Closing Out 2024: The Last Newsletter From Provenance Watches
And as promised, lots of watches have been crammed into this one!
The Precursor
This is it. The final newsletter of 2024. It’s been a pleasure writing for all of you this year, and I’m looking forward to picking things back up in 2025. Have a great break, everyone!
Credor 5R77-0AE0 Spring Drive Moonphase
Here’s another breathtaking Credor Node Spring Drive that I suspect you haven’t encountered before. While thematically similar to the GCLL999 featured last week, the GCLL992 we have today takes a decidedly different stylistic direction. Its rich chocolate dial is paired with a solid 18kt rose gold bezel and indices, creating a warm, opulent aesthetic. The additional weight of the gold is perfectly counterbalanced by the lightweight titanium case, ensuring exceptional comfort for all-day wear.
As expected of a high-end Credor Spring Drive, the finishing is immaculate. While I can only include one image of this remarkable timepiece in today’s newsletter (email size limitations), I highly encourage you to click the link below to view the detailed shots on my website. One particular highlight is the moon indicator, also crafted from rose gold, with intricately rendered details that bring the lunar surface to life.
The Credor GCLL992 is available to buy on our website.
Very good condition overall. A clean dial and crystal, with minor signs of wear on the case. Original strap. Comes with box and papers.
Seiko SARD012 Urushi Lacquer and Maki-e
If the SARW013 and SARD007 had a rose gold baby. While that comparison might be lazy, it’s also not wrong. The SARD012 blends the urushi lacquered dial and maki-e gold hands of the SARW013 with the elegant double retrograde complication of the SARD007.
If you would like to read about how these jet-black, lacquer dials are made, please click here.
And for more details about my favourite affordable watch complication - the double retrograde, please click here.
Despite its similarities to these iconic models, the SARD012 offers a unique exoticism. Its rose gold maki-e hands are tinged with a peach hue, perfectly complementing the dial markers and text. The rose gold case and crocodile-embossed leather strap complete the distinct aesthetic.
Discontinued nearly a decade ago, the SARD012 stood as the crowning jewel of Seiko's SARD collection, priced above its double retrograde siblings. The rarest of the bunch, and with a retail price of $1,700, it’s no wonder this watch has become highly coveted. The most recent visible sale of a SARD012 was on WatchUSeek in 2017, where it fetched $1,700.
The SARD012 is available to buy on our website.
Great condition. Any marks are mild and not of significance. Original strap. Comes with box and papers.
Seiko 3883-7000 “Superior” Brushed Steel
Even without the morpho dial, the design of this watch remains stunning. You may have immediately - and correctly - identified this as a “Morpho” without the morphing dial. And as fantastic as the morphing butterfly wing dial is, there’s still a lot to love about the brushed steel version.
The watch retains the impressive 3883 “Superior” quartz movement, boasting an accuracy of ±12 seconds per year, as well as its 60 applied indices – a hallmark of meticulous craftsmanship. The butterfly wing dial has been replaced with brushed steel , but that’s not the only notable change. On the Morpho, both the hour and minute markers are rendered in steel, but here is where the watches differ. On this version, the minute markers have four vertical grooves cut into their faces, and the hour markers have been chemically blackened which gives the dial a certain gravitas.
The case, with its crisp edges and brushed surfaces, remains untouched across both models – a wise choice, as it’s hard to improve on perfection. If you missed my original Morpho write-up, which delves into what makes Seiko confident enough to write “Superior” on this dial, please click here to read it.
While I, like every reasonable human, adore the Morpho, I genuinely believe there’s a time and a place for both the Butterfly Wing and Brushed Steel variants. Each brings its own distinct personality to an already outstanding design.
The Steel 3883-7000 is available to buy on our website.
Great condition overall. Hard to believe the watch is 50 years old. All original, apart from the aftermarket bracelet.
SCVE012 “Bronze Dot”
Bronze? How many Dots are there? Eight! I did a full write-up about this elusive Dot Series a few weeks ago, so please click here to read it if you missed it.
It’s a fun, everyday watch, that will dutifully add a splash of colour to any outfit. While the strap is aftermarket, it is the same colour as the original strap, ensuring the bronze accents can still be found on the second hand, date window, 24-hour dial, and strap.
The SCVE008 Bronze Dot is available to buy on our website.
Great condition. Serviced. Some minor marks on the case, but nothing significant. Aftermarket strap.
SCVF007 “Red” White Alpinist, Deadstock with Full Kit
Whenever I see one, I’m immediately transported to a cosy log cabin somewhere in Switzerland. Whisky in hand, an open fire crackling in the background, a vigorous day of skiing behind me, and a SCVF007 on my wrist. Absolute perfection.
This classic Alpinist doesn’t need much said about it, however, the unique opportunity before you today is the chance to grab a deadstock SCVF007. Double boxed in the original Japanese boxes, with papers, and the original Japanese double tags! Not something I’ve personally ever seen before.
Fair warning, due to the condition, scope, and the fact it has just been serviced by Seiko in Japan, this SCVF009 has a premium price. It is more aimed at collectors, looking for NOS/Deadstock, rather than someone looking for a SCVF007 to wear on a regularly basis. I will have “normal” (i.e. not NOS/Deadstock, and without box and papers) SCVF007 watches for sale in the new year - priced at the standard ~$1050.
The Deadstock SCVF007 is available to buy on our website.
Fantastic condition. Serviced by Seiko Japan. Despite its unworn condition, there have some handling marks - for example some very light scratches are visible on the bottom of the caseback. Full box, papers and tags.
Campanola 6771-T010750TA / 68TA Grand Complication
Your choice of blue or black urushi lacquer. This Grand Complication Campanola Citizen combines artisanal craftsmanship with horological sophistication, featuring a moon phase, leap year perpetual triple calendar, 12-hour split-time chronograph, 24-hour dial, and a minute repeater.
As mentioned in a previous newsletter (click here to catch up if you missed it), both dials are finished with urushi lacquer - one in a deep black and the other in a striking blue. The lacquer is mixed with titanium, creating an ethereal effect reminiscent of the Milky Way as seen from Earth.
The Black 6771 Campanola is available to buy on our website.
The Blue 6771 Campanola is available to buy on our website.
Both in very good condition overall. No marks on either crystal or dials. Some marks on their bezels, and the Black one has some markings on the caseback. Both with box and papers.
Seiko “Moon At Dawn” SPB085
Traditional Japanese craftsmanship stacked on top of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. In addition to the glossy black Urushi base, the maroon subdials are created using the Byakudan-nuri technique. This process involves sprinkling powdered gold and silver over the freshly lacquered subdials, followed by multiple layers of red-tinged, hand-applied lacquer, in order to create the perfect "moon at dawn" hue. Not a watch I will be covering in full, as the full write-up can be found by clicking here.
This is undoubtedly a special watch - its steadily rising price suggests enduring popularity across both the West and the East.
The SPB085 is available to buy on our website.
Fantastic condition overall. Appears to be unworn. Full box and papers.
Grand Seiko 8J55-0010 / SBGF009
A frosted dial for the winter season. The SBGF009 houses the legendary 8J thermocompensated HAQ movement, which represents Seiko’s last “whatever the cost” approach to making quartz movements, before being replaced by the more economical 9F calibre. Like the 9F, the 8J boasts accuracy of ±10 seconds per year, but testing shows the 8J consistently outperforms the 9F across all temperature ranges. Please click here to read the full write-up I did a couple of months ago.
The Grand Seiko SBGF009 is available to buy on our website.
Very good condition overall. Serviced by Seiko Japan. There are some light marks on the bezel.
Seiko SAWV003 “Moonphase Door” Presage
As if the dial wasn’t unique enough, Seiko added a magnification door. The results are undeniably weird, but I love it. The door actually acts as a giant magnifier, slightly enlarging the subdials while primarily magnifying whatever lies beneath when you swing it open.
In my opinion, its true function is to evoke Seiko’s unapologetic 1990s approach to design - a time when no design philosophy was too sacred to challenge. Although Seiko has become more reserved in recent years, vintage pieces like this serve as a reminder of their quirky spirit.
The four subdials might look confusing, but don’t worry - I’ve got you covered. Please click here to read the full write-up I did earlier this year.
The SAWV003 is available to buy on our website.
Very good condition overall. Serviced. Scratches can be seen on the “door” bezel.
Citizen Campanola CTU57-0681 Triple Perpetual Calendar
An ironically shaped Triple Perpetual Calendar. Someone recently asked me if Campanola make any “simple” dials for this watch, so here’s a plain black one! If you want to let the complication itself do the talking, then this is the Triple Calendar for you. There’s a lot going on with this watch, so please click here to read the full write-up if you aren’t familiar with it.
The CTU57-0681 is available to buy on our website.
Good condition. Serviced by Citizen in Japan. Light scratches can be seen on the bezel.
Don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see all of the watches above in full cinematic glory later this week.