Ding Dong....

Word of caution to Switzerland, the Japanese are back! ... or at least they are trying, but with a different approach this time. While the Chinese are busy developing low cost movements that not long ago were Monopolies of the Swiss, the Japanese are attempting to enter the high-end finishing market. I must admit that Credor was amongst the interesting stands at the Basel Fair (wait, I forgot to add them to my BEST list, will correct that right now...) and really think that their effort will eventually show sooner or later. It will take time though before people will accept that the Japanese are capable of making serious watches and it will take even longer before people would be willing to pay close-to European prices. I won't be sorry about that since it was their fault in the first place. That's what you get guys for flooding the market (and almost destroying the Swiss Watch Industry in the process) with cheap crap. Serves you well guys, now fix it.

At this point what I find unrealistic is a Seiko priced at over 100,000 €, even if it is a repeater. What becomes ludicrous are statements like;

"The very first production timepiece for the international market will be available at the SEIKO Center in Paris in November for private viewing by appointment."

So now, you need to take an appointment to see a Seiko? What will be next, background checks and recommendations to have the honor to own one? Pride would be a big reason why I would never ask for an appointment to see a Seiko. Especially since most really big names (Patek, AP, Jaeger...) will INVITE you personally to see even more extraordinary pieces than this. Some people should definitely be checked for drugs on a regular basis. A good clue is when they come up with ideas such as this. Lange tried something like that with their Tourbograph, but was discarded because the dealers refused to enforce and tell the client that first he had to be accepted, allowed and qualify to spend over 400,000 € on a watch. I dare not say what I would tell my dealer if he came with such demands (in the unlikely case I would ever consider something like that, let alone even afford it!). "Stick it where the Sun don't shine" ...would be the first thing that comes to my mind.

I will not be surprised when the first pieces of this Credor start to hit the secondary market at 60% to 70% discounts rather sooner than later.

Nice "exercise" though...

Press release...

Credor...