Credor Locomotive

The Gerald Genta-designed Locomotive was introduced in 1979 and became one of the best-known timepieces in the history of Credor, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 

The relationship between Gérald Genta and the Seiko company reaches back to the 1970s. Mr. Genta, who visited Japan many times, created the Locomotive in response to a request from a member of Seiko's founding family who greatly admired his work. The famed designer considered it an honor to work for the Japanese manufacturer, and as such, the 1979 Locomotive became a symbol of the deep friendship and mutual respect between Mr. Genta and Seiko.

The Locomotive name was personally given by Mr. Genta, who, according to Mrs. Evelyne Genta, very rarely named the watches he designed. It evokes the power of an advancing train while also having significance as a French term meaning "driving force." Mr. Genta assigned the name hoping it would drive Credor ahead and, by extension, lead Seiko into the future.

For the 2024 Locomotive, every detail has been re-examined and reproduced based on Gérald Genta's original sketch. The original's iconic hexagonal bezel with six screws has been preserved. Only now, the screws have been adapted to be functional rather than merely decorative for the sake of long-term use as well as easy maintenance. The case has various types of finishing applied to its surfaces, from the bezel to the sides, adding to the beauty and appeal of the entire design. The black dial takes its inspiration from a steam locomotive. Based on Genta's original sketch, a digital dial rendering with approximately 1,600 radial lines was created, reinterpreting the original dial pattern. Inheriting the design of Genta's sketch, the new bracelet is carefully constructed and features the same taper and hexagonal intermediary links that gave the original its distinctive character.

The watch is powered by the Caliber CR01, a new automatic movement exclusive to Credor. The three-hand movement with date allows the new Locomotive to maintain a thin profile of less than 9mm and elegant proportions in line with those of Gérald Genta's celebrated original.