25 Apr 2024
Press Release

Credor celebrates its 50th anniversary
with a special edition of the Eichi II.

Ever since Credor was born in 1974, each of its creations has showcased the beauty of Japanese aesthetics combined with the excellence in watchmaking for which the collection is renowned. Based on the French crete d’or, or “crest of gold,” the Credor name has always suggested the highest echelon of artistry in watchmaking. The year 2024 marks Credor's 50th anniversary, and a special edition of the acclaimed Eichi II will mark the occasion.

The original Eichi, created in 2008, and its successor, the Eichi II, have won high praise worldwide for their simplicity of design, their exquisite finishing, the technology behind their movements, and, perhaps most of all, for the understated yet refined beauty of their hand-painted porcelain dials.

The hand-painted logo at twelve o’clock and 18K yellow-gold case are a first for the Eichi II.

The commemorative watch features a deep blue porcelain dial whose color is referred to as ruri, after the Japanese word for lapis lazuli. The dial has a gentle curve thanks to the careful application of porcelain glaze, which creates surface tension and gives it a slightly domed shape. The porcelain glaze also creates an effect that enables wearers to enjoy the dial’s varying colors depending on the angle of view and the brightness of the surroundings.

The hour markers, the Credor logo at the twelve o'clock position, and the Credor letters are all hand-painted by a craftsman at the Micro Artist Studio, the elite watchmaking workshop where the watch is crafted. After the dials are fired, gold is applied over the hand-painted elements to create a warm, multi-dimensional beauty that only hand-craftsmanship of the highest order can achieve. The technique is a nod to ‘Ruri-Kinsai,’ a famous yet rare form of traditional craftwork that came to widespread attention during the Edo period, in which gold is overglazed on ruri-colored material, such as porcelain. The arduous and highly technical application of gold on the ruri-colored dial combined with the 18K yellow-gold case creates a unique beauty befitting a watch made to celebrate Credor’s 50th anniversary.

The exquisite work of the studio’s craftspeople is visible through
the sapphire crystal case back.

The watch is powered by the manual-winding Spring Drive Caliber 7R14. The movement's barrel echoes the bellflower, the symbol of Shiojiri City, where the Micro Artist Studio is located. The two hand-finished bridges have high-polished edges that create a quiet sparkle when viewed from any angle, and the power-reserve indicator and the screws are tempered by hand to a vivid blue color. The movement features the Torque Return System*, which delivers a power reserve of 60 hours.

*Torque Return System: When the mainspring has been fully wound and the torque output is at its highest, approximately 30% of the available power is not needed to maintain the watch's precision and is, in effect, wasted in a normal movement. The Torque Return System uses this energy to rewind the mainspring, increasing the power reserve.

About the Micro Artist Studio

The Micro Artist Studio is a luxury watch atelier in Shiojiri, located in the Shinshu region, which makes a series of exclusive Spring Drive watches that combine the best in horological technology with hand craftsmanship of the highest order. The studio was established in 2000 to "uncover, examine, and master the technologies and skills passed on by our predecessors to produce luxury watches." The team consists of craftsmen and women who are experts in their respective fields, which include movement design, assembly, and movement finishing.

The watch will be available as a limited edition of 30 from June 2024.

GBLT996 

Credor 50th Anniversary Eichi II Limited Edition

Spring Drive 7R14
Winding system: manual-winding
Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
Power reserve: 60 hours
Jewels: 41

Specifications
18K yellow-gold case and clasp
Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
See-through case back
Water resistance: 3 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 39.0 mm; Thickness: 10.3 mm
Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €48,000
Limited edition of 30

For further information:
https://www.credor.com/en/lineup/detail/?no=GBLT996

Note:
The specifications and price information in this release are as of the published date and are subject to change.

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