The Return of the Gerald Genta-Designed Credor Locomotive

Gerald Genta is surely mostly known for his work with Audemars Piguet (1972, Royal Oak), Patek Philippe (Nautilus, 1976) or his own bold and original creations. There is, however, much more to the man than just these two icons of the luxury sports watch category (think Universal Geneve Polerouter, Omega Constellation or Rolex King Midas). Lesser known is his work in Japan, and in particular, a watch designed in 1979, with most of the traits of a classic sporty-chic watch with a bracelet, the Credor Locomotive. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Seiko-owned high-end watchmaker, the Credor Locomotive is now back as a luxurious and automatic titanium limited edition, the reference GCCR999.

1979 Seiko Credor Locomotive

Genta’s design sketch for the Locomotive

Credor was born in 1974, as a higher-end and more luxurious take on Japanese watchmaking. While Grand Seiko can be seen as the technical and precision-oriented side of the Group, Credor is its high-end, more artistic pendant. While deeply rooted in its country of origin (even today Credor remains hardly available outside of Japan), it has long cultivated an openness to artistic influences from diverse cultures. One of them is the relationship between Gérald Genta and Seiko, which started in the early 1970s, and gave birth to several timepieces, the most famous of them all being the 1979 Credor Locomotive.

A French name that brings trains to mind but also refers to the “driving force” the Credor Locomotive, despite having its own personality, is also deeply influenced by the entire work of Genta, with its geometric case, its bracelet integral to the overall design and the use of screws to adorn the shaped bezel. Back then, it was powered by a quartz movement, was made of steel and measured about 35mm in diameter, with a fairly thin profile.

A rather unexpected move from the Seiko Corporation and its high-end branch Credor, the Locomotive is back in 2024 as part of the brand’s 50-year celebrations, with this limited edition reference GCCR999. More than just a copy-paste of the old model, the new Credor Locomotive is a respectful but modern interpretation of Genta’s vision of a watch from Japan. Still easily categorized as a luxury sports watch, the new vision is now made of high-intensity titanium and is automatic rather than quartz. The signature hexagonal case and bezel retain the six screws that made the original model rather unique, only now the screws have been adapted to be functional rather than merely decorative for the sake of long-term use as well as easy maintenance.

Measuring a rather compact 38.8mm diameter, the case seems nicely executed with brushed surfaces and polished accents. The crown, which screws down, is placed at 4 o’clock (like the original and like so many Seiko watches) and the dial is protected by a sapphire crystal. The screw-secured back is solid titanium and the water-resistance is rated at 100m. Importantly, the Credor Locomotive GCCR999 thickness of 8.9mm shows true attention to detail and comfort, which might not make it ultra-thin but certainly thin enough to fit with the category of luxury sports watches.

The dial is once again a modern interpretation of the vintage model and Genta’s vision. The original pattern of the 1979 Credor Locomotive was re-created through a digital dial rendering with approximately 1,600 radial lines. Then, a special machine process was developed so that each line of the pattern could be directly engraved onto the dial. The black base is then adorned with newly designed, modernised luminous applied markers and hands, as well as a framed date window.

Inside the titanium case of the Credor Locomotive GCCR999 is a new movement, the Calibre CR01. A thin automatic engine running at 4Hz and boasting 45h of power reserve, it is said to be exclusive to Credor. We don’t have the details yet, but it could be based on Seiko thin automatic Calibre 6L35.

Equally important as the case in a Genta-designed luxury sports watch is the bracelet, and Credor here respects the original design with a High-intensity titanium bracelet using the codes of the original watch, including the hexagonal mid-links. This distinctive bracelet, with a narrow single connection to the case, is now closed by a modern three-fold clasp with push button release.

A limited edition of 300 pieces only, the Credor Locomotive GCCR999 will be available in August 2024 and priced at EUR 14,000 or USD 12,000. For more details, please visit www.credor.com.