u/PaternalAdvice

When I first Googled “GBAT996”, I got no results. A literal “did not match any documents” page.  I contacted Seiko in the hopes it might be able to shed some light on this unusual-looking Credor, but it was beyond even their reach. A “low-production model from the 1990s” was all that could be confirmed.

The full article is too long for Reddit. Click here to read it.

The motifs found throughout the GBAT996 feel appropriately unusual for such an elusive watch. The hands, case, and dial layout resemble nothing else in Credor’s catalogue. And when was the last time you saw a Seiko on a factory-issued ostrich strap? It isn’t even a material you can search for on Seiko’s official strap website.

As a result, traditional comparisons become difficult because nothing here feels derivative - at least not horologically speaking. From a broader design perspective though, the GBAT996 looks unmistakably Art Deco to me.

Between the 18k gold case, internally-carved lug architecture, layered crown, geometric applied indices, novel spade hands, radial fan-motif dial, and warm monochromatic palette, this feels like a distinctly Japanese interpretation of classic 1930s design.

However you interpret the overall design, this is unmistakably a great looking watch - so why didn’t it spawn sequels, spin-offs, and reimaginings? The deeper I venture into the Seiko rabbit hole, the more comfortable I become chalking things up to Seiko being Seiko.

tl;dr? I shot a video of the watch in action. Click here to see it.

Seiko has worked with some of Japan’s finest artisans over the years - which is hardly surprising given how often the brand uses its dials to celebrate traditional Japanese craftsmanship. What is surprising, however, is Seiko’s willingness to use the best-in-class across vastly different collections and price points.

The aptly named and beautifully textured Ice at Dawn - or GCCD993 if you want to be less poetic - is the work of Ando Cloisonne Company. Based in Nagoya, Japan, and founded in the 1800s, it is one of Japan’s 33,000 Shinise businesses - companies that have remained in continuous operation for over 100 years.

Its catalogue is expansive. Over the decades, their artisans have both mastered and applied dozens of different enamelling techniques to everything from vases to tableware, and jewellery boxes to artwork. So it makes sense that their work with Seiko has been just as wide ranging.

The full article is too long for Reddit, so please click here to read it. It’s an in-depth look at Seiko’s historic relationships with its master craftsmen, as well as an overview of Credor’s two most prominent collections.