Oh hey, just an appendage to my OP: Can you guys offer recommendations for an Eco-Drive watch that is around 400-500 bucks?

 

Right in the middle of your price range. Nice looking watch with very advanced features. Rolex is a sundial when compared to this thing. I have one, it's a great watch, but I wear my GShock daily because metal bands annoy me if I wear them too long (work 12 hour shifts).

Amazon.com: Citizen Men's AT9010-52E "World Time A-T" Stainless Steel Eco-Drive Watch: Watches

 

The coating does improve the scratch resistance, but it's next to impossible to refinish if it does get scratched, whereas regular titanium and stainless are pretty straightforward to refinish.

As for which eco-drive... well, I like the World Chronograph series, but really, it's down to what you like the look and features of, since they're all reliable, well made, and good value.

(this is the Blue Angels pilot watch version, but there are others without the pilot slide rule if you don't like that)

 

That's a beautiful watch, but goodness I think I might have trouble reading the time with that.

Basically, what I'm looking for in terms of functions is just something that tells the time without too many complications. I have a tendency to shy away from complicated watches because I feel that they would be less reliable, as in more prone to malfunctions, than watches with minimal functions in the long term. I'm currently really digging this watch...

 

That's a beautiful watch, but goodness I think I might have trouble reading the time with that.

Basically, what I'm looking for in terms of functions is just something that tells the time without too many complications. I have a tendency to shy away from complicated watches because I feel that they would be less reliable, as in more prone to malfunctions, than watches with minimal functions in the long term. I'm currently really digging this watch...

I really doubt the complications make much difference to the reliability of a quality quartz watch. And in fact, the bezel on a dive watch can quite easily give a bit of trouble due to grit getting under it, which can't happen with the World Chrono's internal bezel.

That said... I think the BL1258-53L is a stunner, one of the best watches from any manufacturer, at any price. If you haven't seen one in person, you must, as that dial looks different in every light and at every angle. It has this holographic rainbow effect sometimes that I have only seen captured in this photo (originally posted elsewhere on this forum, I think):

Yes, it really does look like that in the right light. If you want that watch, go for it, they're superb.

In fact, you sorely tempt me to go order one myself, I've wanted one for years...

 

Super Titanium is a more economical treatment than their Duratect treatment. As such, it's used in their more affordable treated titanium watches and is not as hard as Duratect, though more scratch resistant than untreated titanium. The Signature watches are very nice.

 

So Duratect is the way to go for a titanium watch. I'm now kinda at a point where titanium vs. stainless steel is no longer much of a factor in my consideration anymore.

 

The reviews that the BL1258-53L has been getting over at Amazon don't fill one with a lot of confidence in the watch, though. And the more I look at it, the more I dislike the bezel -- the circular lines are a turn-off to me.

I've also been mulling over the pros and cons of getting a watch with more complications and it seems to make more sense if one was going to get a quartz watch. Your World Chrono has really appealed to the nerd in me!

 

Here's a titanium JDM eco-drive. There's a black dial version too.

 

Here's a titanium JDM eco-drive. There's a black dial version too.

Those are out of production now. Still pop up occasionally on the used market though.

 

Yes look at some of the JDM models from the known JDM vendors like Chino, etc.

Citizen makes a great and very tough coating for their ti, but when it does scratch, it will need to be entirely re-coated as you just can't correct a single area.

 

Yes look at some of the JDM models from the known JDM vendors like Chino, etc.

Citizen makes a great and very tough coating for their ti, but when it does scratch, it will need to be entirely re-coated as you just can't correct a single area.

Citizen Promaster PMX56-2811 (black dial) and PMX56-2812 (blue dial).

Citizen Promaster AirDivers

If you can't get those, there's a titanium Seiko that's solar powered at around the same price point. Here's a link to that one: https://www.watchuseek.com/f21/review-seiko-prospex-solar-quartz-titanium-diver-sbdn005-611007.html

... and a pic I suppose. Comes in blue or black dial with or without bracelet.

 

Two of Citizen's top series, Japanese domestic market only, are The Citizen CTQ57-XXXX and the AQ1XXX-XXX (where the X are various letters and numbers indicating specific models). Some of them are titanium and some stainless but all are Duratect. The AQ series are Eco-drive while the CTQ series are battery powered. Both series have ten-year warranties and offer 5 seconds per year accuracy, if that appeals. There are also a couple of automatic models in The Citizen range; they closely resemble the CTQ models. I have a Ti CTQ and a steel AQ model and they seem to be about equally scratch-resistant....maybe the Ti is slightly better, but I've had it much longer than I've had the steel one.
Although these are JDM only, as many forum members know there are several reliable on-line vendors who deliver to the US, though apparently Seiko has pressured some of them not to deliver to Europe. I don't think Citizen models are affected.

 

I'm totally swooning over the AQ1030-57A! Too bad the price is a little high for my aims right now.

 

I've seen non-mainstream sites like "Higuchi" and "Chino" mentioned around these forums a couple of times. Are these sites safe and reliable, and do they sell brand new watches?

 

Yes and yes. I've purchased from both. Seiya is the other member of the 'big three'.

 

I see. I've had a quick look at Chino and found a couple of JDM models that I really like. Do you guys come across problems with warranty and servicing when you buy JDM watches?

 

Do you guys come across problems with warranty and servicing when you buy JDM watches?

I've never had to use either. I've heard good reports of Higuchi arranging for service under warranty and correcting issues.

 

My suggestion: Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BJ8070-51E Eco-Drive STX43 Shock Proof Titanium Watch: Citizen: Clothing

Does run a little fast.....7 seconds in 2 months!

 

No chrono on the AT9010. The pushers are to control some of the advanced features of the watch (alarms, DST, etc.). I had that one but recently flipped it. For the best prices, check on Jomashop. They're running under $300 with a good sale.

The watch is well constructed and looks good. The bracelet is great. I will say that it's very large, maybe 47mm. Citizen misrepresents the measurements in their official documentation. I posted about it in a thread sometime last year.

The main reason I sold it was because it was the first watch I bought and my preferences have changed significantly since then. I'm also partial to mechanical watches. But for a grab-and-go or a no-nonsense daily-wearer, I think it's a great watch.

 

No chrono on the AT9010. The pushers are to control some of the advanced features of the watch (alarms, DST, etc.). I had that one but recently flipped it. For the best prices, check on Jomashop. They're running under $300 with a good sale.

The watch is well constructed and looks good. The bracelet is great. I will say that it's very large, maybe 47mm. Citizen misrepresents the measurements in their official documentation. I posted about it in a thread sometime last year.

The main reason I sold it was because it was the first watch I bought and my preferences have changed significantly since then. I'm also partial to mechanical watches. But for a grab-and-go or a no-nonsense daily-wearer, I think it's a great watch

What about impact detection and anti-magnetic capabilities? In any case, 47mm is probably too much of a beast for me. Do you happen to know the actual dimensions of the FC0000-59D (maybe Andrew would be better equipped to help me here).

 

Impact *detection*? No, but I don't know of any watch with that as a feature...

Impact resistance? Well, that's really a feature of mechanical watches, and all these are ordinary quartz; G-Shocks take that sort of thing to a whole different level (if it doesn't break your arm, it won't hurt a G-Shock), but a normal quartz watch is pretty tough, much more so than a mechanical movement.

Anti-magnetic, again, quartz watches don't really need that as a feature, since unless you work with MRI machines or something equally crazy, you're not going to magnetise a quartz enough to give it a problem.

Amazon says the FC0000 is 39mm case diameter, which seems plausible; it's a classic men's watch size, small by current trends, or on the large end for modern women's watches. It doesn't have a chronograph either, what it does have is dual time zones, world time, perpetual calendar, and an alarm.

For something in between, most of the World Chronograph series are 43mm depending on how you measure (outer bezel diameter on the AT8020-54L I'm wearing is 43mm, which is also the full case width excluding crown and pushers, the non-pilot versions might be slightly smaller). World chronos lose the alarm and second time zone but gain a 1/20s chronograph.

 

Thanks, Andrew.

 

Impact *detection*? No, but I don't know of any watch with that as a feature...

Impact resistance? Well, that's really a feature of mechanical watches, and all these are ordinary quartz; G-Shocks take that sort of thing to a whole different level (if it doesn't break your arm, it won't hurt a G-Shock), but a normal quartz watch is pretty tough, much more so than a mechanical movement.

Hey, I just found the place where I read about the impact detection feature, but I misremembered and it's actually called "shock detection":

Calibre No. H10A
Accuracy ± 15 seconds per month (non-receipt time)
Three folding push type clasp band
Perfect with
Day & date display
Gyro fit
フィットアジャ star
Time difference setting function
English switch function
Receiving Agency Automatic
Time reception function
Forced reception function
Shock detection
Needles auto correction feature
Charge warning function
Overcharge prevention function

(Bolded by me.)

Specifications of the AS7100-59A

Is Citizen for real here?

 

Hey, I just found the place where I read about the impact detection feature, but I misremembered and it's actually called "shock detection":

(Bolded by me.)

Specifications of the AS7100-59A

Is Citizen for real here?

The 'shock detection' is probably a reference to Citizen's 'Perfex' feature, mis-translated as 'Perfect' in the text above under the movement description. It's a mechanism that Citizen uses in some movements to reduce the potential for overshoot and bounce resulting from shock in an attempt to keep the second hand hitting the markers. It's supposedly quite effective, though I've personally never had any experience with one.

 

I see. Thanks, Glenn!

 

Do you guys know whether the Duratect titanium in the watches of Citizen's JDM Attesa series is reliably strong and scratch-resistant, or does the quality vary according to how high-end the watch is?

 

I'm not sure how much it varies, I've had good experience at a few different price points. In any case the Attesa's are a fairly upmarket range and should be good quality all round.

 

@Andrew,

The Taiwanese version of the FC0000-59D is said to have both the anti-magnetic and the shock detection features; in fact, the anti-magnetic feature is stated on the caseback:

Picture...

It looks like a great watch.

 

@Andrew,

The Taiwanese version of the FC0000-59D is said to have both the anti-magnetic and the shock detection features; in fact, the anti-magnetic feature is stated on the caseback:

Picture...

It looks like a great watch.

Same movement, so the shock resistance should be the same on all of them.

Anyway, it is a great watch, no question.

 

There are to many styles to recommend. What styles do you like. Diver, sports, dress?

 

I just bought a Citizen super titanium watch today. Citizen was the first watch my dad bought me when I was a boy.

 

I am trying the titanium SARX057 and NY0071-83E .... both from renowned watch manufacturer. 😀 Wanna to see which one fits more.