of Credor variations that used the same (or similar) 4S movement.
The last of the selections reminded me of my Credor moon phase. Credor is the "stylish" high-end Seiko brand; yet a used one is not too expensive - I thought maybe this could be the watch to end the year on ...
Of all the choices, I liked the silver one with the blue hands - which is officially known as a Credor Node GCBT993.
I did some research and dug up a few more details about these watches with the complicated 4S movements:
- The 4S movement beats at 28,800
- It is a derivative of an old Caliber 52 but thinner and more refined
- It has thermo-compensating balance and hairspring
- It uses a sophisticated automatic winding system, can be hand-wound as well, and hacks (second hand stops for setting)
- 4S movements are now assembled in the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in Morioka (which I visited in October)
- 4S76 & 77 are the highest grade and quality but differ in the implementation of GMT (76 adds a Power Reserve)
- 4S76 & 77 have a retrograde day indicator
- 4S76 has 7 hands: hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, Power Reserve, Retro Day and Date
The watch was introduced in 2004, came on strap or bracelet, and is now out of production. There aren't too many around, but there enough that I felt I had a chance to find one.
I searched through various Japan-auctions-on-the-Web for a few weeks, found one, and made a deal for a complete set with box, all links, etc.
This happened just before Christmas, and with the help of a good friend in Japan, the watch arrived yesterday!
Here it is, still in its plastic wrapping.
The 7 blue hands display time plus retrograde (fly back) day hand, GMT, date and 50-hr power reserve indication.
The main crown (pulled out one click) sets day of the week (turned one way) and day of the month (turned the other way)
The main crown (pulled out two clicks) adjust the minutes and the GMT hand to the current time.
The second crown sets the main hour hand where you want it for local time in one hour jumps.
Here's the dial in direct sunlight.
Notice the four blue hands on concentric shafts at the center of the dial. Setting the height of all these hands has got to be a difficult task.
There needs to be a fair height under the crystal as the lowest (GMT) hand also has to clear all the hands on the center sub-dials.
The dial and chapter ring are pretty complicated, with multiple levels, printing, markers, scales, etc.
Notice the gently domed crystal.
Notice the gently domed crystal.
The small crown is higher in the case - indicating the complications might be accomplished with a thin module on top of the main movement.
Bracelet with release buttons (still wrapped).
Unusually, you unlock the right side by pressing the two release buttons, and then unhook the left side which sits underneath the right side but snaps into place, held by a roller.
As I put it side-by-side with my Spring Drive moon phase Credor, I see
Same case shape and size (41mm x 14mm)
Same hand color
Same dial style, raised markers and notation
Same square crown
There are some differences (apart from the complications):
The moon phase is on a strap with Credor deployment buckle, and the new one on a bracelet
Power reserve scales are different
Second hands are shaped differently - the moon phase second hand has an arc on its tail, while the new one has the arc on its GMT hand tail
The moon phase power reserve hand is not blue
The GMT has a solid caseback with recesses for the removal tool. BTW the screws on the lugs are dummies - the bracelet is held by conventional springbars.
When I sized the bracelet, I discovered that many of the removable link pins were seized, causing me difficulty in taking one side apart. I soaked the bracelet in solvent but there are still some tight links.
Overall I am very happy with this watch. Despite the minor inconvenience of the bracelet pins, which I can solve at my leisure, It's running about 5-6 seconds a day fast, which is ok with me.
I stayed up late last night to watch the date and day change - the date changes within a couple minutes of 12 midnight, and the day jumped down to Monday just a few minutes before 1 am.
Thanks for reading through my review. What do YOU think of the Credor Node? Any thoughts or suggestions for me?
Cheers,
Cazalea
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2015-01-05 12:50:38 This message has been edited by cazalea on 2015-01-05 12:51:29
Last of 2014 or First of 2015: the Credor 4S76 Node
I needed a new watch at the end of the year like I needed a new hole in my head. But I wanted one. It had to be a reasonable price, and novel - some kind of complication(s) I don't already have. It would be nice if it was a Seiko of some kind. (This seems...
Congratulations! it is true that most of us do not "Need" another watch. I hope..
You will not be offended as I prefer the Credor with the moon phase and power reserve.
No, not bothered at all
What a problem we would have it we didn't have differing preferences for watches. We'd never be able to get rid of the ones we are tired of ... or get watches from people who have tired of them! I like the moon too, it's one of the first good Japanese wat...
congrats on
your latest acquisition! Good complications but the dial does look a wee bit congested with too many lines....i mean hands! best henry
Nice catch!
The 4s76 movt is the better decorated variant of the 4s36 found in the SARN001. It's not the only time that Seiko did this. The same relationship is also found between the handwinding only 4s29 and 4s79 movements, etc. Curiously enough, the accuracy spec ...
Accuracy spec isn't that great but it's running well
after two days not messing with it but just wearing it around, I'm just one second fast against the government clock. Cazalea ...
My 4S....
4S series is yet another very good movement of SEIKO.... 4S79 is the time+power reserve version. But also had Chronometer version as well. Created just before they re-launched Grand Seiko in 1998. Congrats Mike, for your new watch! Best, Ken ...
that's a
lovely watch! how many were produced and in what format---- steel, white gold? best henry
500 in YG with white dial...
.. and 20 or 30 (shop LE) in WG with black dial as you see above..... Also, there are even less PT with black dial, I hear, but I have never seen in person..... Ken
Credor GCBT 993
Good day sir!! I have become a recent owner of this same watch...don't mean to pry, but do you still own it?..BR, Chuck
Yes, indeed I do
Before setting for today after setting and winding a bit Did you think yours was mine? Cheers Cazalea ...
