Monochrome Watches
An online magazine dedicated to fine watches
Introducing

The New Green Credor Locomotive GCCR997 to Join the Permanent Collection

The difference is the dial, now with green-toned hexagons, but the rest is the same Genta-inspired elegant sports watch.

| By Denis Peshkov | 2 min read |

Last year, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Credor – the high-end, most classical brand owned by the Seiko Corporation – unveiled a very special watch based on the Locomotive concept and being a faithful recreation of Gérald Genta‘s original 1978 sketch. While Genta is best known for designing the iconic Royal Oak, Nautilus, and Ingenieur, his creative vision extended far beyond Europe. Frequent visits to Japan led to a friendship with Seiko’s Reijiro Hattori, who invited him to design a distinctive timepiece for Credor, part of Seiko’s portfolio. The result was the Locomotive, first introduced to the public in 1979.

The 2024 Credor Locomotive limited-edition reissue got plenty of attention upon its release, though much of the discussion centred on its aesthetics rather than the exceptional detailing and finishing it offers. While we have yet to experience the new Credor Locomotive GCCR997 in person, everything we know suggests it is an impeccably crafted, historically faithful, and very, very stylish timepiece – mostly because it has changed much compared to the limited edition we reviewed last year.

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The new Locomotive GCCR997 is, at its core, nearly identical to the limited-edition Locomotive GCCR999. It comes in a 38.8mm by 8.9mm hexagonal case crafted from high-intensity titanium, offering 100m of water-resistance. The design leans heavily into geometry, with a matching hexagonal bezel secured by six hexagonal screws – yes, hexagons dominate. Finishing will be impressive, balancing brushed and mirror-polished surfaces, as it was the case for the 2024 edition. At 4 o’clock, a ribbed screw-down crown continues the theme with its own hexagonal motif, while the caseback remains solid, and a sapphire crystal protects the distinctive dial.

The dial is what changes mostly here. It is said to be “inspired by the green signal lights of the railway system” – a bit of a stretch, perhaps, but still striking. It features a textured pattern of small green hexagons, each with a striped, woven-like finish that catches the light, creating a shimmering honeycomb effect. Applied luminous indices and hands stay true to the 2024 Locomotive edition; the framed date window sits at 3 o’clock, with the Credor logo and “Automatic” text providing a nice visual balance. A tiny print at the bottom of the dial nods to the movement and the watch’s origins.

The watch’s power source is the Credor-exclusive automatic calibre CR01, built on the Seiko 6L35 architecture. It features 26 jewels, operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations/hour, and delivers a 45-hour power reserve.

The integrated titanium bracelet mirrors the watch’s design. It starts nearly as wide as the case before tapering slightly toward the three-fold clasp with a push-button release. Its hexagonal mid-links reinforce the watch’s geometric theme, while the brushed and polished surfaces match the case’s finish.

Unlike the 2024 commemorative edition, the new Credor Locomotive GCCR997 is not a limited release; it will join the permanent collection as of May 2025 and will be priced at EUR 14,500. For more, visit Credor.com.

https://monochrome-watches.com/introducing-credor-locomotive-gccr997-green-dial-elegant-sports-watch-titanium-genta-design-specs-price/

4 responses

  1. I’m fine with the dial; I quite like it, actually. I like the case shape…mostly. I’m OK with the bolt heads…are those TORX?

    I HATE!!!! the bracelet, specifically the seriously ugly gap between the bracelet ends and the case. I’ll grant that it’d be too narrow to stay within the width constraint of the sides there, but lordy, the lines are just a mess to me.

    Also…$14K watch and they can’t do better than +15 to -10 seconds per day? I don’t care if “Seiko’s accuracy statements are usually conservative.” That’s PR copout. DO BETTER. Seiko’s almost never been properly raked over the coals for this.

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  2. First the watch itself is a bit strange wrt design.
    Second the movement is based on Seikos´6L35.
    Usually Seiko uses movements based on Grand Seiko movements, and that can be seen on the most expensive Seikos (examples are the 8L35, 8L55, Seiko spring drive).
    Now this -Credor- watch is using a movement used on King Seiko watches that sell for 3400 USD.
    What justifies a price of around 15000 USD for this (Credor) watch ?

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  3. I actually like the watch, but the price is just crazy, and they could at least have done some upgrades to the movement, which belongs in mid range watches

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