One Company Three Brands: Seiko, Grand Seiko, Credor - Chrono24 Magazine (2024)

FAQs

One Company Three Brands: Seiko, Grand Seiko, Credor - Chrono24 Magazine? ›

The Credor is COSC certified, but the Grand Seiko Standard is higher. The Credor is manually wound for thinness, but the Grand Seiko is automatic for practicality. We could go on and on like that about the differences of these two watches.

The Credor is COSC certified, but the Grand Seiko Standard is higher. The Credor is manually wound for thinness, but the Grand Seiko is automatic for practicality. We could go on and on like that about the differences of these two watches.

Credor is a high end watch brand owned by Seiko. The brand has designs less traditional than Grand Seiko and many pieces are focused on traditional Japanese crafts. During the first half of 2022 Credor has released fourteen different models.

The Credor FUGAKU Tourbillon Limited Edition comes with a crocodile strap with platinum three-fold clasp with push-button release. Just eight watches will be made and they will be presented at Seiko's Boutiques worldwide in 2016. The retail price is 50,000,000 Japanese Yen (which means it will be $445,000+).

Created in 1974, Credor is a luxury dress watch collection that uses the very finest materials in the creation of timepieces that showcase Japanese aesthetics and engineering excellence.

The Quality

Perhaps you might be thinking that Rolex may be simple, but it's famous Swiss quality will stand head-and-shoulders above Grand Seiko, that Grand Seiko is, after all, built like a Japanese watch.

There is no denying that Credor watches are high-quality. However, another great feature of their watches lies in how they are so obviously well-crafted both in design and structure. The watches they offer showcase a unique and distinct art style. Moreover, they also have a good mix of watches for both genders.

The Credor Minute Repeater (ref. GBLS998) is Seiko's most expensive and complicated watch, retailing for a nearly unfathomable JPY34,650,000, or about USD418,000. That is an extraordinary price, but this is an extraordinary watch.

The Credor name and “Golden Peak” logo was eventually put on the dial instead of the Seiko logo mark beginning in 1980. The logo is meant to embody a mountain, which represents the peak or top of watchmaking. The three stars found at the top of the logo are representative of the three main tenets of Credor.

What is the most rare King Seiko? ›

The King Seiko 5246-6060 here was made in 1973, and for one year only. It uses a 5200 series Seiko movement made in the Dianni factory in Japan. These movements were made to such a high level with a keen focus on fine regulation (hence most have a regulating screw outside the casing).

The difference is that the Grand Seiko watch is made from a higher-quality stainless steel material. In other cases (such as in the creation of custom pieces) higher-quality materials – such as titanium and platinum- are used.

What is the most expensive Grand Seiko watch? The most expensive Grand Seiko watch is the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon, which sold for $478,000, the highest price ever for a Grand Seiko sold at auction.

Seiko Group (セイコー・グループ, Seikō Gurūpu) is a Japanese corporate group consisting of three core companies Seiko Group Corp. (Seiko), Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII) and Seiko Epson Corp (Epson).

If you don't mind quartz watches and the extra accuracy the tech brings, Citizen watches might be your best bet. Alternatively, if you prefer the tradition of mechanical watches, with a cost-friendly price, then Seiko watches should be your choice! Either way, it'll be a win.

Is Grand Seiko the same as Seiko? While both Seiko and Grand Seiko are part of the Seiko Watch Corporation, they are not the same brand. Grand Seiko was, in fact, part of Seiko for years. In 2017, however, Grand Seiko became a fully independent watch brand.

Grand Seiko produces luxury watches so they will retain most of their value depending on the watch that you purchase and if you can buy it at a discount. Like most watches though you'll see a depreciation of 5-20% when you try to resell it but that isn't to say that it's the same for all models.

Tag Heuer is more a luxury brand than Seiko and costs a tad more. Most of Tad Heuer's watches cost over a few thousand dollars. There are also more affordable pieces, but they do not have these complex mechanisms and are not so popular.

Grand Seiko produces luxury watches that can retain most of their value depending on the style of watch that you purchase and it's purchase price.

Who owns Credor watch? ›

It is a Seiko Corporation brand, after all. In fact, Seiko used to put its logo in the dial of Credor watches as well. However, around the early 1980s, the dials of Credor watches became populated by the brand's own “Golden Peak” logo and name, instead of Seiko's.

Spring Drive is the most accurate watch on the market now.

It's more precise than METAS certified Master Chronometer and COSC certified Chronometer watches. And it's twice as accurate than Rolex Chronometer Superlative.

The Graff Diamonds Hallucination is the most expensive watch in the world, with a price tag of $55 million. This watch is adorned with over 110 carats of rare and colorful diamonds, including pink, blue, green, yellow, and orange diamonds.

The Credor Spring Drive Decimal Minute Repeater GBLS998 is priced at $400,000 USD and only a few pieces are made per year.

Do Seiko Watches Hold Their Value. In general, Seiko watches do not hold their value well. There are only a few limited edition models that will occasionally increase in value over time but for the most part value retention is not what Seiko watches are known for.

The eight-pointed star, when present on the dial, signals it is a “Special Dial” that utilises precious materials/metals for the dial plate, hands, and/or markers. (As an example, SBGZ003 has 14k white gold hands and markers as indicated by the star present on the dial).

The first digit indicates the year, the following character the month and the remaining 4 digits a unique production number. The month is listed as 1-9 for January to September, then 0 for October, N for November and D for December. View fullsize. For example on this case number of 7005-8062 the serial number is 652290 ...

In 1892 Kintaro Hattori bought a disused factory in Tokyo and Seikosha was formed (In Japanese, "Seiko" means "exquisite", "minute" or "success" and "sha" means house).

"Grand Seiko" is a luxury brand that offers timepieces made by master craftsmen in Seiko's two exclusive watchmaking studios, using exclusive movements and the highest grade materials. Each Grand Seiko watch is instantly recognizable because of its simplicity of form and its understated elegance.

Why is Grand Seiko cheaper than Rolex? ›

Indeed, the two brands are priced differently depending on their buyers' various value propositions. The Rolex vintage models have a higher demand compared to the Grand Seiko vintage models. This has caused the Rolex vintage models to have very high prices, both new and pre-owned, unlike their Japanese counterparts.

In Grand Seiko's 10-beat movement, the balance wheel that controls the accuracy of the mechanical watch oscillates at 10 beats per second.

It is unique to Grand Seiko, partly because no other brand has managed to achieve what they have done. The Spring Drive combines the best of quartz and mechanical into one. It generates energy like every other mechanical watch, but uses a quartz crystal to regulate the timing, creating a high level of precision.

With an annual production of 35,000 Grand Seiko watches (close to the likes of Audemars Piguet's total production, for example), most of the watches stay in Asia. The pre-owned market for Grand Seiko watches is relatively small, especially outside Asia.

With leading watchmaking, durability and legibility, every Grand Seiko is still handmade in Japan by elite craftsmen and women.

Rolex may be king, but Grand Seiko is holding court. In today's watch landscape Rolex is king. In terms of both sales and the cultural zeitgeist, no brand comes close.

In many cases, Seiko watches can be a great buy. While some of the lower end models may not gain much in value, the middle and upper end of the Seiko line tend to appreciate over time.

That said, most (but not all) costs for a Grand Seiko service are less expensive than a Rolex, with the highest priced movement being the same as Rolex.

This year Grand Seiko has secured its place in the top 10 brands across all men's price bands above $2,000. According to retail analyst NPD, its watches are now ranked number three in the $5,000 to $7,000 price range, up from number six last year.

Seiko is at the forefront of innovation and prides itself on its redeeming quality. In the past, all of its parts and movements were made exclusively in Japan. These days, however, they have subsidiaries in other parts of Asia where the movement is manufactured. These are namely Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

Who owns Grand Seiko? ›

Seiko provides traditional, stylish, functional, and innovative timepieces that all come from its revolutionary mindset. Bulova has unique and loud designs, and the brand stands out for its style and accuracy. However, Seiko's sleek and classy design earns more respect than any other in the competitive market.

But at the end of it all, Seiko is more focused on exquisite, complicated dress watches, and its range has always included some gorgeous ones and Haute Horlogerie pieces, such as the SARB065, SARB066, and Presage SSA343J1, whereas Tissot has a much sharper eye for high-end sports watches.

As such, buyers are less willing to purchase an Orient watch. Orient has been below the Seiko brand for a long time, but they still manage to maintain excellent traits. Orient is a well-known watch logo, but Seiko is by far the better choice. Seiko has earned its spot as one of the choice watchmakers worldwide.

As mentioned earlier, authentic Seiko watches come with a guarantee card to ensure that it's original. The guarantee card also includes other information, such as the watch model and country of origin. If a counterfeit Seiko has one, the guarantee card will look adjusted in a way that's not like the original.

Because it has the most accurate and technologically advanced mechanical watch movement. It contains the new caliber 9R01 Spring Drive with an eight-day power reserve and a whopping 56 jewels. The case material is a rare platinum 950, a blend containing 95% platinum.

Citizen isn't a luxury watch. It might look luxurious, but several factors take it off that list. For starters, it's too cost-friendly, with the most expensive going for between S$900 and S$1,000+. Second, Citizen doesn't use luxury materials like platinum or gold on its timepieces.

Grand Seiko produces luxury watches that can retain most of their value depending on the style of watch that you purchase and it's purchase price.

In some instances, both Seiko watch models are made from stainless steel. The difference is that the Grand Seiko watch is made from a higher-quality stainless steel material. In other cases (such as in the creation of custom pieces) higher-quality materials – such as titanium and platinum- are used.

The popular watch models of Seiko which are known to have their Japanese Domestic Market versions are similar to their international versions in visual and mechanical terms. However, as a Japanese watch marker, the quality of watches that Seiko launches in Japan tend to be better than the international siblings.

Why would you buy a Grand Seiko? ›

Grand Seiko does not just make beautiful-looking watches; there is also a lot to say about the movements driving them. They are all in-house and range from their 9F quartz, 9R Spring Drive to the 9S mechanical.

The brand TAG Heuer itself has been known for making the most accurate watches. They have made exceptionally accurate timepieces, such as the Mikrogirder, Mikrotimer, and the impressive Caliber 360, which is accurate to 100th of a second.

Is Grand Seiko worth the money? The answer to this question is a wholehearted “YES!” If there's one brand that offers great value for money, it's Grand Seiko. Its history, movements, design, and finishing are all pretty much unmatched for the money.

Nicolas Cage has always been drawn to intriguing aesthetics rooted in nature and texture, making a Grand Seiko a natural evolution for his collection.