Credor's Locomotive reissue: a tribute to Gérald Genta

2 0 Friday, 31 May 2024 Edit this post

Derived from the French term 'Crête d'Or' ('crest of gold'), Credor is Seiko's collection of high-end watches crafted from precious metals. Since 1974, the brand has been creating timepieces that blend Japanese aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship, and precision watchmaking.

In celebration of Credor’s 50th anniversary, the brand is re-issuing one of its most important watches, the Gérald Genta-designed Locomotive, in a limited edition of 300 pieces.

Credor Locomotive Limited Edition GCCR999

Gérald Genta, the visionary behind timeless designs like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, began his relationship with Seiko in the 1970s.

The Locomotive model became a symbol of the friendship between Genta and Seiko. The name was chosen by Genta to reflect the power of a moving train and the French concept of a "driving force", in the hope that it would drive Credor ahead and, by extension, lead Seiko into the future.

The original Credor Locomotive and, on the right, Genta’s hand-drawn sketch

For the new creation, every detail has been re-examined and reproduced based on Gérald Genta’s original sketch. At the same time, the new model benefits from modern watchmaking capabilities and expertise, further enhancing the quality of the timepiece.

The 38.8 mm case is crafted from high-intensity titanium, an alloy that is 30% lighter and more scratch resistant than stainless steel. The lines are highlighted by alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces.

The Locomotive's signature element, the hexagonal bezel with six screws, has been preserved. However, the screws have been adapted to be functional rather than merely decorative to facilitate maintenance.

Aligned with the 4 o’clock position, the screw-down crown helps ensure water resistance to 100 metres / 330 feet.

The black dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside and draws its inspiration from a steam locomotive. To obtain the detailed pattern that shines as light hits it, a digital rendering with approximately 1,600 radial lines was created and then used by a special machine to accurately engrave the dial.

The two indexes at the 12 o’clock position have been faithfully reproduced according to Genta’s original sketch.

The hour markers, along with the hour and minute hands, are filled with luminescent material glowing green in darker environments.

Unlike the original, which was powered by a quartz movement, the new Locomotive houses Caliber CR01, a new automatic movement exclusive to Credor that was chosen to ensure that the watch could maintain its total slimness of 8.9 mm.

Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, this three-hand movement has a power reserve of 45 hours and an accuracy of +15 to -10 seconds per day.

The new bracelet features the same taper and hexagonal intermediary links that gave the original its character. The three-fold clasp with push button release secures it to the wrist.