By now, I think most people who are even a little bit interested in watches are aware that Seiko has a luxury sister brand called Grand Seiko. But what a lot of those same people may not know is that Seiko has another luxury sibling that, in some respects, is considered even more high-end than Grand Seiko.
That sleeper brand is Credor, which remains largely unknown globally due to its overwhelming focus on its home Japanese market. But Credor makes some absolutely masterful watches using many of the same techniques and much of the same technology as Grand Seiko.
Its latest is a striking everyday watch that combines a tranquil ceramic dial with a gorgeously decorated hand-wound Spring Drive movement.
Keep calm and Credor on
Part of Credor’s Kuon collection, the new reference GCLX995 was crafted around the theme of “calmness.” Driving home this point in gentle fashion is the dial, which is crafted from colored ceramic, a first for Credor and something we’ve previously seen from other luxury brands like Omega and, as of last year, Rolex.
Because the ceramic will never fade or corrode, it’s a logical choice for the Kuon collection, as “kuon” is Japanese for “eternity.” The dial’s deep blue hue is inspired by the Japanese concept of “nagi,” which means a calm sea. The Credor logo and 12:00, along with the stick and Arabic indices, are all laser-engraved into the ceramic and then filled with paint.
