A compliment to Citizen watches

[getsome]

Back in the summer of 2001 I was working two back-breaking jobs, making good money, and was way too tired to go anywhere to spend it. But one day I treated myself to a nice new titanium Citizen Eco-Drive. A big invesment for poor-college-kid me. The watch served me daily for years. Flawlessly, too. Then it gave up the ghost at least 5 years ago. It sat in a drawer until it was rediscovered (3 children, and 2 home moves later) very recently.

I sent it to Citizen, following their protocol, anticipating a fee, or some communication about services they intended to render. Much to my surprise, I received an email with a tracking number, indicating the return of my watch. I got it back yesterday working good as new, and a brief note about a cell having been installed wrong. No charge at all.

The final touch with which I was most impressed, was that my watch came back cleaner... and set to the correct time zone. Cool of them to note that the watch was headed back to STL. This experience made me think about all the shoe restoration efforts I've been reading about related to quality of work AND responsiveness AND value AND attention to detail. As for me... I'll buy another Citizen watch.

~B

 

[PFP_Dad]

Glad to hear their customer service is so good. I've been using a citizen for about 10 years now and haven't had anything but good things to say about it.

 

[_MementoMori_]

They make a damned good watch for the money. My Eco-Drive (the one with the olive canvas strap) is my daily "beater" watch, and it looks new and functions flawlessly after five years of use.

 

[little Big feather]

So..all that time it ran with one cell backwards? Great watch...

 

[Bad Robot]

I recently bought a Seiko 5 which I love but I really came down to choosing between that and an Eco-Drive (in reality: which i was going to buy first). The Eco-Drive is already planned as my next watch purchase. This just cements that in my mind. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[toyman]

I bought an Eco-Drive in Aruba in 2000. Around 2006, the second hand started 'missing' and then it stopped. I took it to a local jeweler, who sells Citizen, and he 'fixed' it. Told me it needed a new battery and charged me dearly. Within two days it started again, and I sent it in to the Authorized Citizen repair shop. Another decent charge and I got the watch back. They said that the jeweler replaced a part incorrectly. Anyway, the same thing happened again within about a month, so I put it away, and decided there were enough clocks around that I didn't need to wear a watch. A few months ago (or a few years later), I came across my owners manual for the eco-drive and read thru it. It said that the watch needed about 8 hours in direct sunlight after being totally drained to reactivate. I put it on my window sill for the whole day, and low and behold, it's been working like charm for the past few months.

 

[thebikingengineer]

They make a damned good watch for the money. My Eco-Drive (the one with the olive canvas strap) is my daily "beater" watch, and it looks new and functions flawlessly after five years of use.

I've got that same one! I dumped the strap long ago, but it takes a NATO quite well. Great field watch.

 

[xillion]

I've got that same one! I dumped the strap long ago, but it takes a NATO quite well. Great field watch.

+1

Love my Green Eco.



And the others.





They have all been great everyday watches for me.

Glad to hear Citizen stands by their products.

 

[crackerman]

I have a Citizen Eco-Drive, Blue Angels Edition Skyhawk that has survived scuba diving, skydiving, golf, gunfire, and now kid slobber. For a watch that is "supposed to" only run for 5 years (based on complaints on other forums) mine has been going strong for 8 years. Been knocked around and the crystal has a good scratch in it (told ya been through the ringer) it still works perfectly. I will probably never get rid of it our put it out of my rotation since I got it on my Grandparents 50th anniversary cruise, ant they are in their mid and early 80s. Probably going to add a new one to the rotation soon.

 

[MoonshineXXX]

Another Citizen fan here! I've had several but my trusty Ecozilla on Suppa adapters is one of my favorite watches!

 

[ceego]

+1

Love my Green Eco.

View attachment 318513

And the others.

View attachment 318514

View attachment 318515

They have all been great everyday watches for me.

Glad to hear Citizen stands by their products.

I really like the look of those first two, do you happen to know their model number or if they are still available anywhere(im in the UK)?

Having had a wee gander the closest i can find is this.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Gents, I was having some batteries replaced today on some cheap watches when a fellow stopped by with a Ladies' Citizen. It was $50 for the battery.

My understanding is that as long as the watch is kept fully charged, that is worn every day and exposed to light, you shouldn't have a problem. But if the watch battery is drained repeatedly, then the cell will need to be replaced. Is that about right?

 

[FDEMS]

I love my CITIZEN watch, it's simple and understated and does the job!

 

[Antares600]

I have a Citizen Quartz. It's a great looking, lightweight watch and keeps excellent time.

 

[cb91710]

I love my CITIZEN watch, it's simple and understated and does the job!

Ditto.

My beater is my G-Shock solar atomic, but my everyday watch is my Eco-Drive solar atomic.

 

[xillion]

I really like the look of those first two, do you happen to know their model number or if they are still available anywhere(im in the UK)?

They're still available here in the US, please see the links below. I'm not sure about the UK, but they can usually be found on the bay.

Here is the green dial model.

Here is the black dial model.

Here is a similar model that is available in the UK.

This is the chronograph version.

Also, this one and this one are the newest models with an updated dial design.

I've swapped the stock bands on mine for Nato straps.

 

[ceego]

They're still available here in the US, please see the links below. I'm not sure about the UK, but they can usually be found on the bay.

Here is the green dial model.

Here is the black dial model.

Here is a similar model that is available in the UK.

This is the chronograph version.

Also, this one and this one are the newest models with an updated dial design.

I've swapped the stock bands on mine for Nato straps.

Thanks very much for all the links! I was thinking of getting a Seiko 5 but i might get one of these instead or maybe even both eventually!

 

[Kazeryu]

What can I say? I found a style I liked... in three colours.

View attachment 318999

Strange Fact: While the bracelets look the same, their links all have very different tolerances and I don't think you could actually mix & match links even if you wanted to for some weird reason.

 

[StillShaving]

Gents, I was having some batteries replaced today on some cheap watches when a fellow stopped by with a Ladies' Citizen. It was $50 for the battery.

My understanding is that as long as the watch is kept fully charged, that is worn every day and exposed to light, you shouldn't have a problem. But if the watch battery is drained repeatedly, then the cell will need to be replaced. Is that about right?

Sounds about right. I think those watches have Lithium-Ion batteries, some info on battery life here.

 

[getsome]

Great watches! And xillion's photography is really sharp too.

Here's a look at the watch that inspired the thread.

~B