The Citizen Part.3

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of The Citizen. This collection was born as a practical watch unique to Citizen, and since 2005 has been positioned as the company's flagship. However, its features, such as high precision, practicality, and thorough after-sales service, have remained unchanged for the past 30 years. Its unique character reflects the history of Citizen itself.

THE CITIZEN ECO-DRIVE with Annual Accuracy of ±5 Seconds
The standard for indigo-dyed dials, boasting an annual accuracy of ±5 seconds

　Since 2017, The Citizen has been using dials decorated with washi paper. As mentioned above, the reason is to add a texture befitting a flagship model while maintaining the transparency of a polycarbonate dial. The latest model is the "The Citizen Indigo-Dyed Washi Dial Model." The washi paper is dyed using a method called "natural lye fermentation," and after the fuzz is removed, it is attached to a special base material. The delicate pattern makes it completely impossible to tell that a polycarbonate dial is layered on top.

The Eco-Drive movements for The Citizen, the A010 and A060, are not only energy-efficient but also produce high torque. Compared to the 1995 model, the hands are noticeably thicker and longer, significantly improving the watch's overall quality. Incidentally, the hands are made of brass, just like mechanical watches. However, the clearance between the dial and the hands could still be reduced.

The dial features indigo-dyed Tosa washi paper underneath the polycarbonate. The veined pattern on the surface was created by injection molding. This finish is only possible thanks to the high precision of the mold. About 10 years ago, UV absorbers began to be mixed into polycarbonate resin.

　Increasing the hand torque increases power consumption, but the hands of current Citizen watches are as thick and long as those of mechanical watches. This allows current Eco-Drive watches to have a wide variety of case variations. The design of this watch, with its emphasized bezel and crown guard, is a good example of this. The exterior is made of Super Titanium with Duratect surface hardening treatment. By applying platinum IP to pure titanium, it is 40% lighter than stainless steel, yet has five times the surface hardness, making it ideal for practical watches.

　To be honest, it's hard to find any resemblance to the 95 model, with its simple construction, in the latest Citizen, which has significantly improved its quality. As watches, the two are clearly different. However, the features of the watch, such as its high-precision movement, user-friendly functions, hypoallergenic exterior, and 10-year warranty (in the case of the MY CITIZEN Citizen Owners Club), are, in fact, the same as before.

　The eagle mark, a mark of high precision, now shines on the case back. However, I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees the motto "Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere" on the watch. Even though the brand's presence has changed dramatically, the extraordinary aspiration to serve people still lives on in each current model.

A major feature of The Citizen is its large date display. Despite the inclusion of a solar cell, the gap between the date ring and the dial is narrow. The finish of the "frame" is impeccable.

The case back is screwed in. The back of the case is polished to a mirror finish, presumably to prevent the inside of the lugs from getting caught. The watch is light and the case back is low, making it extremely comfortable to wear.

The Citizen Part.1

The Citizen Part.2