Japanese market Citizen watches?

[cb91710]

Looking into getting a replacement for SWMBO's watch for her birthday.
She is absolutely horrible at winding and setting, or even regularly wearing, so an automatic is totally out of the question.

I am really enjoying my Eco-Drive Solar Atomic, and something like that would be perfect for her, however, Citizen does not market any ladies' models in the US.
I see a few models on eBay and they look nice (and not cheap).
I was concerned that they were fakes, but on the Citizen Japan site, I see they are legitimate, and the specs show that they are compatible with the North American WWVB signal.

Is anyone familiar with these, and possibly the reason they are not sold here? My primary concern is with the smaller case (30mm vs my 43mm), that the antenna is not sufficient to receive the signal from Ft. Collins.
Japan is the size of California, and IIRC, they have two WWV transmitters.

 

[cb91710]

Buuuump... Any ideas gents?

 

[little Big feather]

Looking into getting a replacement for SWMBO's watch for her birthday.
She is absolutely horrible at winding and setting, or even regularly wearing, so an automatic is totally out of the question.

I am really enjoying my Eco-Drive Solar Atomic, and something like that would be perfect for her, however, Citizen does not market any ladies' models in the US.
I see a few models on eBay and they look nice (and not cheap).
I was concerned that they were fakes, but on the Citizen Japan site, I see they are legitimate, and the specs show that they are compatible with the North American WWVB signal.

Is anyone familiar with these, and possibly the reason they are not sold here? My primary concern is with the smaller case (30mm vs my 43mm), that the antenna is not sufficient to receive the signal from Ft. Collins.
Japan is the size of California, and IIRC, they have two WWV transmitters.

I live on the East Coast and people have no problems with the signal. Japan sends a weaker signal, so they have two.

 

[cb91710]

I live on the East Coast and people have no problems with the signal. Japan sends a weaker signal, so they have two.

I'm aware of that, but my question is in regard to the women's "atomic" watches that are not marketed in the US.
I'm concerned that the smaller case means smaller receiver means potential issues. I don't want to spend $600 on it if it's going to function no better than the $400 solar-only models that are available in slightly more attractive designs.

 

[little Big feather]

Oh...Now I see....
That's a good question.....And I don't think anyone except a dealer could answer that...If similar size ones are sold in Cal. The guts are the same in dif size cases
in many dif. models in men's....so I think the same in the women's too.

 

[cb91710]

Oh...Now I see....
That's a good question.....And I don't think anyone except a dealer could answer that...If similar size ones are sold in Cal. The guts are the same in dif size cases
in many dif. models in men's....so I think the same in the women's too.

That could be.
Mine has a couple of indications that the lady's model lacks, but everything seems to be within that 30mm diameter.


Funny thing about WWV though. Out here, I can't get my G-Shock or Citizen to sync up during the day. They sync every night though.
My indoor clock in my living room? Syncs maybe once a week, but it's good enough.
The units at work are fine any time, but they're running 8ft dipoles.

 

[StillShaving]

I don't have any real answer for you either.
There is a long thread here and what AlmightyTallest says sounds about right regarding the time signal:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/anyone-getting-time-signal-fort-collins-764092-12-print.html

I have two wall clocks in NC that sync with the Ft. Collins. One will sync up pretty easily, most nights receiving the signal, while the other clock can go for weeks without any signal due to trees or line of sight issues. I think you are closer to Ft. Collins than me, but I without looking at the map I think you are on the other side of the Continental divide which may also degrade the signal. Wikipedia article on the WWVB Ft. Collins time signal notes:

The ERP of WWVB was increased to 50 kW in 1999, and increased again to its current level of 70 kW in 2005. The power increase made the coverage area much larger, and made it easier for tiny receivers with simple antennas to receive the signal. This resulted in the introduction of many new low cost radio controlled clocks that “set themselves” to agree with NIST time.

But who knows what the reality is. I have not been impressed with how long it takes sync up time here in North Carolina.