The H-List: #2 Seiko Credor Eichi (GBLR999)

This post was originally going to be titled: Philippe Dufour Simplicity, but I believe there is another watch that is on the same plane. Admiration for a time piece for me comes not only out of complexity and novelty, but also from excellence in execution. The Credor Eichi is the horological pinnacle of the Japanese concept of Kaizen, or continuous improvement. Personally I think this is one of the most elegant watches in the world, with the appropriate dash of edginess from the three numbers on the dial.

Not much needs to be said about the 25 watches, it's 35 mm and Pt950 platinum, with a Noritake porcelain dial with the numbers 2, 4 and 7 in subtle white. It retailed for around 70,000 USD but is no longer made. The specifications of the movement are largely irrelevant except for the fact that it is regulated by Seiko's spring drive technology.

Seiko's spring drive technology is described by the video below and is basically a quartz regulator mechanism that generates its own power from the mainspring. There is some debate on whether this is an improvement (due to its +/- 15 seconds per month rate) or deviation (due to inclusion of electronic components) upon the swiss lever escapement but as long as Seiko stays around, it certainly will prove no issue for servicing. I feel somewhat ambivalent towards Spring Drive, although it is in most empirical terms a superior technology, I do not yet feel ready to have electronic components inside a watch of such a high mechanical level, but perhaps one day I will accept it.

I was unable to obtain any more press photos for the watch bu SJX has many real life scans over at his blog:
http://www.watchesbysjx.com/2011/12/one-of-finest-finished-watches-in-world.html