Last year Citizen surprised us with the very beautiful automatic Series 8 watches, which has recently been expanded with a number of new models. Now the popular Japanese watch manufacturer is launching four automatic watches that are based on a famous watch from its own history; the Crystal 7.
From automatic to Eco-Drive to automatic
Since 1976, Citizen has been making watches with solar technology that they developed themselves. About 90% of all Citizen watches are now equipped with this Eco-Drive. But Citizen’s history goes back much further. The brand has an impressive archive and many years of experience with automatic watches from which it can draw.
The very first Japanese watch with mineral glass instead of plexiglass
Citizen’s Crystal 7 watch from 1965 was the very first watch produced in Japan with a mineral glass instead of plexiglass. Nowadays we are used to mineral glass being the standard glass for most watches, but that was different in the 1960s. The technology for making (convex) glass was not yet as developed as it is now and therefore mineral glass was not really suitable for watches. That is why plexiglass made of flexible acrylic was chosen.
The Crystal 7 watches were also the thinnest watches with a day and date window. It will probably not surprise you that a million of these watches were sold in the first year.
Citizen C7, more than a nostalgic tribute
As a tribute to the Crystal 7, Citizen now brings us the C7 series. Four automatic watches with a modern Cal.8200 movement with 40 hours of power reserve, indicating that the C7 goes beyond a nostalgic homage.
The specifications of the Crystal 7 have been followed, but clearly modernized. For example, the original was only 36 mm in size. A size men’s watch that we consider too small today. The C7 has the – for now more common – size of 40 mm.
In style, the C7 is no less than its illustrious predecessor. The seven-sided day window is in the same place below 12 o’clock and the date window is at 3 o’clock and symbolizes the seven days of the week. The indexes have been modernized and now have a sharp seven-sided structure that reflects the light in an exciting way
And of course the watch has a mineral glass case back on the back through which the movement is visible.
More modern Citizen ‘reissues’ at Techzle
In addition to the automatic watches in Series 8 and C7, you will find more new watches this year that are inspired by famous Citizen watches from the past at Techzle. For lovers of classic diving watches, there is the titanium Promaster Marine NB6021-17E based on the Challenge Diver from 1977. Or take a look at the whale shark-inspired professional diving watch BN0225-04L.
Not a fan of retro style watches? In the Citizen collection you will find a wide choice of ultra-modern Super Titanium watches and radio-controlled watches that are considered to be among the top of modern watch technology.