Introduction
Citizen watches is a well-known brand for making fine timepieces. They started in 1930 and have always focused on the needs of all kinds of people.
Their signature collections are the Signature, Dive and Eco-Drive. The Eco-Drive contain Citizen’s in-house technical development which uses solar power to charge the quartz battery.
The Signature offerings incorporate meticulous detail and an array of features.
The Dive collection offers plenty of features in a modest design.
Regardless of which collection you opt for, you’ll find accuracy baked into every timepiece.
Blue Angels
$439
The AT8020-54L Blue Angels is a brushed stainless steel case and matching link bracelet. It’s 42mm by 12mm. It comes in yellow with navy features and is characteristic of aeronautical devices.
This timepiece is about precision and accuracy. It has automatic timekeeping that syncs with atomic clocks. This means you get the time in 26 timezones. It offers the date at the 3 position and this also stays accurate, forever. It keeps going thanks to Japanese quartz movement.
It’s water-resistant to 200m.
A-T Eco-Drive
$259 / £220
This has a masculine polished and brushed stainless steel link bracelet. The face is a two-tone of black and orange. It has both hour markers and numbers that are white and luminous for easy reading. There’s a second hand too, which is thin but strikingly white so you cannot miss it. It’s almost on the thick side at 43mm by 12mm.
The sapphire crystal that protects the face is anti-reflective and anti-scratch. It’s also water-resistant to 200m so all in all, you can feel safe knowing you’re unlikely to damage your watch.
Nighthawk Eco-Drive
$312 / £289
This is another aviation-inspired timepiece. It’s cheaper than the Blue Angels because it doesn’t have the chronograph design and is less of a dress watch. There aren’t as many features but it’s still a good-looking timepiece. Read below for more on the Eco-Drive features…
Eco-Drive Stainless Steel
$219 / £199
This has a 37.2mm case in stainless steel. The face is black and has luminous second, minute and hour hands, of which the second is red. It’s protected by mineral crystal which is scratch-resistant.
The design blends in with most outfits. It’s office-worthy but would also fit in with jeans and a t-shirt.
Satellite Wave
Starts at $600 / £599
The design of this watch, known also by the serial number, CC3000-89L is thickset at 43.5mm. It’ll stand out, but anyone with a smaller wrist should be careful (you can read about what watches to wear on a smaller wrist here).
The strap is reasonably thin at 12.7mm. It’s quite lightweight, but that makes it comfortable.
The face is black and protected by hardened mineral crystal. The seconds are indicated by large numbers every ten seconds.
It’s water-resistant to 200m and technically classified as a dive watch so feel free to dive in with peace of mind.
The band is made of polyurethane, a popular material for sports devices.
Titanium Eco-Drive
$350 / £290
This is a classic look from Citizen. It’s not as classy as the automatic, granted, but that isn’t to say it’s not stylish. It’s for those who like simple and understated. It has a soft pig leather wristband which comes in tan with white stitching.
There is a tachymeter found on the inner circle and it measures how much time taken to get from point 1 to point 2. There’s a chronograph offering a stopwatch feature.
Inside is Japanese quartz, famous for its accuracy.
Titanium Chrono AT
Around $350 / £270
Here we see a titanium bracelet. It makes this watch resistant to corrosion and is generally very durable. You’re safe to take it in seawater and not worry about rusting.
Titanium is strong but equally lightweight so it doesn’t sit too heavy on the wrist.
It’s also water-resistant to 200m so it’s fine to take fishing, snorkelling or light diving.
It has three chrono sub-dials which show a calendar with both the day and week. It has a tachymeter, too.
Promaster
$260 / £239
This dive watch is powered by Citizen’s own crafted solar technology. Precision and accuracy are paramount. Inside is Japanese quartz movement so you know you can rely on this watch.
There are luminous hour markings on the 43mm dial, which make readability really easy.
Again we see a polyurethane wristband, which won’t snap or decay easily at all.
Citizen Quartz Watches – Are they worth it?
The quartz offerings from Citizen covered here have their own pros and cons, like any other watch.
They are famously low-maintenance. They also run very quietly. These are the most commonly seen pros. Third in line is praise for Citizen’s solar technology, which means no need to replace the battery. The only real consistent downside noted by wearers is that it does slow a little in low-lit conditions.
The case material makes a huge difference in the wearing experience. The titanium options versus the stainless steel see the former winning every time. This is because, for a dive watch, you want something that won’t corrode due to exposure to salt or chlorine.
All in all, a Citizen watch is great value for money when you consider the features and materials you get for the price you pay.
Summary
If you’re wondering whether or not you want to buy a Citizen watch, hopefully, this gave you some direction. Always remember before shopping that you need to know what features you want and expect. Will you put it through its paces in wet conditions? Is it your everyday office watch? Is it a formal watch?
You shouldn’t let price sway your decision too much (beyond your budget). However check out our article on affordable watches for men that look expensive, if you’re just looking for something flashy.
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