The history of Seiko, the parent corporation of the high-end brand Credor, began in 1881 when a 21-year-old entrepreneur named Kintaro Hattori opened a watch and clock repair shop in Tokyo, Japan. Initially called K. Hattori, the business focused on retailing and servicing imported timepieces. In 1892, Hattori established the Seikosha factory to begin manufacturing his own wall clocks, marking the start of his journey as a producer. By 1895, the company released its first pocket watch, the Timekeeper, and in 1913, it produced the Laurel, the first wristwatch made in Japan.
The enterprise faced a major turning point in 1923 when the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed its headquarters and factory. Hattori’s commitment to rebuilding and his decision to replace customers’ destroyed watches free of charge earned significant public trust. In 1924, the company launched its first wristwatch branded with the name Seiko. Over the following decades, the corporation became a pioneer in global horology, notably launching the first Grand Seiko in 1960 and the world’s first quartz wristwatch, the Astron, in 1969.
In 1974, Seiko introduced the “Crêt D’or” collection to showcase its peak artisanal capabilities. This collection, which evolved into the standalone Credor brand, was established to focus on precious metals, ultra-thin mechanical movements, and high-end artistic craftsmanship, such as engraving and lacquer work. While Grand Seiko focused on the “ideal” everyday watch with high precision and legibility, Credor became the corporation’s outlet for avant-garde design and haute horlogerie.
Today, the Seiko Group Corporation remains a vertically integrated manufacturer, producing nearly every component in-house. Credor continues to represent the absolute summit of this hierarchy, utilizing the specialized Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri to produce globally acclaimed masterpieces like the Eichi II and the Fugaku Tourbillon. Through Credor, the Seiko Corporation demonstrates a unique blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and advanced electronic and mechanical technologies, maintaining its founder’s original philosophy of being always one step ahead.