Credor GCAR043: The JDM Sleeper Watch [Review]
I’m proud to have snagged this pre-owned Credor GCAR043 on New Year’s Day! I’ve been really curious about high accuracy quartz (HAQ) watches for ages (there are more photos in the comments).
For those who don’t know, Credor is a JDM brand owned by Seiko. While they’re most well known for their insanely beautiful Eichi II which retails for a whopping $50,000 USD, you can find loads of pre-owned Seiko 8J quartz-powered Credor watches under $1,000 USD. Some even have 18K gold or white gold! For a watch under 1K! They can be found on eBay and Chrono24, but you can also find plenty on Japanese auction sites such as OneMap Japan, yahoo.jp and Buyee.
I picked this up for $513 from Japanese Chrono24 dealer Closer (also known as Closer0924 on eBay) and had it shipped from Japan to upstate NY in about a week. I’m amazed by how lightweight, small and stunningly thin (6.5mm!) it is. This watch makes me feel so classy and sophisticated. Like it feels at home near a posh bar by the seaside or a rooftop lounge on a warm summer night. It hugs my wrist so well thanks to the H-link bracelet.
Unfortunately, it often tugs my hair when I’m putting it on, but it doesn’t bother me when it’s secured on my wrist.
The dial is pristine. It has a porcelain-like white dial edge and a silver guilloche finish in the center with “Credor” printed at the top. It also has mirror-like, dazzling indices with the Credor logo at the 12. The markers are beautifully polished and are mesmerizing to look at.
The case is really interesting, too. It has an octagonal bezel but the watch itself has a sort of hexagon-like shape. The polishing shimmers easily in the light.
The 8J81 movement in this watch is the predecessor to the famous 9F quartz movement that Grand Seiko uses in their entry level models. Sure, it doesn’t have the 9F’s double-tick feature or a hermetically sealed case, but the 8J is thermocompensated, well-finished and still has accuracy to within 10 seconds PER YEAR. That’s absolutely insane! The crown is octagonal and features a raised Credor logo.
Cons? No lume (but I don’t care), expensive parts (if you have to send it to GS for servicing), and Credor watches are hard to find info about; not just reference numbers, but even the brand, too. Also, many of the Credors out there have no spare links.
If you’re looking for a great sports/dress watch hybrid for under $1,000, take a look at used Credors. I’m sure you’ll find something you love, like I did!
Credor GCAR043: The JDM Sleeper Watch [Review]
Yes
No
- Makes you feel insanely classy for not a whole lot of cash
- High accuracy Seiko 8J quartz movement
- Small size
- Extremely lightweight, thin and comfortable
- Gorgeous dial and case finishing
- Credor is an obscure JDM brand, makes you feel “in the know”
- Bracelet often snags hair when putting it on
- Thin and lightweight could be a negative for some who feel those attributes make a watch feel “cheap”
- No lume
- Expensive servicing (if needed)
- Sort of obscure brand; difficult to source watches and research
Apart from stainless steel sports watches, I'm a huge aerospace fan and have a passion for anything with a jet or rocket engine strapped to it.
More from golfping59
More pictures here! The bottom pic is the Credor compared to my Seiko SNE585 solar diver.
That is unreal. Thank you for sharing. Such a phenomenal dressy daily piece. The prices have me looking now. Unbelievable!
Great review! If it's anything like my GS, you shouldn't really need lume unless you're in pitch black. The polish on the hands and indices is so strong that they will catch the light in all but the darkest of rooms. Don't tell too many people about Credor or the prices will start rising. I've always wanted one of the Phoenix 3 handers that they made. Sort of like a Credor Alpinist, if you will.
Closer is a good seller. I’m planning on buying more from them. Love the credor!
Great review! If it's anything like my GS, you shouldn't really need lume unless you're in pitch black. The polish on the hands and indices is so strong that they will catch the light in all but the darkest of rooms. Don't tell too many people about Credor or the prices will start rising. I've always wanted one of the Phoenix 3 handers that they made. Sort of like a Credor Alpinist, if you will.
I agree about the lack of lume; the reflections are quite strong! It’s no GS level of polish, but it’s pretty dang strong. And oh man, those Phoenix’s are Seiko’s best kept secrets…they’re rare but if found, they’re a total gem.
JDM sleeper indeed. There’s so many options on the secondhand market at such reasonable prices. Thanks for sharing!