Horological Meandering

foversta
[PuristSPro Moderator]
20814

• Show profile
• Show other posts

The amazing Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie

Thanks to the Seiko Center in Paris, I had the chance to handle a very rare watch: the Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie.

This watch is the proof of the big skills of the Japonese Manufacture which managed to successfully mix innovation with tradition. Introduced in 2006, this watch was developed by Micro Artist Studio which gathered under the leadership of Kenji Shiohara 8 master watchmakers from Seiko. Between 3 and 5 Credor Sonnerie are produced every year.

Forget the classic sonnerie watches from Europe: this one is different.

It is different due to the design of the watch.

For example, a cutout Kikyo flower is put above the mainspring barrel of the sonnerie mechanism. The finishings of the half-skeletonized  dial are impressive and thanks to the blued hands, the time can be read very easily. The PG case is also flawless. The diameter of the watch is 43mm and its thickness 16mm.

You will notice that the layout of the dial is balanced. The two power reserves are located at both sides of the dial and the sonnerie menu at the bottom.

It is different due to the type of sonnerie.

Here it is not a "classic" grande or petite sonnerie with the ability to get a minute repeaters. You have 3 sonnerie modes:

- sonnerie: the number of hours is counted at the passing by chiming every hour on the hour
- original: every 3 hours, the watch strikes 3 times at the passing.
- silence: no sound

At 8 o'clock, there is a pusher which can be used to activate the "hour" repeater function. If it's 6:15 when you press it, the watch will strike 6 times.

It is different due to the type of sound.

The sound is very pure and makes us think about the typical Japonese bell sounds. If you visit the official website of the Credor Sonnerie, you will be able to hear it. While the watch is striking, you see the hammer moving just on the left of the mainspring barrel. Please note that Micro Artist Studio dedicated a lot of energy to reduce the sound of the caliber in order to get the purest sound from the sonnerie.

It is different due to the technology.

The base of the caliber is a Spring Drive caliber.

The 7R06 caliber is a handwind caliber with 617 components and two mainspring barrels: one for the time function, one for the sonnerie function. The power reserve of the watch is 48 hours and of the sonnerie mechanism is around 40 hours. Of course, there is something fascinating watching the gliding second hand.

Thanks to the realibility of the Spring Drive technology, the watch can easily be worn on a daily basis. Well, there is one point you should take care of: the watch is not waterproof.

But what a pleasure to wear it! The case is very comfortable and we can spend hours watching the second hand moving on the flawless dial. As you can understand it, I was totally seduced by this watch. Because it brings something different. It brings innovation and Japonese tradition at the same time. It brings technology and beauty. If one day, you have the ability to see it, don't miss it ! You won't be disappointed.

So, here are the pics I took:

Site Info.