Citizen Watches?

Rat Finkenstein

Rat Finkenstein

Joined
May 18, 2005
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I have an opportunity to buy a Citizen watch for something like 75% off retail, and I wanted to know what the watch guys here think of them.
Is the Eco-drive any good? What models are the best? Anything to avoid? Other concerns?
 
Citizen watches have a good reputation. They are second behind Seiko in Japan.

As with all watch companies, Citizen has a variety of levels of quality; i.e. price levels.

I've picked up a PMT version with Eco-drive and monoque case that seems to be going well (it was made in '99). A word of caution on the PMT - took me three times to get it set right (so the date feature is correct).

The Eco-drive feature supposedly requires a replacement battery every 7-10 years. Still, that seems fair.
 
Generally they are quite a good value. I have 4 Citizens right now; one quartz, one EcoDrive Perpetual calendar and two automatics. Never any trouble with any of them. I gave a titanium EcoDrive to my father a few years back and it has survived all sorts of abuse.

I read something over on the Seiko Citizen watch forum about Citizen coming out with higher.. uh.. lower.. uh.. well soon online dealers will be somewhat price controlled and have to sell at no more than 40% off on most model and no more than 25% off of some of the new or higher end models. Now might be a good time to buy. My g/f is giving me a Citizen Oxy automatic for Christmas.

http://www.watches88.com/pd_citizen_oxy_military_automatic_nh735054e.cfm
 
My girlfriend just gave me a Citizen SkyHawk Black Eagle for my birthday. I wanted a metal watch in all black and the eco drive was icing on the cake. I wish I could give you an endurance review, but I just got it. Ask me again in a year or so when it comes back from Afghanistan.
 
I have 2 quartz Citizens, well over 10 years old. Never a problem. I have my eye on an EcoDrive - I hear good things about them!
 
orthogonal1 said:
Citizen watches have a good reputation. They are second behind Seiko in Japan.


The Eco-drive feature supposedly requires a replacement battery every 7-10 years. Still, that seems fair.
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Wrong. The Eco-drive does not ever need servicing, and should last at least a lifetime. You wouldn't happen to be a mechanical watch afficionado would you? I wonder...
 
Well, the jury is still out on this. Pretty much ANY non-digital watch can need servicing, regardless of if it is mechanical, automatic, quartz or some manner of solar. If it has moving parts, it can need a cleaning, adjusting, oiling and/or parts replacement. I personally know people that have had to have EcoDrive batteries replaced, but I also know people that send their Rolexs back every year for a cleaning and adjustment, and others that have worn the same Seiko 5 for 20+ years and never worry about it. There is no real absolute from a practical standpoint on what has to be serviced when unless you are just strictly going by the manufacturer's warranty recommendations.

EcoDrive batteries are rechargables and can fail just like any other rechargable battery. It is rather uncommon though and I think (from very informal observations) that it was more of a problem with the earlier models that had a higher current drain.

There was an interview in WatchTime a few issuses back with some of the grand-high-pubas of Citizen and one of the big things that they talked about was how proud they were about having been able to significantly reduce the electrical needs of their newer models, which allowed for smaller, less obtrusive solar cells and longer battery life.
 
Is the Eco-drive any good? What models are the best? Anything to avoid? Other concerns?
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The Eco drive energy cell will last at least a lifetime of use. This is direct information from the Citizen website. My experience with the Eco drives have been very positive, and I recommend them without reservation. Beware of second hand information because there are watch snobs (i.e. "watch guys") who just can't deal with the fact that there are better made, more reliable watches than the Omegas and Rolexes that they paid thousands of dollars for. The old "I paid more for it, it's got to be better" fallacy.
 
FYI, my Citizen EcoDrive PerpCal Titanium is my most expensive watch.
I don't own an Omega, Rolex, Brietling, etc.

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There has been a lot of good discussion on the many merits (and few limitations) of the EcoDrive movements over on the Seiko Citizen Watch Forum, so anybody wanting to research them would do well to wander around over there a bit.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/
 
Revolvergeek said:
FYI, my Citizen EcoDrive PerpCal Titanium is my most expensive watch.
I don't own an Omega, Rolex, Brietling, etc.

standard.jpg


There has been a lot of good discussion on the many merits (and few limitations) of the EcoDrive movements over on the Seiko Citizen Watch Forum, so anybody wanting to research them would do well to wander around over there a bit.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/
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I do own a Breitling...and still love my Citizens :D
 
Don't get me wrong. I would love a SuperOcean, or a Colt GMT, or an Avenger Seawolf, just not before I buy a house though. :D
 
Yeah, they are expensive and probably foolish of me to buy it...gonna be paying the credit card bill forever :( I mainly bought my SuperOcean because I had been drooling over it FOREVER. When I went back to school, I told myself that if I stuck it out and finished, I would reward myself with one...and I did not want to break a promise to myself :D

BTW, two of my Citizens I got from you. The auto diver is at the top of my list of favorites.
 
Jedi_Knife said:
Wrong. The Eco-drive does not ever need servicing, and should last at least a lifetime. You wouldn't happen to be a mechanical watch afficionado would you? I wonder...
Click to expand...

Actually, I'm a digital LCD guy. Watches with hands and me just don't seem to be compatable for long (the watch breaks). Usually, I have a smaller G-Shock on.

Bought the Citizen for "office work" wear. Looked around on the net to see what was said about the eco-drive and PMT and noticed the battery replacement comments (a consideration to me as the watch was bought used).

Also noticed that the Casio Solar Tough watches had need of service in that range. Conclusion: It may be a number of cycles issue. Either way, seems a fair trade till we get the 100 year, will it to the great grandchildren power source.
 
There is a stainless steel version of the one SAK collector shows that is nice.

A bit smaller than a Seiko divers watch, and, as can be observed, simple classic design.
 
I have two and I will say they are better made then the seiko's. more reliable, better seals around the stems, cases are better, less corrosion on the backs and bands. I am a contractor and my Ti is on my watch all the itme no matter what i am doing and it looks just as good as the day i bought it, Which NEVER happened with any Seiko I owned.
 
Guntotin_fool said:
I have two and I will say they are better made then the seiko's. more reliable, better seals around the stems, cases are better, less corrosion on the backs and bands. I am a contractor and my Ti is on my watch all the itme no matter what i am doing and it looks just as good as the day i bought it, Which NEVER happened with any Seiko I owned.
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This Seiko bashing is blasphemy and will not stand.:D
 
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