Citizen is a world-renowned Japanese watch brand. More than a century after its founding, this brand continues to be at the forefront of the watch industry and is highly sought after by many watch enthusiasts. In this article, we will introduce the history, appeal, and popular watches of Citizen watches. We hope you will enjoy the fusion of tradition and cutting-edge technology.
About the manufacturer Citizen
Citizen, Japan's proud watch manufacturer, is a brand with top-class technical capabilities not only in Japan but also around the world.
Its technical capabilities are fully demonstrated in the manufacture of watches, and the brand continues to promote innovative technologies it has developed, such as the photovoltaic system "Eco-Drive" and superior metal surface processing.
The History of Citizen Watches
Citizen Watch was founded in 1918 under the name Shokosha Watch Research Institute.
The company imported European and American machine tools and released its first model, the pocket watch "CITIZEN," in 1924, making its high level of technology known both domestically and internationally.
This led to the company being renamed and established as Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. in 1930.
After the war, when trade in wristwatches was liberalized, Citizen Watch signed an import/export agreement with Bulova of the United States and began selling watches to the American market. In 1973, Citizen Watch released its first quartz wristwatch, the Crystron, and three years later, it released the Crystron Solar Cell, which can be said to be the origin of Eco-Drive.
In the Heisei era, the company released the world's first multi-polarity receiver, analog multi-hand radio-controlled watch compatible with Japanese, German, and British standard radio waves. Then, in 2003, the company released a full-scale line of watches equipped with the "Eco-Drive" function, which eliminates the need for time adjustment or regular battery changes.
And today, Citizen continues to evolve as one of Japan's leading watch brands.
The appeal of Citizen watches
Citizen watches, a watch manufacturer that Japan is proud of, have many appealing features, including the peace of mind of being a domestically produced brand, as well as being packed with advanced technology. Let's take a look at the appeal of Citizen watches one by one.
World-class performance
Citizen watches are famous for boasting the highest level of performance in the world.
When talking about the performance of the company's watches, one thing that cannot be separated from it is their high level of "precision."
Citizen is always striving for the ultimate precision of the second, and while the accuracy of a typical quartz watch is said to be around ±20 seconds per month, Citizen offers models that achieve an astounding annual accuracy of within ±5 seconds.
Some models achieve an annual accuracy of ±1 second, and Citizen's amazing capabilities are evident in the way they demonstrate to the world their astonishing precision, surpassing all others.
Furthermore, Citizen has focused on the indexes to express the ultimate second, creating a design in which the hands overlap the increments.
The dial, which ticks precisely every second, is so beautiful you could gaze upon it for hours without getting bored, and it is a magnificent display that boasts the world's highest level of precision.
A design that never gets boring
One of the attractions of Citizen watches is that they have a simple yet practical design that you will never tire of, even after years of use.
Citizen strives for designs that are suitable for practical watches that are used every day, and manufactures them with an awareness of sophisticated forms that will not fade over time.
In addition, emphasis is placed on making the time easy to read, so no matter which watch you look at, visibility is outstanding.
The hands and dial indexes are faceted, allowing for accurate reading from any angle. The watch is also fitted with a clarity-coated sapphire crystal that is so transparent you'll forget it's there, ensuring excellent visibility both indoors and outdoors.
Toughness of the material
The metal materials used in Citizen watches are treated with a proprietary surface hardening technology called Duratect, which makes the watches extremely scratch-resistant. Its hardness is said to be 2000-2500Hv, the same as sapphire crystal.
Furthermore, when talking about Citizen materials, one thing that cannot be left out is "Super Titanium."
The Super Titanium used in Citizen watches is made by applying the Duract process to titanium, which is difficult to process, and is a unique metal material that is unique to Citizen, which boasts outstanding metal processing technology.
Super titanium is a dream metal that is light, rust-resistant, scratch-resistant, and has the shine of a precious metal while also being hypoallergenic, making it the perfect material for a watch to be worn every day.
Attentive care even after purchase
Regular maintenance is essential to enjoying a luxury watch for many years to come, and Citizen is also thorough in providing after-sales support to owners.
Equipped with Citizen's Eco-Drive technology, regular battery changes are not required.
Also worth mentioning is the membership system available to purchasers. By registering with "MY CITIZEN" after purchase, you can extend the warranty period and check the repair history of your model. Purchasers of The Citizen, Campanola, and Eco-Drive One are also eligible for the "Owners Club" membership system. Compared to other watches, the extended warranty period is set longer: 3 years for Campanola and Eco-Drive One, and 10 years for The Citizen (varies by model).
The company offers repairs for natural breakdowns and free regular inspections for 10 years, making it one of the best support systems in the watch industry.
Furthermore, Citizen aims to keep watch parts in stock for a long time, making it less likely that repairs will be impossible due to a shortage. This stems from Citizen's desire to "ensure that customers can enjoy their precious watches for a long time with peace of mind," and is a service that conveys the confidence backed by its technical capabilities and the peace of mind that only a Japanese manufacturer can provide.
Affordable and friendly
Citizen has always strived to achieve high quality down to the smallest details and put the user first, but another major attraction of Citizen is that its products are not expensive, but rather affordable and approachable.
While some models are expensive, there are also some more basic models available. However, the quality of the watches is not compromised, and the prices are very attractive for those who want to buy a good watch of reliable quality on a limited budget.
The fact that it is an easy choice for a gift and is loved by a wide range of people speaks to the greatness of Citizen.
Top 5 Citizen Watches
Below, we will introduce five carefully selected popular Citizen watches, each with their own high-level mechanisms and appealing designs.
The Citizen AQ4091-56E
First up is Citizen's finest collection, The Citizen.
This flagship model from Citizen is packed with the highest level of technology, typical of Citizen, which is globally renowned for its high level of precision, and is considered a top-class practical wristwatch.
Light-powered Eco-Drive (Cal. A060). Super Titanium™ case (diameter 40.0 mm, thickness 12.2 mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 429,000 yen (tax included).
Eco-Drive One AR5075-69E
The Eco-Drive One is a classic Eco-Drive model that pursues simplicity.
This watch has been stripped of excessive functionality and gaudy decoration to the bare minimum, resulting in a watch that pursues the utmost in simplicity.
The most distinctive feature is undoubtedly the thinness of the case. Most models are only about 3mm thick, making for an overwhelmingly comfortable fit.
Solar-powered Eco-Drive (Cal. 8826). Stainless steel and zirconia ceramic case (diameter 39.0 mm, thickness 3.48 mm). Waterproof for everyday use. 407,000 yen (tax included).
Attesa CC4055-65E
Attesa is Citizen's core collection.
When people think of Citizen watches, the Attesa series comes to mind for many people; it is such a classic series that Citizen's latest technology is generally first installed in the Attesa series.
Almost all models are equipped with standard radio wave reception or GPS satellite radio wave reception and are made of titanium. Their outstanding functionality and affordable price range make them one of the most popular Japanese watches, and they are loved by many business people.
Light-powered Eco-Drive (Cal. F950). Super Titanium™ case (diameter 44.6mm, thickness 15.4mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 33 yen (tax included).
Promaster CB5009-55E
The Promaster series is a collection of professional sports watches that has received very positive reviews from watch enthusiasts.
There are three categories: Marine, Land, and Sky. Marine is a diver's watch, Sky is a pilot's watch, and Land is an all-purpose field watch.
Their diver's watches are particularly well-received, and are considered the pinnacle of Japanese diver's watches.
Light-powered Eco-Drive (Cal. E660). Stainless steel case (diameter 45.9mm, thickness 13.7mm). Water resistant to 20 bar. Price: 49,500 yen (tax included).
Citizen Collection BL5496-96L
The popular Attesa series is now Citizen's core collection, but until then, this Citizen collection was Citizen's core collection.
With the theme of pursuing the basic performance and timeless design required for a watch, the brand offers basic style models that you can be proud of no matter where you wear them, across a wide range of price points.
There is nothing wrong with the performance or design, but since the Attesa has become more popular and famous, it is a model that is easy to pick up for those who don't care about status value.
Light-powered Eco-Drive (Cal. E820). Stainless steel case (diameter 39.5mm, thickness 11.1mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 49,500 yen (tax included).
Citizen watches are packed with history and technology
Citizen is a world-renowned Japanese watch brand, boasting first-class performance, design, strength, and support. Its appeal lies in its extremely practical nature, thanks to its Eco-Drive technology and high-level radio-controlled watch manufacturing techniques.
If you're looking for a high-performance watch at a reasonable price, we recommend you try a Citizen watch first.
