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Should Your Next Watch Be a Pocket Watch? Citizen Makes a Compelling Case
News
Should Your Next Watch Be a Pocket Watch? Citizen Makes a Compelling Case
Marking its centenary, Citizen celebrates with not a wristwatch but a pocket watch limited to 100 examples. The 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch commemorates Citizen’s first watch ever, introduced in 1924.
The Citizen hand-wound limited edition pocket watch is a homage to the brand’s inaugural foray into watchmaking in 1924. This edition mirrors the essence of the first-ever Citizen-branded watch, showcasing the brand’s longstanding heritage in the horological realm.
Citizen Pocket Watch, 1924
The launch of this pocket watch marks a centennial celebration, commemorating 100 years since the debut of the first Citizen-branded pocket watch powered by a hand-wound caliber 16 movement. The design intricately weaves the past with the present, seamlessly blending tradition with modern craftsmanship.
Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch, 2024
Crafted from a lightweight yet robust titanium alloy, the pocket watch boasts a case diameter of 43.5mm and a thickness of 13.4mm, making it smaller than some Citizen wristwatches but still of appropriate size for the pocket and hand. The use of dual spherical sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating not only enhances the visual clarity of the timepiece but also adds an extra layer of protection.
The watch features an electroformed dial, finished with a clear coating and polishing, creating a three-dimensional texture. Citizen references snow, but it might also evoke homemade paper as the brand is known to feature on watch dials. Adorned with blued steel Breguet hands and Breguet numerals for both hours and seconds, the watch also pays homage to traditional railway pocket watches.
Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch, 2024
At the core of the Citizen’s 100th Anniversary Special pocket watch lies the caliber 0270 movement. The caliber 0270 is designed for precision, maintaining an accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds a day. This level of accuracy surpasses the stringent ISO 3159 standard for chronometers. Such meticulous performance is achieved through the integration of a free-sprung balance wheel, a feature that stabilizes the watch’s timekeeping against external shocks and variations in position.
The movement has 55 hours of power reserve when fully wound and hacking function. Citizen claims 17 days of in-house testing in multiple positions and temperatures, and the watch is accompanied with an official inspection certificate. The movement is decorated with intricate finishing touches, including Côtes de Genève and diamond-cut edges, and the overlapping circular pattern perlage on the base plate.
The watch chain, a standout feature, is crafted from pure Japanese silk, dyed in a deep indigo. This silk is braided into a Kumihimo cord, a traditional Japanese technique perfected by Tokyo-based Domyo, a company with roots stretching back to the mid-17th century. This choice of material and method underscores Citizen’s dedication to blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship with its watchmaking.
Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch, 2024
Each pocket watch is presented in a special wooden box, underscoring the exclusivity of this limited-edition timepiece. Limited to only 100 pieces, this tribute pocket watch is priced at USD 9,000 and will be available later in 2024.
Tech Specs
Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch (Ref. NC2990-94A)
Movement: Hand winding caliber 0270 movement; 55 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Case: 43.5mm x 13.4mm; Titanium alloy
Strap: Chain crafted from pure Japanese silk
Limited edition: 100 pieces
Availability: Autumn/Winter 2024
