Model: Credor GCLH975 / 7R88-0AV0 Spring Drive
Year: February 2020
Features:
The Origin. First launched in 1974, Credor was built around the idea of creating watches that offered a safe store of value during a period of rapidly rising gold prices. As a result, most of Credor’s designs were conservative and unremarkable, relying largely on the value of the precious metals used for their cases, dials, and hands. But when the price of gold collapsed in the early ‘80s, Credor found itself in an awkward position.
The Bold Step.
Determined to create watches worth more than their melt value, Credor stepped into uncharted waters with bold, innovative designs. And the Linea Curva Collection was born. The Linea Curva marked a milestone - not just for Credor, but for Seiko as well. Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Seiko largely adopted a universal approach to watch design, often drawing inspiration from successful European models. But in the ‘80s, Credor, and by extension Seiko, began to branch out with bolder, more Japanese designs.
The Shape. Credor celebrated the 35th anniversary of its reinvention by releasing the GCLH975, a truly remarkable piece that incorporates the iconic Linea Curva case shape. The unique shape is based around the interconnectedness of time and how it affects our three states - a common theme in Zen philosophy.
The Dial. Released on Valentine’s Day in 2020, the GCLH975 was limited to just 120 units. The heat blued dial was designed to resemble a spiral galaxy. And yes, you read that correctly - not blued hands, but blued dial. Creating this dial is a form of alchemy, as evenly heat-bluing such a large surface area is a notoriously difficult task. Any significant variance in thickness, measured in microns, would result in noticeable inconsistencies in the bluing, creating a patchy finish.
The Finish. You won’t be surprised to learn that every metallic surface, including the indices and hands, are Zaratsu polished by hand. The Power Reserve Indicator has been hand-engraved to resemble a twinkling nights sky, with the power reserve indicator leaving a comet’s tail in its wake as it powers up. The entire design is enclosed in a distinctive octagonal case, with the aforementioned signature Linea Curva lugs.
The Movement. Flipping the watch over reveals one final celestial inspiration. The bridges of this 7R88 spring drive have been hand-etched to make the glide wheel resemble a shooting star. It’s the perfect finishing touch for this celestial masterpiece. The Credor 7R88 Spring Drive powers the watch - allowing the GCLH975 to be thinner than any Grand Seiko spring Drive, at a hair under 10.0mm.
Specifications:
Condition: In great condition overall. No noticeable marks of any significance.
Scope: Box and papers
Movement: 7R88 Manual-wind Spring Drive
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 39.3mm
- Lug to Lug: 46.8mm
- Case Thickness: 9.9mm
