ver 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 crête d’or, or “crest of gold,” the Credor name has always suggested the highest echelon of artistry in watchmaking.

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 commemorative watch features a deep blue porcelain dial whose colour 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 colours 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-coloured material, such as porcelain. The arduous and highly technical application of gold on the ruri-coloured dial combined with the 18K yellow-gold case creates a unique beauty befitting a watch made to celebrate Credor’s 50th anniversary.

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.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Movement

• 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