When I came across this watch I stopped dead in my tracks. This seems like the ultimate, tough, set it and forget it GADA watch of all time. Its eco drive movement with perpetual calendar seems to put GS’ 9f to shame. Its paper dial with platinum flakes is simply gorgeous. And its titanium construction with platinum duratect coating seems like it’d make for easy wearing and comfort. And with a 38mm case size with 47mm lug to lug, this truly seems like the ultimate one watch collection. I am seriously contemplating selling everything for this watch. What are your impressions?
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Scorpiowatchman
Thinking of selling everything for a Citizen AQ4100-65W
When I came across this watch I stopped dead in my tracks. This seems like the ultimate, tough, set it and forget it GADA watch of all time. Its eco drive movement with perpetual calendar seems to put GS’ 9f to shame. Its paper dial with platinum flakes is simply gorgeous. And its titanium construction with platinum duratect coating seems like it’d make for easy wearing and comfort. And with a 38mm case size with 47mm lug to lug, this truly seems like the ultimate one watch collection. I am seriously contemplating selling everything for this watch. What are your impressions?
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I agree that you're getting a lot for your money in the AQ4100-65W.
Focusing first on aesthetics, some people hate the dial because they think it looks too splotchy and random. Personally I think it's cool and unique. If you haven't already done it I'd try to see the thing in person before you buy - and if that's impossible then try looking at a lot of real photos online (versus renders).
One thing that doesn't sit quite right with me is the styling of the date window frame. The styling of it comes off as slightly too heavy to me. At least when looking at pictures online.
Turning to the movement, it's a great "smart quartz" (computer with motors and hands). I don't have a The Citizen, but I do have a couple Longines Conquest VHP watches, which are also smart quartz, and there are some nice benefits that come from that arrangement. Perpetual calendar, hand position detection/correction, power saving mode where you can put the hands to sleep and wake the watch up later, etc.
But I would stop well short of saying it puts the Grand Seiko 9F movement to shame. The two movements are nothing alike other than that they both have quartz oscillators in them. The 9F isn't a computer with motors and hands. It's closer to a mechanical watch than to what the VHP and The Citizen are. Perpetual calendar on a 9F is just as difficult as it would be on a 100% mechanical watch. The watch doesn't really ever know what the time and date actually is. It knows approximately when the hour hand has lapped the dial twice and the date needs to be advanced, and that's about it.
I love the grab and go convenience of the VHP. I love that the only time I have to mess with it is the day have Daylight Time starts or ends. That said, I consider Spring Drive to be the purest manifestation of the natural delivery of time in a wristwatch. And I would say that other than going with a digital LCD watch the VHP is about as far as one can get from that ideal form. Everything about the delivery of time is unnatural. The minutes and seconds aren't even geared to each other - with the minute hand moving forward a small leap only once every 10 seconds. Thankfully it seems like The Citizen does not share that trait.
If one values accuracy above all else, then Citizen's offerings are really hard to beat in terms of freestanding time keepers. But if one truly values accuracy above all else then a radio sync or GPS sync watch is really the best answer because even the best of the best freestanding timekeepers are eventually going to need to have the time corrected. Conversely a radio sync watch is probably never going to be wrong by more than about a third of a second.
As soon as one allows that there is something particularly special about the fact that Citizen can make a watch that is +/- 1 second in a whole year, then you've opened the door to something being more important than accuracy and the debate begins about where the line for "pride from doing things the hard way" should be drawn.
To be clear, I like all kinds of watches. High high beat, low beat, traditional quartz, smart quartz, Spring Drive, and even LCD watches. Each with their own unique set of pros and cons.
I could see myself owning a Chronomaster someday - if they'd just fix that date window frame.
Focusing first on aesthetics, some people hate the dial because they think it looks too splotchy and random. Personally I think it's cool and unique. If you haven't already done it I'd try to see the thing in person before you buy - and if that's impossible then try looking at a lot of real photos online (versus renders).
One thing that doesn't sit quite right with me is the styling of the date window frame. The styling of it comes off as slightly too heavy to me. At least when looking at pictures online.
Turning to the movement, it's a great "smart quartz" (computer with motors and hands). I don't have a The Citizen, but I do have a couple Longines Conquest VHP watches, which are also smart quartz, and there are some nice benefits that come from that arrangement. Perpetual calendar, hand position detection/correction, power saving mode where you can put the hands to sleep and wake the watch up later, etc.
But I would stop well short of saying it puts the Grand Seiko 9F movement to shame. The two movements are nothing alike other than that they both have quartz oscillators in them. The 9F isn't a computer with motors and hands. It's closer to a mechanical watch than to what the VHP and The Citizen are. Perpetual calendar on a 9F is just as difficult as it would be on a 100% mechanical watch. The watch doesn't really ever know what the time and date actually is. It knows approximately when the hour hand has lapped the dial twice and the date needs to be advanced, and that's about it.
I love the grab and go convenience of the VHP. I love that the only time I have to mess with it is the day have Daylight Time starts or ends. That said, I consider Spring Drive to be the purest manifestation of the natural delivery of time in a wristwatch. And I would say that other than going with a digital LCD watch the VHP is about as far as one can get from that ideal form. Everything about the delivery of time is unnatural. The minutes and seconds aren't even geared to each other - with the minute hand moving forward a small leap only once every 10 seconds. Thankfully it seems like The Citizen does not share that trait.
If one values accuracy above all else, then Citizen's offerings are really hard to beat in terms of freestanding time keepers. But if one truly values accuracy above all else then a radio sync or GPS sync watch is really the best answer because even the best of the best freestanding timekeepers are eventually going to need to have the time corrected. Conversely a radio sync watch is probably never going to be wrong by more than about a third of a second.
As soon as one allows that there is something particularly special about the fact that Citizen can make a watch that is +/- 1 second in a whole year, then you've opened the door to something being more important than accuracy and the debate begins about where the line for "pride from doing things the hard way" should be drawn.
To be clear, I like all kinds of watches. High high beat, low beat, traditional quartz, smart quartz, Spring Drive, and even LCD watches. Each with their own unique set of pros and cons.
I could see myself owning a Chronomaster someday - if they'd just fix that date window frame.
The proportions of hour and minute hand are very awkward. Looks like the minute hand atrophied due to nerve damage or something.
I love Citizen at budget - mid market pricing but there's nothing about this particular design that appeals. Same with GS - at that price level I'd go for a Swiss auto everytime from the likes of Omega or Tudor.
But desirable for good reason.
Due to quantum physics, “the more accurate a clock is, the less accurate clocks around it can be.”
www.hodinkee.com
Due to quantum physics, “the more accurate a clock is, the less accurate clocks around it can be.”
Recommended Reading: Clocks Hate Other Clocks – Thanks To Quantum Uncertainty, The More Accurate A Clock Is, The Less Accurate Nearby Clocks Are
As it turns out, science is complicated.
www.hodinkee.com
The second hand on this Citizen is short like the old 7s26 based Seiko 5 watches. Most pictures try and hide this odd pairing by having the seconds hand on an hour index. For a watch that has a $4300 MSRP, it’s quite a shame.
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GS makes a big deal about the high torque movement to push the long seconds hand and the anti backlash mechanism to counter it. Does this citizen have the instant date change like the GS9f?
Image copied from google search
GS makes a big deal about the high torque movement to push the long seconds hand and the anti backlash mechanism to counter it. Does this citizen have the instant date change like the GS9f?
Image copied from google search
The prices for both the GS and Citizen watches are ridiculous for such plain and uninteresting designs - should be £500 watches at the most and far better options exist for the price they're asking.
I'd be interested in the £500 HAQ offerings that you have in mind, and/or the better HAQ options that exist for the price of the GS/Citizen.
Look to the JDM sellers to source these. You may find much better pricing than is listed on the Citizen US website. Won’t mention any specific dealers, but easy to find.
Yes. The prices on the Citizen US page are almost always high. Citizen.jp gives a suggested retail of 451,000 yen....that's about $3000 given the current exchange rate. The only problem is, this was a limited release of 500.
Note too, that Citizen USA only gets a few The Citizen models at a time. We're hoping this will change with the big Citizen boutique in New York, which hopefully means The Citizen will become more broadly available here. The only other model I'm seeing at citizenwatch.com, is the black and gold, with its gold dust look. And it's also gotten quite a few knocks. For a look at what's in the current catalog, look at citizen.jp. For example: the AQ4091-56M. Also titanium.
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Granted, 40 mm instead of 38, and I'd prefer 38 myself, especially for a one-and-only. BUT, I have contrast issues with the 4100...reflective white dial, reflective white-metal hands? Not so sure. YMMV. But look around. Citizen.jp for current. Try Japan-select, Sakura, or Ippo Watch...altho make sure to note if they have them. Sakura was basically out of all the models. Try Chrono24, perhaps.
Note too, that Citizen USA only gets a few The Citizen models at a time. We're hoping this will change with the big Citizen boutique in New York, which hopefully means The Citizen will become more broadly available here. The only other model I'm seeing at citizenwatch.com, is the black and gold, with its gold dust look. And it's also gotten quite a few knocks. For a look at what's in the current catalog, look at citizen.jp. For example: the AQ4091-56M. Also titanium.
Granted, 40 mm instead of 38, and I'd prefer 38 myself, especially for a one-and-only. BUT, I have contrast issues with the 4100...reflective white dial, reflective white-metal hands? Not so sure. YMMV. But look around. Citizen.jp for current. Try Japan-select, Sakura, or Ippo Watch...altho make sure to note if they have them. Sakura was basically out of all the models. Try Chrono24, perhaps.
I can absolutely say that the Citizen titanium Chronomasters are fantastic watches. I don't "collect" watches, but have three, an Omega quartz Seamaster (every day wear), a Seiko blue dial quartz (wanted a cheap blue daily wear quartz), and a Citizen Chronomaster AG4030-51E for my dress watch.
The Chronomaster is just an amazing watch and a true set it once and wear it forever type of watch. I also love the lightness of the titanium construction (trust me...you WILL get used to wearing a light watch and wonder why you wore anything heavier) and the hard coating is amazing. You'd really have to work hard to scratch it. I'd say if you like the looks and it's not too dressy for all the occasions you'll wear it, get it!
![Image]()
The Chronomaster is just an amazing watch and a true set it once and wear it forever type of watch. I also love the lightness of the titanium construction (trust me...you WILL get used to wearing a light watch and wonder why you wore anything heavier) and the hard coating is amazing. You'd really have to work hard to scratch it. I'd say if you like the looks and it's not too dressy for all the occasions you'll wear it, get it!
i spent $1300 sale price for a citizen eco diverzilla, so i can't question this too much...but $4000? i'd say be sure you will like this and that you really want this, and will keep wanting it at that price. it appeals to me, but the problems are that i only buy divers with movable bezels, but that's my issue not yours. also the legibility of the hands. however, i've a number of eco citizens (all divers) and they are truly amazing watches with none (N-O-N-E) of the misalignment or quality control problems of their nemisis seiko. if you're sold on this style watch and can handle the price with no regrets, i can vouch for citizen's immaculate engineering and quality control. enjoy it, it is gorgeous.
I have one of those and it's lovely. I don't need the bracelet, so when one popped up for sale on Japan, I jumped on it.
There were three for sale in Japan recently - I think one is still up on Mercari and another on Yahoo Japan.
Theres also a blue AQ4100-14L for anyone looking for that particular rare LE.
As good of a choice as any to be a owg with I guess
My personal experience with the modern The Citizen models in titanium is that the bracelet is on the sharp side, lacking the micro bevels from the past. Make sure to try one before you go crazy
My personal experience with the modern The Citizen models in titanium is that the bracelet is on the sharp side, lacking the micro bevels from the past. Make sure to try one before you go crazy
I just pulled the trigger on a Citizen Chronomaster, that has never been seen before in the HAQ/Citizen forums, or for that matter, the entire website. I'll post a review shorty after it arrives.
I share the OP's sentiment. I got a Citizen AQ4080 a few months back and it has literally made all my other watches (2 regular quartz + 1 mechanical) obsolete. But none of those other watches are worth that much so no strong motivation to sell either. But I see myself wearing the AQ4080 at least 90% of the time.
OP, make sure you can get a good fit and daily/seasonal wrist size change is not and issue ( Unless you are proficient at bracelet sizing). For, I notice that most Citizens and GSs do not cater to micro or OTF adjustments.
I do like the solar coupled with amazing accuracy (relative after reading the Q physics article on accuracy )
I do like the solar coupled with amazing accuracy (relative after reading the Q physics article on accuracy
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