(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Almost everyone recognises Grand Seiko as the epitome of Japanese watchmaking excellence - a name that holds its own among the most storied Swiss and German maisons. But tucked within the same revered watchmaking universe lies a lesser-known name revered quietly by true connoisseurs: Credor. Crafted at the Micro Artist Studio - an elite enclave within Grand Seiko's Shinshu atelier in Shiojiri, Nagano - Credor represents the Seiko Watch Corporation's most refined expression of artistry and watchmaking finesse. It is Japanese haute horlogerie at its finest. Where Grand Seiko champions clarity, precision and everyday excellence, Credor ventures into rarified territory, embracing precious metals, elaborate hand-finishing, and the deeply expressive language of traditional Japanese decorative arts.

Credor's latest creation, the Goldfeather Tourbillon GBCF999, exemplifies this ethos. A reimagining of the historic Goldfeather line - first introduced in 1960 and revived in 2023 - this timepiece channels the essence of a feather; light, graceful, and pure. But with the debut of a tourbillon and a dial transformed by urushi lacquer, raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), kirikane (gold filament artistry), and maki-e (a traditional Japanese lacquer technique), this Goldfeather doesn't merely float - it soars.

Recommended For You Skydiving, Immersive art: Indoor activities in Abu Dhabi the whole family can enjoy this summer

From the very first glance, the watch is arrestingly beautiful. But its appeal runs deeper. It's the sort of beauty that reveals itself in layers, like the deep, dark stillness of a starless, moonless sky. The dial is a canvas of urushi lacquer, awash in rich, dark tones and lit with glimmers of raden and kirikane. Together, they depict birds in flight, soaring upward from the tourbillon aperture at 9 o'clock toward the logo at 12 o'clock - a quiet metaphor for grace, elevation, and the pursuit of something beyond. Each element - from the lustrous shell to the hand-sliced gold foil - is meticulously placed by Isshu Tamura, one of Japan's most respected urushi masters. The result is a dial that feels alive with texture and meaning.

Beneath this artistry lies an equally elaborate mechanism. For the first time in the Goldfeather lineage, Credor introduces a tourbillon, housed in the newly developed Caliber 6850. While it retains the featherweight profile of its predecessor - just 3.98mm thick - an enlarged barrel now extends its power reserve to 60 hours. Assembled by master watchmaker Katsuo Saito, recipient of the Medal with Yellow Ribbon and the title of Contemporary Master Craftsman, the movement is both technically refined and artistically finished.

Flip the watch over and the caseback continues the avian theme. A hand-engraved motif of feathered wings radiates outward from the tourbillon, echoing the lift and spread of a bird mid-flight. Subtle flourishes of raden and maki-e on the movement bridge - using yakougai, the shell of the green turban snail - shimmer in tones of green and blue, adding luminous depth to the composition.

Despite its mechanical and decorative complexity, the Goldfeather Tourbillon is thoughtfully proportioned for elegant wearability. Housed in a newly engineered, screwless platinum case measuring 38.6mm in diameter and 8.6mm in thickness, it is designed to sit comfortably on a range of wrist sizes.

Available in a strictly limited edition of just 10 pieces worldwide from October 2025, the Credor Goldfeather Tourbillon GBCF999 is far more than a timekeeping instrument. It's an ethereal expression of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and mechanical ingenuity, and an ode to elegance, restraint, and depth.

MENAFN08082025000049011007ID1109904614