A Study in Japanese Craft: Credor’s Goldfeather Urushi GBBY967

Combining a slender platinum case with a hand-finished lacquer dial, the watch reflects a quiet, artisanal approach to elegance.

Credor

While Grand Seiko is now well-established in the global watch market, Credor remains a niche brand. Established in 1974 as the premium branch of Seiko Corporation, Credor specialises in sophisticated, ultra-thin dress timepieces adorned with artisanal craftsmanship, initially available solely in Japan until the introduction of the Locomotive in 2024. In its inaugural participation at the 2026 Watches and Wonders, the Japanese firm presents an ultra-thin Goldfeather featuring a traditional urushi lacquer dial in a deep blue hue, designated as reference GBBY967.

The inaugural Goldfeather was introduced in 1960 as a slender dress watch collection, utilising Seiko's ultra-thin mechanical calibre 60, which was the world's thinnest three-hand mechanical movement at the time, succeeded in 1969 by calibre 6800, measuring at 1.98mm in thickness. This collection of ultra-thin movements ultimately established the foundation of the prestigious Credor brand in 1974. In 2023, Credor reintroduced the Goldfeather line as a contemporary dress watch intended to embody the slender, lightweight, and elegant characteristics of a feather. Subsequent to the enamel and porcelain versions, the newest Goldfeather features a dial adorned with handmade urushi lacquer.

Credor

The new Goldfeather GBBY967 model features a hand-polished platinum casing that is 37.4mm in diameter and has a slender profile of 8.1mm. The highlight of the presentation is the deep blue hand-lacquered dial. The rich blue dial, a hue seldom observed in urushi lacquer artistry, exhibits a gradient effect, transitioning from nearly dark tones at the edges to a more radiant blue at the center. Crafted by Credor’s artisans utilising the traditional technique of urushi lacquer, the viscous resin ultimately forms a durable, impermeable, and smooth surface upon drying. Artisans accomplish the gradient appearance by applying several layers of lacquer with differing pigment saturation, allowing each layer to dry. The lustrous, even surface is attained through whetstone polishing.

A secondary artisanal method, referred to as taka maki-e (a variation of the conventional maki-e process involving the application of gold powder onto wet lacquer to form designs), is employed to produce the elevated indices and inscriptions on the dial. Instead of gold or silver powder, the three-dimensional appliqués on the dial are covered with platinum powder. Encased by a box-shaped sapphire crystal, the dial's smooth curvature is mirrored by the minutes hand, whose tapered end extends to the edge.

The Goldfeather GBBY967 is driven by calibre 6890, an exceptionally slender mechanical movement with a thickness of merely 1.98mm. The movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, with a moderate power reserve of 37 hours. The black crocodile leather strap is secured to the wrist with a golden buckle. The Credor Goldfeather Urushi Lacquer Dial GBBY967 is a limited edition of 25 units, priced at EUR 39,000. Additional details available at credor.com.