Credor “35th Anniversary” GCLH975 Spring Drive

Model: Credor GCLH975 / 7R88-0AV0 Spring Drive

Year: February 2020

Features:

The Origin. First launched in 1974, the Credor brand was built around the idea of creating watches that acted as a safe store of value during a period of rapidly rising gold prices. However, when the price of gold collapsed in the early '80s, Credor found itself in a difficult position. Until then, most of Credor’s designs had been conservative and unremarkable, largely relying on the value of the metal that formed their cases, dials, and hands. But after the crash, they had to be more than just their melt weight.

The Bold Step. No longer wanting their desirability dictated by the fluctuating value of gold, Credor stepped into uncharted waters with bold, innovative designs. And thus, the Credor Curva collection was born. The Curva, with its distinct case design, marked a milestone - not just for Credor, but for Seiko as well. The '60s and '70s had seen Seiko adopt a more universal approach to watch design, often emulating successful European models. But in the '80s, Credor, and by extension Seiko, began to branch out with bolder, more experimental 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. According to Credor, creating this dial is practically alchemy, as evenly heat-bluing such a large surface area is a notoriously difficult task. Any significant significant variance in thickness - presumably measured in microns – could result in noticeable inconsistencies in the bluing, creating a patchy finish.

The Finish. The hands and indices are all Zaratsu polished by hand, which goes without saying for a Credor of this caliber. The Power Reserve Indicator has been hand-engraved to evoke the twinkling night sky, with the indicator leaving a comet’s tail 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 more celestial inspiration: the bridges have been hand-engraved to make the Spring Drive's 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, other than on the caseback.

Scope: Full box, papers, tags, and one strap.

Movement: 7R88 Manual-wind Spring Drive 

Dimensions:

• Case Width: 39.3mm
• Lug to Lug: 46.8mm
• Case Thickness: 9.9mm