TIMEPIECES · JAPONISTA UNIVERSE
Citizen: Tokyo Craft to Light-Powered Movements
Citizen’s roots go back to 1918 and the Shokosha Watch Research Institute in Tokyo; the Citizen name followed in 1930. The company made its reputation on accessible, well-built watches, introduced the water-resistant Parawater in 1959, and in 1995 launched the light-powered Eco-Drive.
Vintage Citizen is a quieter corner of Japanese collecting than Seiko, which makes it rewarding: dress watches, chronographs and divers of the 1960s and 1970s from a maker that was building its own movements. Dial condition, case wear and movement state are recorded for each piece, along with the box and papers where they survive.
The Hunting Salon™
If you are looking for a particular Citizen reference, the Hunting Salon™ can assist discreetly with search, verification and shipping.
Curator’s note: Read Vintage Citizen Watches and browse Collectible Watches. Continue with the Fashionista Bible and the collector guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is Eco-Drive?
Citizen’s light-powered movement technology, launched in 1995.
Do boxes and papers matter?
Yes; see What Makes a Full Set?
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Duties vary by destination; see Import Duties on Luxury Goods from Japan.
Index terms: citizen watch · vintage citizen · citizen parawater · citizen chronomaster · citizen eco-drive · japanese vintage watches · citizen automatic
