Introduction and Early Years
New Materials, Chronomaster Branding, and Styles
New Calibres – Mechanical and Eco-Drive
More New Calibres, Branding Changes, and Availability
Conclusion
References
Introduction and Early Years
Citizen introduced their top of the line product under the confusingly named “The CITIZEN” brand in 1995. The June 1995 Japanese dealer catalog presented the initial pair of models and described the brand as follows[1].
Product Concept
This is a watch that is easy to use, has high quality and an elegant yet simple design, and can be used for a long time with peace of mind as a part of yourself.
Product Features
We have established an innovative after-sales service system with a 10-year free warranty and lifetime repair support.
We placed emphasis on the practicality of a watch.
The first two models were the CTZ57-0521 with a strap and the CTZ57-0523 with a bracelet[2]. Both models used the same 35.6mm diameter stainless steel case and utilized the new 0350 quartz calibre that was rated at ±5 seconds per year.
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CTZ57-0521
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CTZ57-0523
A pair of 24mm ladies models were introduced in 1996 and these utilized the 1950 quartz calibre also rated at ±5 seconds annually[3].
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CTL57-0561
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CTL57-0563
In 1997 a variant sporting an 18K yellow gold bezel was introduced for both the mens (CTZ57-0571) and ladies (CTL57-0581) ranges. These models utilized the existing 0350 and 1950 calibres[4].
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CTL57-0581
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CTZ57-0571
In 1998 a new men’s calibre was introduced, the quartz A610. This added a perpetual calendar and independently adjustable hours hand, that Citizen refers to as a Time Difference Function. The styling of the models remained almost exactly the same as the previous watches[5].
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CTN57-0591
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CTN57-0601
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CTN57-0602
The line up remained consistent for the next couple of year with just a slight change to the ladies watch cases resulting in new model numbers.
In 2000 the new A660 quartz calibre was introduced[6]. This had the same accuracy of ±5 seconds annually, and the same features as the A61 with perpetual calendar and independent hour hand, but now allowed user adjustment and setting of the perpetual calendar via a push button at 2 o’clock instead of via contact points on the movement itself.
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CTQ57-0611
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CTQ57-0612
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CTQ57-0631
As you can see to this point there was very little visible change to the line up despite multiple calibre and function upgrades. This changed in 2001 with a new case design, introduced for both men and women, with an integrated bracelet and angular design[7]. The mens models continued to use the A660 calibre, but the ladies models utilized a new 1951 calibre that had the same specifications as the 1950 but presumably an increased torque for the larger lumed hands.
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CTB57-0661
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CTB57-0662
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CTS57-0651
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CTS57-0652
This composition of the line up continued, with only minor case updates and the introduction of champagne and blue dials, until 2005.
New Materials, Chronomaster Branding, and Styles
In 2005 a new styled case was introduced to the line up and this was produced in both stainless steel and titanium[8]. Citizen has a long history of working with titanium so it makes sense that this was eventually introduced to The CITIZEN family. In addition to the titanium models there was also an 18K yellow gold variant released.View fullsize
CTQ57-0951 Titanium
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CTQ57-0952 Titanium
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CTQ57-0953 Titanium
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CTQ57-0954 Titanium
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CTQ57-0955 Titanium
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CTQ57-0961 Stainless Steel
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CTQ57-0962 Stainless Steel
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CTQ57-0971 18K Yellow Gold
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CTQ57-0972 18K White Gold
2005 was also the year when the Chronomaster branding began to appear onto the watches case backs and dials. The new models had the Chronomaster script on the dial, and older designs in both the mens and ladies models were updated to also display the Chronomaster branding on the dial. Citizen had previously used the Chronomaster branding on their high precision chronometer models from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s[9]. The early Chronomaster models used an eagle logo on their case backs and this was also revived for the new 2005 models.
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CTQ57-0931
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CTQ57-0932
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CTQ57-0934
Previously models had a case back design showing an oval and then a circle with the year at the top and text “Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere”. This was now removed and the design updated to show the Chronomaster eagle logo in the center of the case back.
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Oval – Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere
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Circle – Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere
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Chronomaster Eagle (Complex)
Following these updates the range slowly expanded over 2006 and 2007 with new dial colors being introduced and new case styles.
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CTQ57-1021
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CTQ57-1022
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CTQ57-1023
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CTQ57-1024
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CTL57-1121
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CTL57-1123
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CTL57-1124
New Calibres – Mechanical and Eco-Drive
In 2010 The CITIZEN line up was further expanded to include for the first time a mechanical calibre, the 0910[10]. Previously all The CITIZEN models had utilized quartz calibres rated at ±5 seconds annually. The new 0910 automatic calibre was rated at -5 ~ +10 seconds per day, operated at 28,800 bph, with a 42 hour power reserve and 27 jewels. Three automatic models sporting a new 37mm diameter case design were introduced this year, with the cream dialed CTY57-1271, the black dialed CTY57-1272, and a limited edition yellow gold CTY57-1281. The limited edition model was produced to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. in 1930 and was limited to 80 pieces. These models did not have Chronomaster branding, but the script Automatic on the dial, and a display case back.
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CTY57-1271
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CTY57-1272
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CTY57-1281
The following year, in 2011, Citizen introduced their first Eco-Drive calibre to The CITIZEN brand with the A010[11]. This calibre was rated at the same ±5 seconds annual performance as the previous quartz calibres, but being Eco-Drive introduced solar charging meaning that battery changes were no longer required. The A010 also had a perpetual calendar, independently adjustable hour hand and a power reserve gauge at the 10 o’clock position. These models did not have the Chronomaster branding on the dial, but did feature the Chronomaster eagle logo on their case backs.
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AQ1000-58A
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AQ1000-58B
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AQ1000-58E
In 2015 an Eco-Drive calibre without the power reserve gauge was introduced with the A060[12]. This has the same ±5 seconds annual accuracy, perpetual calendar, and independent hour hand. The initial pair of models launched did not have Chronomaster on the dial but did have the Chronomaster eagle logo on their case backs.
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AQ4000-51A
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AQ4000-51E
From 2017 A060 calibre models were introduced with the Chronomaster script on the dials.
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AQ4024-53Y
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AQ4030-51A
A small number of models were released with both the Chronomaster script and the eagle logo on the dial. This was present on all Eco-Drive limited edition models with a fixed production quantity between 2016[13] and mid-2020[14].
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AQ1060-56W
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AQ4001-08A
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AQ4020-54W
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AQ4020-54X
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AQ4020-54Z
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AQ4020-62Y
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AQ4021-51W
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AQ4040-06A
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AQ4042-01P
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AQ4050-02L
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AQ4054-01E
More New Calibres, Branding Changes, and Availability
Citizen continued to develop their quartz technology and in 2019 they introduced the revolutionary calibre 0100[15]. This quartz calibre was rated at an amazing ±1 second per year and is a simple 3 hand design with no calendar complication. Three limited edition models were introduced with the calibre launch, the white gold AQ6010-06A (100 units), the titanium cased AQ6020-53X with a mother of pearl dial (200 units), and the titanium cased AQ6021-51E with a black dial (500 units). These units did not feature the Chronomaster branding and had display case backs showing off the new movement.
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AQ6010-06A
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AQ6020-53X
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AQ6021-51E
Up until this point The CITIZEN models were all designed exclusively for the Japanese domestic market. With the launch of the 0100 calibre, Citizen looked to expand the distribution with the models made available internationally, When launched to the global market the models were simply branded as Calibre 0100[16] and not as The CITIZEN, with The CITIZEN only being used in the Japanese domestic market.
It is likely that the branding of The CITIZEN was deemed too difficult to explain to the market and without the long term local market brand awareness this decision makes sense. It would have been more logical to introduce The CITIZEN models under the Chronomaster branding but unfortunately this was not an option for the USA market. The Chronomaster trademark has been registered to Croton Time Corporation[17] since they first used it in February 1960. In 1992 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. applied for the Chronomaster trademark in the USA but this application was denied[18]. In 2001 the Chronomaster trademark was registered by Croton Watch Co., Inc.[19] that seems to be the evolution of Croton Time Corp. If you are not familiar with Croton[20] they sell affordable watches through various retailers such as Kohls, Sam’s Club, Home Shopping Network, and Walmart.
In 2020 a new Eagle logo was introduced and is used on the watch case backs. This design has replaced the earlier more complex logo design. We have also seen the new simplified logo used on the watch dials and the Chronomaster branding removed.
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The CITIZEN Complex Logo
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The CITIZEN Simple Logo
As The CITIZEN brand was introduced to overseas markets the new simple style eagle logo on the dial, no Chronomaster branding, and the simplified eagle case backs were utilized.
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Citizen Taiwan
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Citizen UK
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Citizen USA
In 2021 a new mechanical calibre was introduced to the line up[21]. This was the 0200 calibre with an accuracy of -3 ~ +5 seconds per day and seconds on a 6 o’clock sub-dial. This calibre has a 60 hour power reserve, operates at 28,800 bph, utilizes 26 jewels, and some special models have a 22K yellow gold winding rotor.
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NC0200-06A
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NC0200-81L
Two years later, in 2023, the 0210 calibre was launched with the same specifications as the 0200 calibre but introduced a date complication[22]. These models, like the 0200 based models, have a display case back.
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NC1000-51E
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NC1001-58A
In September 2022 the two remaining 27mm diameter ladies models were removed from The CITIZEN section of the Citizen Japan website.
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EB4000-26Y
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EB4002-04Y
Conclusion
The CITIZEN range are all excellent quality and have some extremely interesting models and calibres. The Eco-Drive based models have an impressive ±5 seconds annual accuracy and a range of different case styles and colors. If you are looking for the most accurate calibre then the 0100 quartz based models offer an annual accuracy of ±1 second that you cannot find from other manufacturers.
As 2025 will be the 30th anniversary of The CITIZEN, and we continue to see the brand expand into international markets, it will be interesting to see if Citizen takes this occasion to rebrand the collection to something a little more search and marketing friendly with a new collection name.
References
[1] 1995/6 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 1995, pp.07
[2] The Horological International Correspondence, Vol. 36 No. 428, December 1995, pp.412
[3] 1996 Vol. 2 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 1996, pp.01
[4] 1997 Vol. 2 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 1997, pp.01
[5] 1998 Vol. 1 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 1998, pp.01
[6] 2000 Vol. 2 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2000, pp.01
[7] 2001 Vol. 1 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2001, pp.02
[8] 2005 Vol. 1 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2005, pp.II
[9] Citizen Product Catalogue No. 2, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 1968
[10] The Citizen Automatic with New Mechanical Movement to be Released on the Company’s Founding Anniversary, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., 2010.05.14, Accessed 2024/08/18
[11] The World’s First Light-powered Watch to Achieve High Accuracy of ±5 Seconds per Year, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., 2011.05.24, Accessed 2024/08/18
[12] 2015 Citizen Watch Catalogue, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2015, pp.07
[13] The Citizen releases a limited edition model of the light-powered Eco-Drive, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2016.11.01, Accessed 2024/08/18
[14] “The CITIZEN” High Accuracy of ±5 Seconds per Year Equipped with Light-powered Eco-Drive Limited Model with Tosa Washi Paper and White Mother-of-pearl Dial, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2020.05.19, Accessed 2024/08/18
[15] “The Citizen” Equipped with Eco-Drive Movement with the World’s Highest Accuracy of ±1 Second per Year, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2019.08.06, Accessed 2024/08/18
[16] Caliber 0100 – Official Site, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., Accessed 2024/08/18
[17] USPTO Trademark Search 72093161, United States Patent & Trademark Office, Accessed 2024/08/18
[18] USPTO Trademark Search 74306568, United States Patent & Trademark Office, Accessed 2024/08/18
[19] USPTO Trademark Search 75183429, United States Patent & Trademark Office, Accessed 2024/08/18
[20] Croton Watch, Croton Watch Co. Ltd., Accessed 2024/08/18
[21] The CITIZEN mechanical model equipped with the new in-house mechanical movement Caliber 0200, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2021.08.10, Accessed 2024/08/18
[22] “The CITIZEN” Mechanical model with date display Caliber 0210, Citizen Watch, Co. Ltd., 2023.11.24, Accessed 2024/08/18