Credor "Art Deco" GBAT996 / 8J80-6000

Model: Credor "Art Deco" GBAT996 / 8J80-6000 Year: 1994 Features: The Rarity. Googling this reference will yield no results. I reached out to my contact at Seiko in the hope they 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 they could confirm. They weren't kidding. The Theme. 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. The Design. 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. The Movement. Inside is a legendary 8J HAQ, which represents Seiko’s last whatever the cost approach to making quartz movements, before being replaced by the more economical 9F calibre seen in Grand Seikos. Like the 9F, the 8J boasts accuracy of ±10 seconds per year, but dedicated testing by the WUS community shows the 8J consistently outperforms the 9F across all temperature ranges. Specifications: Condition: In great condition overall. Minor hairlines on the gold case. but nothing of any real significance. Scope: Box and papers Movement: 8J80 Credor Quartz Dimensions: Case Width: 35.5mm Lug to Lug: 37.2mm Case Thickness: 5.9mm