Citizen Watches...Any Good? | FerrariChat

Citizen Watches...Any Good?

Discussion in 'Fine Watches, Jewelry, & Clothes' started by REMIX, Feb 22, 2008.

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  1. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    They intrigue me. Do people consider them crappy and cheap? Total idiotic question, I know, but what would you compare them to?

    RMX
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 14, 2003
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    A little more rugged than a Seiko and a little notch higher I think.....
     
  3. VTChris

    VTChris F1 World Champ

    Aug 21, 2005
    13,259
    Citizen watches are very good for the money.

    Solar powered for the most part.
    nearly ZERO problems.

    Back in the day (10 years ago) they used to state Citizen watches had less than a 2% return rate (for defects) which was the best in the industry.
    I don't know 'technically' how the return rate has changed since.
    But I can tell you, after selling their watches since 1987, I rarely have a problem with their watches.
    And, the problems that would arrise were from customer neglect to the piece.

    Just my .02 cents of 21 years in dealing with them :)

    oh, I still sell them, even here on Fchat now :D
    All the new Ad pieces are in stock
     
  4. vicious

    vicious Karting

    Oct 5, 2006
    105
    Red Deer, Alberta
    Full Name:
    Noel Johnson
    I own a Caliber 2100 Titanium and love it. Very nice looking and dead reliable. The light weight for it's size is really nice as well.
     
  5. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    Okay, thanks for the comments. So - another newb question here - if they're so well built and reliable, what makes something like a Tag cost so much more? I saw a Tag Monaco the other day and was smitten - but, really, are they worth 8x as much as something like a Citizen Calibre 3100 or Largo?

    I do like Citizen's Blue Angel Skyhawk, though. Being a pilot myself, I think they're pretty cool.

    RMX
     
  6. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Next question?
     
  7. mchas

    mchas F1 Veteran
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    Oct 5, 2004
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    I got a Citizen as a high school graduation gift. I've replaced the battery twice since then (almost 10 years), and never had a single problem. I don't wear it much anymore, but I think they make great watches for the money. As to why a Tag costs 8 times as much... I'll defer to the real watch guys here, but I suspect its because most are automatic, and by just holding them and looking at them you can tell they're much higher quality. As with anything, as the quality goes up linearly, the price goes up exponentially.
     
  8. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    Jul 26, 2004
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    #8 FarmerDave, Feb 23, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    My personal favorites. I had one that I wore every day for 7 years, a chronograph, replaced the battery twice, it still looked good. What is so cool about that one is it looked like a regular chronograph movement, but it was also "digital" and when you press one of the chronograph buttons, it would "magically" advance the hour and minute hand forward or backward one hour. It was like Christmas time every time I crossed a time zone and had to adjust my watch :D

    I wanted a change so I got another Citizen.

    My "new" one is an Eco Drive, and a true "perpetual calendar." I've never had to change the date since day one, and it's only off the atomic time clock by about 10 seconds, 2 years later. Even though this is a leap year, the date will STILL be correct on Feb 29 and Mar 1, without having to adjust... and it will change from the 28th to the 1st for the following three years, and will account for the following leap year! How cool is that?
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  9. Bugattiart

    Bugattiart F1 Veteran

    Mar 8, 2004
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    Carsten Christiansen
    I have been wearing Citizen watches every single day since 1981 and I've been hard on them! Still to this day, I NEVER had a single issue with them (except for a battery exchange every three years or so for the older ones).....they are dead on reliable and must be among the most clever, easy to use, precise, and affordable watches in the World!
    I would never rely on anything else but Citizen for my daily use!
    In my oppinion, Citizen offers you sooo much more for the money, and they are in many cases among the most complicated and technically advanced although still dead reliable watches you can buy!!
    Even the most advanced Citizen watches are very easy to learn how to operate!

    To try and illustrate how precise they are: Every day at work, I use a Citizen Promaster Racing (World timer) that I had for years now, and comparing the timekeeping on that one to that of my new radio controlled Citizen Skyhawk AT, it did not yet gain or loose a second for the two weeks I've had the Skyhawk!

    I can higly recommend Citizen watches for anyone.....and if you buy your Citizen from Chris, you'll be sure to get the very best service in the business!! :)


    Best regards

    Carsten
     
  10. mchas

    mchas F1 Veteran
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    Your #1 is the exact watch that I have. I love that watch. Advancing the time is bad-azz, and you can also set the time digitally, and the hands will haul ass into position once you confirm. When I met ernie on here, he even commented on my watch. Too bad they don't make that style anymore.
     
  11. jefffromcanada

    jefffromcanada Formula 3
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    Nov 2, 2006
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    Alberta
    I own 2 Citizens ( Aqualand and the new Shyhawk AT). Great watches for the money and I get compliments on both all the time. Funny you mentioned a Tag. I was going to buy the Formula 1 Chrono (obviously not the most expensive Tag) but a Tag none the less. I ended up buying the Skyhawk instead and I love it. It even came with a DVD to show me how to use it :).

    Great watches, don't hesitate to buy one.
     
  12. VTChris

    VTChris F1 World Champ

    Aug 21, 2005
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    #12 VTChris, Feb 23, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. Bugattiart

    Bugattiart F1 Veteran

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    VERY good looking watch Chris......are you trying to tempt my weak soul once again?? :)
    How much is it??
     
  14. Lemke

    Lemke F1 Rookie

    Oct 27, 2004
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    #14 Lemke, Feb 25, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  15. Chiaro_Slag

    Chiaro_Slag F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2003
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    Nice looking watch!
     
  16. Thomas L Carey

    Thomas L Carey Karting

    Apr 12, 2008
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    Thomas Carey
    If you are looking for great bang for the buck they are really very hard to beat.

    Best Regards,

    Thomas Carey
     
  17. Mbutner

    Mbutner Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2005
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    Been wearing my Titanium Skyhawk everyday for nearly 10 years.
     
  18. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
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    I had a "Stars & Stripes" and it started behaving funky after about 2 years of every-day wear. I sent it in for repair, and it was fixed -- for about 6 months and gave up again. I threw it away.

    I'm not hard on watches -- I've got a Patek, an Omega, a Raymond Weil and Ebel and none of them have given me any problems at all...
     
  19. prudence

    prudence Karting

    May 15, 2007
    159
    Orange County, CA
    I second this! I also received one as a graduation gift 7 years ago and I've replaced the battery once. I rarely wear it anymore but I've never had any problems whatsoever.
     
  20. bsilverman

    bsilverman Rookie

    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    New Jersey
    The Citizen is a perfectly fine watch. To put it in forum perspective, they are Pontiacs. They get the job done and they're reliable. They're better than Chevys but they overlap with them as well as Oldsmobiles, depending on the model. That Tag is a solid Buick. Just realize that the Cadillacs are a distance away....and that's just General Motors cars......
    Watches, like cars, cover a huge gamut. Economy, practical, and a whole host of genuine and less genuine levels of luxury, quality, complication and style both real and perceived.

    But watches, just like cars, don't have to please or impress anyone but their owners.
     
  21. masterflex164

    masterflex164 Formula Junior

    Oct 17, 2004
    630
    New England
    Yes they can, they just take a lot longer. I love my Skyhawk AT so much. Great watch, always precise
     
  22. Delmarco

    Delmarco Rookie

    May 8, 2013
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    #22 Delmarco, May 8, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    love them. the original h610 (2009) and e210 (2006) calibre chronographs
    are my favorites after the Nighthawk-Promaster series!

    [​IMG]


    I previously wore the original steel nighthawk for like 10 years before selling it last winter when I picked up the latest Calibre h610 Promaster Nighthawk (2011).

    Outside of luxury watches these are the best timepieces for style, function and longevity.
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  23. PureEuroM3

    PureEuroM3 F1 Veteran
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  24. jomoyer

    jomoyer Formula Junior

    Jul 2, 2007
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    Chicago
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    Josh M.
    I have a Calibre 8700 on a black leather strap. Love the watch, although changing the various settings can be a pain in the ass. I've never had a problem with it. I haven't worn it in forever and noticed it was dead. Then I remembered it was solar and put it on the window sill for a day and voila, it worked. I'd venture to say Citizen is one of the best watch companies for under $1k.
     
  25. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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    Wow, nice jumps. 2008 to 2010 to 2013. :)
     

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