Model: Credor GBBD987 Skeletonised Platinum 6899
Year: July 2000
Features:
The Origin. In 1996, two of Seiko’s most decorated employees created a watch that shaped the future of Japanese haute horlogerie. That watch in question was the Credor GBBD987 - a skeletonised dress piece in solid platinum, housing the razor-thin 6899 calibre. Mamoru Sakurada designed, built, and assembled the movement, while Kiyoshi Terui engraved every available millimetre by hand. To them, it was more than just a watch - it was a signal to the watch world that Seiko was upping its game.
The Partnership. A few years later, in 2004, Sakurada and Terui would become two of the three founding members of the now-famous Shizukuishi Watch Studio - the birthplace of all mechanical Grand Seikos and select Credors. Today, they’re often considered to be two of the greatest artisans in Seiko’s modern history, and this watch has the distinct honour of being their first known partnership.
The Build. Their work on the 6899 series remains a technical benchmark. Assembling the movement was a reactive process for Sakurada - piece by piece, each component is shaped and fitted on the fly against the one that came before it. Tolerances of 0.03mm are judged by touch alone. While the calibre itself is only 1.98mm thick, some sections are as thin as 0.25mm. In order to maintain structural integrity, Terui works to a maximum engraving depth of 0.15mm – all checked by his touch, with a sensitivity refined over decades.
The Recognition. For their technical achievements, both men were awarded the Yellow Ribbon - a rare distinction granted by the Japanese Government to individuals whose mastery of an industry is considered irreplaceable.
The Design. And yet, for all its technical brilliance, the GBBD987 remains poetic. Its skeletonised bridges were shaped to resemble bamboo stalks swaying in the wind, and Terui’s engravings feature traditional Japanese motifs, including the Chrysanthemum flower - the Imperial Seal of Japan. The case, made from 950 platinum, carries unexpected heft for such a modestly sized dress watch, grounding it with quiet power.
The Result. This is not just a rare Credor, or an early example of the 6899. It’s a deeply Japanese artifact - humble in scale, immense in meaning, and rooted in the lives of two master craftsmen at the start of a shared journey that altered the trajectory of Seiko forever.
Specifications:
Condition: In great condition overall. Small hairlines on the platinum case can be seen on close inspection.
Scope: No box or papers.
Movement: 6899 Manual-wind
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 33.5mm
- Lug to Lug: 38.9mm
- Case Thickness: 5.5mm
- Lug Width: 18.0mm
