This year marks the 50th anniversary of Credor, the Japanese brand that is the highest end arm of the Seiko family. In recent years, Credor has taken something of a backseat to Grand Seiko, as the latter brand has grown in stature, with rising price points as well as the introduction of an honest to goodness Super Watch in the form of the Kodo. But a new release from Credor to celebrate their big anniversary serves as a reminder of why the brand is unique and important within the larger world of Seiko, and Japanese watchmaking in general.
The Eichi II is Credor’s signature watch, highlighting everything the brand is most adept at. It features a porcelain dial made by a single artisan, and the complexity of its manufacture and strict tolerances for quality accepted by Credor apparently result in an exceptionally high failure rate. The result, however, is an uncommonly beautiful canvas for the hand painted markers that are this watch’s calling card.
For this anniversary edition of the Eichi II, Credor has crafted a dial in dark blue, and the markers have been hand painted in gold. Upping the ante somewhat for this release, the Credor logo at 12:00 has also been hand painted, a first for an Eichi II. This is also the first time a yellow gold case has been made for an Eichi II.
Of course, another major draw of the highest end Credors is the immaculately finished movements made in the famed Micro Artist Studio. The Eichi II runs on the 7R14, a Spring Drive movement with a 60 hour power reserve rated to +/- 1 second per day. The 7R14 also makes use of the rarely seen Torque Return System, an innovation that allows unused energy when the watch is at or near its maximum power reserve to rewind the mainspring.
Famously, when Credor was developing the Eichi II, they were reportedly heavily inspired by the work of Philippe Dufour, and the movement finishing especially reflects a classical style that Dufour excels at and makes sense for a “no expenses spared” halo piece like the Eichi II.
And that focus on aesthetics is what sets Credor apart. Grand Seiko, even at the highest end of the catalog, are watches that are designed with functionality and a certain level of robustness in mind. Even the Kodo, according to the brand, meets their standards for standing up to normal everyday wear. But Credor is different. The focus here is on a more artistic side of watchmaking. This is why you’ll see ultra-thin Credors, and Credors with elaborately decorated, jewelry inspired dials and cases. It’s a different design brief, and the Eichi II, a watch with more handwork behind it than almost any other Japanese watch, is a prime example of how that plays out.
A total of 30 of these limited edition Eichi II anniversary pieces will be made. The retail price is €48,000. Credor
