Citizen Watches Review: 10 Best Citizen Watches
Citizen is primarily an electronics company, but its timepieces are well-known. Japanese and Swiss investors officially established it in 1930. It is currently headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and has subsidiaries in a number of other countries worldwide.
From 1930 to the present, the company has had a long list of accomplishments. Of course, I can’t go into detail because it would deviate from my main topic, but if you’re curious about their history, click the link.
This article aims to share with you my top 10 picks for the best citizen watches for men. I chose watches of various styles and technologies for my list, keeping in mind everyone’s preferences. I hope it will be useful to anyone looking to purchase a new Citizen watch.
Let’s begin with the first watch.
Contents
- 1. CitizenBN0150-28E | Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Watch
- 2. Citizen AW1361-10H | Avion Eco-Drive Quartz Watch
- 3. Citizen BM6929-56L | Eco-Drive Brycen Quartz Watch
- 4. Citizen BF0580-57L | Quartz Watch With Stainless Steel
- 5. Citizen AT2141-52L | Eco-Drive Corso Quartz Watch
- 6. Citizen BM7334-58L | Eco-Drive Corso Two-Tone Watch
- 7. Citizen CA0649-14E | Eco-Drive Brycen Chronograph Watch
- 8. Citizen BM8180-03E |Eco-Drive Garrison Quartz Watch
- 9. Citizen AW1236-03A | Eco-Drive Corso Classic Watch
- 10. Citizen AW1150-07E | Eco-DRV AR 2.0 Stainless Steel Watch
- Conclusion:
1. CitizenBN0150-28E | Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a stainless steel case and a Polyurethane strap. The case features a unidirectional bezel, a black dial, and a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock. The case is entirely brushed, with the exception of the outer edge of the screw-down case back and the crown.
The crown is well-sized and signed with the Promaster logo and surrounded by crown guards. The screw-down crown prevents the watch from entering the water, making it an excellent choice for dive watches.
The black bezel has a 60-click mechanism and rotates anticlockwise. On the bezel, there are numerals at every 10-minute mark and dots between them, as well as an embedded lume pip at 12 o’clock. You will see the teeth on the outer portion of the bezel in 6 locations. Using the bezel teeth, you would be able to adjust the bezel.
Image Source: Amazon.com
You could adjust the bezel using the bezel teeth. Actually, the teeth make it easier to use the bezel with neoprene or other dive gloves.
The matte black dial has lumed indices that are tombstone-shaped at 12,3,6 and 9 and rounded elsewhere. You will see the small date window at 4 o’clock. There is a well-aligned chapter ring along the edge of the dial. The lumed hands are large and distinct, with an orange outline around the minute hand.
This watch has a nice and bright lume. The hands and indices have a blue lume, while the embedded bezel pip has a green lume. The dial is covered by an anti-reflective mineral crystal that is flat and sits slightly below the bezel. The crystal is also scratch-resistant.
The strap is made of polyurethane material. I saw the reviews on Amazon. Some considered this material to be resin and some considered it to be rubber. But actually, polyurethane is neither a natural rubber nor a plastic, but rather something “in between.” It combines the tensile strength of plastic with the elasticity of rubber.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 44 millimeters | Case Thickness: 12 millimeters | Band Width: 20 millimeters | Band Material: Polyurethane | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless steel | Bezel Function: Unidirectional | Crown: Screw-Down | Movement: Quartz | Calendar: Date
Special Features:
- The watch has a Citizen Eco-Drive Quartz Caliber E168 movement with a stated accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds every month.
- As I mentioned above, the watch comes with Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, which means it has an inbuilt solar cell that can be powered by any natural or artificial light source, so there is no need to change the battery.
- This watch is water-resistant to 200 meters (660 feet), so you can wear it while showering, swimming, snorkeling, or even scuba diving.
Imperfections:
- The date window is a bit hard to read.
- The watch’s strap seems stiff and uncomfortable on the wrist. If you are dissatisfied with the polyurethane strap, you can easily replace it with a rubber strap or whatever strap you like.
Note:
The watch’s dial, as previously stated, is protected by a mineral glass crystal. Some argue that sapphire glass crystal should be used in the watch because mineral glass is less scratch-resistant. They regarded it as one of the watch’s drawbacks.
But I don’t think it’s fair because this watch is primarily designed for divers. There is a risk of damaging the crystal while diving. I acknowledge that sapphire glass is more scratch-resistant than mineral glass, but it is also more sensitive than mineral glass. So, using mineral glass instead of sapphire glass is acceptable.
2. Citizen AW1361-10H | Avion Eco-Drive Quartz Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a silver-tone stainless steel case and a brown leather strap. The case features a stainless steel fixed bezel, a charcoal-gray dial, and a crown at the 3 o’clock position. The case is well-brushed and nicely finished, with no sharp edges.
The crown is unusually oversized and has a pull-push mechanism. Maybe the reason behind the large size of the crown is that you can easily use it with thick gloves. However, it is very easy to manipulate to change both the time and the date.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The dial features white luminous hour and minute hands that glow blue in the dark, as well as a black second hand with an orange tip. The hour hand has an orange color outline while the skinny long minute hand has a black color outline.
On the outer side of the dial, you see minute numerals (at five-minute intervals) in a light yellow color. Within the minute numerals, you see the 12-hour and 24-hour numerals in red and yellow, respectively. You also see the minute markers around the outer rim on the dial.
The date window is displayed at 3 o’clock. The scratch-resistant mineral crystal glass covers the face of the dial. When you turn the watch over, you will see the solid case back with the standard eco-drive markings.
The brown leather band has contrast stitching with buckle closure. The buckle is made of stainless steel and has a citizen logo signed on it.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 45 millimeters | Case Thickness: 12 millimeters | Band Width: 22 millimeters | Band Material: Leather| Case & Bezel Material: Stainless steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Movement: Quartz | Calendar: Date
Special Features:
- The watch comes with an Eco-Drive Japanese Quartz J810 movement. It has an accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds per month.
- As understood from Eco-Drive, the watch is powered by a solar cell that has a power reserve of six months if fully charged.
- It is water-resistant at 100 meters (330 ft), which means you can shower and swim while wearing it, but it is not suitable for diving.
Imperfections:
- Except for the hour and minute hands, there is no lume added to the markers or indices. As a result, it is a little difficult to read the watch in the dark. I think the lume should be added at least to the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positioned markers.
3. Citizen BM6929-56L | Eco-Drive Brycen Quartz Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a titanium IP(Ion Plating) coating case and bracelet. The silver-tone case features a cerulean-blue dial, a blue bezel, and a pull-push crown at 3 o’clock. The case is mostly brushed and has a nice finish.
The titanium + IP used in this watch is very light and hard to scratch as compared with a stainless steel one. According to the manufacturer, the TI+IP timepiece is nearly 40% lighter than stainless steel and 5 times more resistant to scratches. It is quite pleasant on the wrist due to its small weight.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The fixed aluminum insert bezel is highly polished. On the bezel, there are numbers at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions and markings beside these. It is darker blue than the dial. The textured crown is highly polished and surrounded by crown guards.
The dial features luminous white hour and minute hands and a blue second hand. The hour and minute hands have a silver color outline. There are Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, as well as luminous hour markings elsewhere. The lume color is light blue.
The dial has a date window at 3 o’clock. The date window is a little sunken into the dial, making it difficult to read quickly. Around the outer border of the dial is a nice chapter ring that shows minutes. The watch uses a sapphire crystal which is a good scratch resistor. The silver-tone bracelet used in this watch is highly polished and has a push-button foldover clasp.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 42 millimeters | Case Thickness: 10 millimeters | Band Width: 22 millimeters | Band Material: Titanium| Case & Bezel Material: Titanium | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date
Special Features:
- The watch has a Japanese Eco-Drive E111 movement with a six-month power reserve.
- Water-resistant to 100 meters ( 330 ft )
Imperfections:
- The date window is a little small and can be difficult to read at times.
- There is no lume on the second hand, nor the numerals.
4. Citizen BF0580-57L | Quartz Watch With Stainless Steel
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a stainless steel case and a stainless steel bracelet. The case is well-brushed and has a highly polished finish. The case has a silver-tone stainless steel bezel, an easy-to-read blue dial, and a crown at the 3 o’clock position.
The pull-push crown is surrounded by crown guards. The date may be set by rotating the crown to the left, and the day can be set by rotating the crown to the right.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The blue dial features sword-shaped white hour and minute hands and a thin white second hand. The hour and minute hands have a silver color outline.
The dial has silver-tone stick hour markers as well as minute markers around the outer rim. The day/date window is displayed at 3 o’clock.
The hour and minute hands are totally luminous, and each hour marker has a luminous dot at the dial’s outside edge. The dial face is protected with a scratch-resistant mineral crystal.
The silver-tone stainless steel bracelet is highly polished. It has a fold-over clasp with a push-button release.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 40 millimeters | Case Thickness: 9 millimeters | Band Width: 22 millimeters | Band Material: Stainless Steel | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Day/Date.
Special Features:
- The watch is not an eco-drive, it is using Japanese quartz movement.
- Water-Resistant to 30 meters (99 ft).
Imperfection:
- The watch has modest water resistance and can only withstand a brief submersion. It is not permitted to be worn while bathing or swimming.
5. Citizen AT2141-52L | Eco-Drive Corso Quartz Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a stainless steel case and a stainless steel bracelet. The case and bracelet are nicely brushed and have a shiny appearance. You see the textured pull-push crown at the 3 o’clock position. If you want to modify the time, pull the crown out a little and if you want to change the date, pull it out a little more.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The navy blue dial has three subdials at 2,6 and 10 o’clock. The subdial at 2 o’clock displays the 24-hour time, while the subdial at 6 o’clock displays the time of day in seconds. The subdial at 10 o’clock is used to count the minutes for the chronograph (stopwatch) function. The chronograph can measure up to 60 minutes.
You can see two buttons on either side of the crown; the “upper” one is used to start and stop the chronograph, while the “lower” one is used to reset it. The silver-tone hour and minute hands are baton-shaped. The second hand on the dial is used for the chronograph function.
On the outer side of the dial you see the silver-tone stick hour markers and between them small white minute markers. You can also see the tachymeter around the outer rim of the dial.
The date window is displayed at the 4 o’clock position. The dial’s face is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The lume has been applied to the hour and minute hands, as well as all of the little dots on the hour markers. The lume is sky blue. The silver-tone bracelet has a fold-over clasp with a push-button release.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 42 millimeters | Case Thickness: 11 millimeters | Band Width: 21 millimeters | Band Material: Stainless Steel | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date | Functionality: Chronograph.
Special Features:
- The watch uses Eco-Drive H504 quartz movement.
- It has water resistance up to 100 meters (330 ft).
Imperfection:
- There are no crown guards around the crown to protect it from damage.
6. Citizen BM7334-58L | Eco-Drive Corso Two-Tone Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a stainless steel case and a stainless steel bracelet. The case features a top gold-tone ring and a gold-tone crown. The pull-push crown has two positions. Pull the crown out a little if you just want to change the date, and a little more if you want to modify the time.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The dark blue dial has gold-tone luminescent hands and gold-tone stick hour markers. You see the small white minute markers around the outer rim.
The date window is displayed at the 3 o’clock position. Mineral crystal covers the face of the dial.
The two-tone (silver and gold tone) bracelet is well-polished and has a fold-over clasp. It is adjustable. A few of the links near the clasp have been designed to be removed for sizing purposes.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 40 millimeters | Case Thickness: 11 millimeters | Band Width: 23 millimeters | Band Material: Stainless Steel | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date.
Special Features:
- This watch uses a caliber E111 Eco-Drive Movement.
- It has water resistance up to 100 meters (330 ft).
Imperfection:
- There is no lume on the markers and just the hour and minute hands are luminescent.
7. Citizen CA0649-14E | Eco-Drive Brycen Chronograph Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a silver-tone stainless steel case and a black leather band. The brushed case has a stainless steel bezel and pull-push crown. The stationary bezel features black aluminum insert as well as tachymeter markings. The crown is prominent and simple to use. By pulling it, you find two positions, one for setting the date and the other for modifying the time.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The black dial has luminous white hour and minute hands, as well as a white second hand for the chronograph. There are three subdials at 12, 6, and 9 o’clock. The subdial at 12 o’clock is used to measure the minutes for the chronograph (stopwatch) function. The ⅕ second chronograph has a measurement range of up to 60 minutes. The subdial at 6 o’clock displays the time in seconds. You can see the 24-hour time in a small subdial at 9 o’clock.
On both sides of the crown, you’ll find two polished Chrono pushers. The upper pusher starts and stops the chronograph, while the lower pusher resets it.
On the dial, you see the white Arabic numerals that show minutes at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 o’clock, as well as stick hour markers. Minute markers can also be seen between the hour markers.
The date window is located at 3 o’clock. The solid case back is imprinted with the eco-drive and citizen logos, as well as the model number and other information. The black leather band looks very nice with a black dial and silver-tone case. It has white contrast stitching and buckle closure.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 44 millimeters | Case Thickness: 17 millimeters | Band Width: 26 millimeters | Band Material: Leather | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date.
Special Features:
- The watch uses a caliber B612 Eco-Drive movement.
- It has water resistance up to 100 meters (330ft).
Imperfection:
- There is no lume on the hour markers and numerals.
8. Citizen BM8180-03E |Eco-Drive Garrison Quartz Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with a stainless steel case and a green canvas strap. The silver-tone case features a stainless steel silver-tone fixed bezel and knurled crown at the 3 o’clock position.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The crown has a pull-push mechanism. Pulling it yields two positions, the first of which is used to set the calendar (day-date), turn the crown counterclockwise to set the desired date, and clockwise to set the desired day of the week. The second position is used to change the time.
The black dial features white hour and minute hands as well as a red second hand. The hour and minute hands have a silver color outline. On the dial, you can see white Arabic numerals and indices for the hours, as well as small white minute markers around the dial’s outer edge.
The day/date window is located at 3 o’clock. The dial’s face is protected by a scratch-resistant mineral crystal. The lume has been applied on the hour and minute hands, as well as the small tip of the second hand and the Arabic numerals and indices for hours.
The strap is nylon on the outside and leather on the inside. It has an adjustable buckle closure. The strap seems a little rough and uncomfortable on the wrist. You can change the strap if you don’t like it.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 37.2 millimeters | Case Thickness: 9.5 millimeters | Band Width: 18 millimeters | Band Material: Nylon & Leather | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Day/Date.
Special Features:
- The watch uses Eco-Drive E100 movement.
- It has water resistance up to 100 meters (330 ft).
Imperfections:
- The strap seems a little rough and uncomfortable on the wrist. You can change the strap if you don’t like it.
- The crown is unusually large.
9. Citizen AW1236-03A | Eco-Drive Corso Classic Watch
Physical Appearance:
This elegant watch features a stainless steel case, black leather strap, and silver dial with rose gold-tone hands and index hour markers. The date window is displayed at the 3 o’clock position.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The crown at the 3 o’clock position has a pull/push mechanism. The dial is protected by scratch-resistant mineral glass. Turning the watch upside down reveals the solid case back imprinted with the citizen logo and other watch-related information. The alligator embossed leather strap enhances the watch dial’s simplicity. The strap has a stainless steel buckle closure engraved with the Citizen logo.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 40 millimeters | Case Thickness: 9 millimeters | Band Width: 21 millimeters | Band Material: Leather | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date.
Special Features
- The watch comes with J810 Caliber Eco-Drive movement.
- It has a water resistance of up to 30 meters (90 ft).
Imperfection
- The hands and indexes of the watch have no lume.
10. Citizen AW1150-07E | Eco-DRV AR 2.0 Stainless Steel Watch
Physical Appearance:
The watch comes with stainless steel case and a Polyurethane strap. The case is entirely polished stainless steel, but there is a black ABS plastic section surrounding the bezel and sides that gives the case a two-tone appearance.
Image Source: Amazon.com
The pull-push crown is surrounded by crown guards and has a small groove section to make gripping it easier. The crown is signed with a large polished capital “D”.
The dial has a vertical pin striping pattern. The polished silver indices are all bar-shaped. All single bar indices and a portion of the minute and hour hands have blue lume. A small date window appears at 3 o’clock. The brushed solid case back has a Citizen logo and watch information imprinted on it.
The black polyurethane strap has two keepers and a stainless steel buckle engraved with the Citizen logo.
Specifications:
Display: Analog | Case Diameter: 44 millimeters | Case Thickness: 11.3 millimeters | Band Width: 23 millimeters | Band Material: Polyurethane | Case & Bezel Material: Stainless Steel | Bezel Function: Fixed | Crown: pull-push | Calendar: Date.
Special Features
- The watch has a J810 Caliber Eco-Drive movement. It has an accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds a month.
- It has a water resistance of up to 100 meters.
Conclusion:
I did my best to cover every aspect of each of the watches mentioned above. First, I went over their physical appearance, then their specifications and unique features, and finally, I shared some cons that I believe should be addressed. Hopefully, it will assist you in determining which watch is best for you and meets your requirements.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comment section below. I always feel happy to hear from you.