In 2026, at Watches & Wonders Geneva, Credor unveiled the "Gold Feather Tourbillon Engraved Limited Edition" Ref. GBCF997, a limited edition model. Watch enthusiast and writer Shun Horiuchi takes an in-depth look at it. From the engraving on the dial and movement of this timepiece, Horiuchi sees the "value" demonstrated by this Japanese dress watch brand, and the true strength of Credor.
Photographs & Text by Shun Horiuchi
[Article published on January 30, 2026]
The "value" that Credor demonstrated with W&WG
Of the brands offered by Seiko Watch Corporation, Grand Seiko has participated in Watches & Wonders Geneva (hereinafter W&WG) since 2022. While the company usually announces numerous new products each year, it can be said that at W&WG, it has continued to focus mainly on an elite selection of models. Then, in 2026, a memorial year, Credor participated in this trade fair for the first time, expressing a different set of values from Grand Seiko, despite being a luxury watch brand originating from Japan. This meant "symbolizing the belief in achieving the pinnacle of quality and beauty as a dress watch brand originating from Japan," and as its top model, the "Gold Feather Tourbillon Engraved Limited Edition" was released.
Having had the opportunity to get hands-on with this model, I'll delve into its details.
A limited edition model featuring a tourbillon with a hand-engraved dial and movement. Manual winding (Cal. 6850). 22 jewels. 21,600 vibrations/hour. Power reserve of approximately 60 hours. Platinum case (38.6mm diameter, 8.6mm thickness). 3 ATM water resistance. Limited to 25 pieces worldwide (18 in Japan). 28,600,000 yen (including tax). Scheduled for release on August 7, 2026 (Friday).
Engraving in detail
The most noteworthy aspect of this piece is its "engraving." This engraving is unique to Credor, and while it is based on Western engraving techniques that achieve smooth and delicate carvings, it is characterized by the sharp, gleaming finish of the engraved surface, similar to Japanese engraving.
Traditional Japanese engraving involves hammering chisels to create powerful and brilliant designs. Western engraving, on the other hand, uses tools with fine blades to cut out shapes, allowing for delicate expressions. Credor employs a unique technique that combines the best of both worlds. The goal is to achieve a design that is both delicate and reflective, while still allowing for the delicate engraving of extremely thin parts, which is best suited to Western engraving. Credor's engravers create their own custom engraving tools (bites) tailored to the desired patterns or the shape of their own hands, and achieve this technique through years of rigorous training. Credor's unique engraving technique is said to have been established in 1996, and this year marks its 30th anniversary. This model can be considered the culmination of this distinctive engraving technique to date.
Let's start by looking at the dial of this watch.
The dial has a two-piece structure, likely made of brass. The central disc is slightly raised from the outer surface with the indices. Both surfaces are engraved with extremely delicate radial lines, not a simple matte finish. This too appears to be handcrafted.
One of the true highlights of this piece's engraving is the Roman numeral indices on the outer edge. They are thin and delicate, and the fact that these straight lines can be accurately engraved freehand seems almost superhuman. The dot minute indices are made by individually engraving tiny circles known as "nanako" patterns. The piece I was shown was made by Hisashi Ogawa, Credor's engraving master, who showcased his exquisite skills at the "Time Techniques Exhibition" that garnered much attention earlier this year.
The engraving on the movement itself is breathtaking. What's astonishing is that the bridge of the Cal.6850, which is only 0.25mm at its thinnest point, features radial engraving that reaches a depth of 0.15mm at its deepest point.
The thinness of the bridge, at 0.25mm, is astonishing (in my experience, even the thinnest parts of mass-produced movements are at most about 0.4mm), but if you were to engrave to a depth of 0.15mm, it would be reduced to a mere 0.1mm, as anyone can understand. Even the 0.25mm thickness before engraving would easily bend with even the slightest pressure. The bridge is undoubtedly held in place to withstand the stress of engraving, and that stress is minimized by extremely sharp tools during the engraving process, but the engraver who can achieve this is truly a "god-handed" craftsman. Even if the appearance can be confirmed with a binocular microscope, the engraving itself is almost entirely a matter of feel.
Let's take a deeper look at Cal.6850 as well.
The Cal.6850 movement used in this model is based on the Cal.6830 movement used in the "FUGAKU" Ref.GBCC999, a limited edition tourbillon engraved model released exactly 10 years ago in 2016. At the time, this movement was considered the world's smallest tourbillon in terms of volume, with a base movement thickness of 1.98mm, a total thickness of 3.98mm including the carriage, and a diameter of 25.6mm, and a power reserve of approximately 37 hours. However, in today's world where watches with long power reserves have become standard, 37 hours was probably considered too short. The Cal.6850 was redesigned, mainly around the mainspring barrel, and achieved a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.
In both Cal.6830 and Cal.6850, the second wheel is pushed out from the center by the tourbillon carriage, and the axis of the hour and minute hands is slightly off-center towards the 3 o'clock position rather than in the center of the movement. FUGAKU positioned the movement in the center of the watch, so the off-center position of the hour and minute hands was compensated for by shifting the position of the indices.
In this watch, the hour and minute hands are not off-center when viewed from the front. The reason for this becomes clear when you look at the case back. The position is corrected by the presence of a crescent-shaped spacer. The engraving is integrated into a cohesive design that makes good use of not only the three-part movement bridge but also this spacer, and it does not give the impression of being a negative element such as the commonly cited "spacer for fitting a small movement into a large watch."
The movement's base plate and bridges appear to be made of brass with a rhodium plating, but this is extremely thin and does not dull any of the details.
Based on the Cal.68 series, the Credor "Gold Feather" is often compared to Grand Seiko among watch enthusiasts, as both are high-end watches produced by Seiko Watch. However, the philosophy behind their creation is fundamentally different: Grand Seiko has pursued modern practicality and high precision, while Gold Feather attempts to reinterpret the very value of a classic, thin, hand-wound movement.
The discussion then shifts to the movement's details. The tourbillon carriage bridge, visible from the dial side, has a double-arm shape and a blued surface, adding an accent to the delicate dial design. Anyone who sees it will recognize it as a special tourbillon model. The shape of the carriage bridge is different from that of FUGAKU, and it is not a reuse of the same parts.
Similarly, the screws on the case back are blued, creating a nice contrast with the rhodium-plated surface. However, the only thing that bothered me about such an ultra-high-priced model (and this is really the only thing) was that the heads of the pawl screws were not perfectly flat. While the rest of the finish is of the highest quality, I think it falls just short of the highest standard. By "highest standard," I mean the general Swiss watchmaking style, which states that the highest standard screws are made of steel, have a perfectly flat surface with black polishing, a 45-degree bevel on the slotted head that is mirror-polished, and have a C or R on the outer circumference of the screw head that is also mirror-polished. Whether or not they are blued screws is irrelevant.
I have always emphasized the importance of balancing details, and I wouldn't bother pointing this out if it were a Grand Seiko. Of course, this could be unique to this sample piece, so I look forward to seeing how it looks in future mass-produced versions.
Exterior details
Next, let's move on to the exterior. The case is made of platinum 950, and while the edges aren't sharply defined, the precision of the shape and the level of polishing are extremely high. The curved surface of the case back feels very comfortable against the skin. This is likely due in large part to the use of a curved sapphire crystal for the case back. The case is thin at 8.6mm, giving it a truly feather-like feel when worn. I also carefully examined hard-to-polish areas such as between the lugs and the backs of the lugs, and felt that they more than meet the standards of a luxury watch.
The hands have the same shape as those in the Gold Feather collection, but this model uses blued hands, which offer excellent visibility.
The sapphire crystal has a slim, boxy shape that blends seamlessly with the gently curving case back and sides, and together with the delicate lug design, the entire case is elegant. The CREDOR and Goldfeather logos are printed on the inside of the crystal. While I generally prefer the logo to be on the dial, I can understand this decision if it was made to highlight the engraving.
The strap is made of crocodile leather on both sides, a top-of-the-line material. The buckle, like the case, is a platinum folding buckle with a standard, easy-to-use shape and a beautifully polished surface. The Credor logo is proudly displayed, and I felt that both the texture and operation were of a high level. Furthermore, for a high-priced watch like this one, the inclusion of a folding buckle is desirable from a safety perspective.
Summary
This Credor model, featuring intricate engraving, is a special timepiece that allows you to fully appreciate the masterful engraving techniques of the craftsman.
In my previous article, I delved into the "Masterpiece Collection Hand-wound Spring Drive Engraved Limited Edition" Ref. SBGZ011, a Grand Seiko engraved model also unveiled at W&WG 2026. I would like to conclude by stating that this latest model is clearly distinct from that Grand Seiko engraving (Reference:https://www.webchronos.net/features/161605/).
Even though it's all engraving, it's easy to imagine that the techniques required are different from those needed to intricately engrave the solid platinum case of a Grand Seiko. On the other hand, the highlight of this piece is that the bridges, which are intricately and boldly engraved with perfect flatness and no distortion whatsoever, are harmoniously assembled into a single movement, complete with a tourbillon mechanism.
To put it simply, if the engraving of Grand Seiko is a beauty achieved through the painstaking and persistent completion of a massive amount of work, then the engraving of this piece is a beauty achieved through the precision and tension imbued in each and every stroke. I feel I have witnessed the true potential of Credor's "Gold Feather" compared to Grand Seiko's "Masterpiece Collection."
This model is limited to only 25 units worldwide, with 18 allocated to Japan. Opportunities to see the actual device in person may be rare, so we highly recommend visiting a store and taking a look while it's still available.
