The Northern Lights appear as great curtains of light sweeping across the night sky, shifting in color and intensity as particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. Green is most commonly associated with the aurora borealis, but occasionally it takes on an altogether different character, with vivid shades of purple and violet illuminating the night. This rarer display has inspired one of Citizen¹‘s most visually arresting watches of 2026.

The Citizen ATTESA² Power of Purple Aurora captures the shifting quality of the aurora through a combination of color, texture and light. The predominantly black watch is punctuated by flashes of purple, blue and pink gold, with the colors of its subdials changing according to the viewing angle.

It is one of two new limited-edition ATTESA models celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Citizen’s Eco-Drive³ technology that uses any light to power its movement⁴. Its companion, the Power of Green Flash, takes inspiration from the momentary flash of emerald light that can sometimes be seen as the Sun disappears below the horizon.

The Aurora Effect

The Power of Purple Aurora, reference CC4085-81Z, makes an immediate impression through its three intensely colored subdials. Against the dark background of the main dial, they appear almost luminous, their purple surfaces displaying subtle blue undertones.

Citizen ATTESA Power of Purple Aurora, reference CC4085-81Z

The effect comes from structural color film, a technique that creates color through the interaction of light with microscopic structures rather than relying solely on conventional pigments. Different wavelengths are reflected, producing colors that change according to the angle of illumination and observation. It is a particularly appropriate technique for a watch inspired by the aurora, whose colors and patterns are constantly in motion.

The black main dial has raised printing arranged in flowing, irregular patterns intended to evoke the shimmering movement of light through the night sky. These bring a sense of texture to the complex arrangement of hands, markers and subsidiary displays.

Citizen ATTESA Power of Purple Aurora, reference CC4085-81Z

Citizen has extended the color treatment beyond the dial. The sapphire bezel ring carries a graduated purple-to-blue finish created through vapor deposition, a process in which material is deposited as a thin coating onto a surface. The names of the 27 cities used for the world-time function are picked out in a contrasting pink-gold color.

That warmer metallic tone continues with the hour markers and date-window surround, while the bezel is finished with Citizen’s DURATECT⁵ Pink surface treatment. Purple is hardly a restrained choice for a watch dial, particularly when combined with pink gold. The black case and bracelet help keep the exuberant combination of colors in check.

A Different Kind of Light Show

If the Purple Aurora celebrates the spectacle of the night sky, the Power of Green Flash, reference CC4084-83Z, looks to the horizon at sunset.

Citizen ATTESA Power of Purple Aurora, reference CC4085-83Z

The green flash is an unusual optical phenomenon where a brief burst of green light can sometimes be observed at the upper edge of the Sun as it disappears below the horizon. It is associated with the way sunlight is refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere, separating its constituent colors under particular viewing conditions.

The effect might last only a few seconds, making it an elusive spectacle even for those who know what to look for. Citizen has translated that fleeting moment into a dial that appears to radiate green light from its center.

Citizen ATTESA Power of Purple Aurora, reference CC4085-83Z

Structural color film forms the lower layer of the dial, producing varying green hues as light strikes its surface. Above it sits an inkjet-printed black layer, designed to suggest the contrast between the darkening horizon and the sudden appearance of brilliant green light.

Unlike the Purple Aurora, which concentrates its color in the subdials, the Green Flash spreads it across the main dial. Fine lines radiate outward from the center, with vapor deposition contributing to the impression of green rays spreading toward the bezel.

The sapphire bezel ring also receives a dark green vapor-deposited finish, a first for the ATTESA collection. Yellow-gold-colored hour markers and a matching date-window frame provide contrast, while DURATECT Amber Yellow, introduced in 2025 as part of the brand’s celebration of 55 years of titanium innovation, frames the bezel.

Fifty Years of Light-Powered Watchmaking

Light provides both the inspiration for these watches and the energy to keep them running. Citizen introduced the world’s first light-powered analog quartz wristwatch in 1976, establishing the foundations of what would become Eco-Drive. The principle was straightforward, although its practical realization required considerable technical development: capture light, convert it into electrical energy and store that energy to power a quartz movement.

A watch capable of charging from light would not require the regular battery replacements associated with conventional quartz watches. Over the following decades, Citizen developed the technology to work with both natural and artificial light, incorporating it into an increasingly sophisticated range of timepieces.

The new ATTESA models are equipped with Citizen’s caliber F950, a light-powered movement with satellite-synchronized GPS timekeeping. It can receive time signals from GPS satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above the Earth. Under suitable reception conditions, it can acquire a time signal in as little as three seconds, a figure Citizen describes as being among the fastest for an analog light-powered GPS watch.

The F950 also incorporates world time, a perpetual calendar, a power reserve indicator and a chronograph capable of measuring elapsed time in 1/20-second increments for up to 24 hours.

It features Citizen’s Double Direct Flight system, which allows the wearer to display home and local times simultaneously and switch between them with a simple operation. For frequent travelers, it is one of the movement’s most useful features, combining the convenience of multiple time zones with satellite-assisted accuracy.

Even without satellite reception, the movement is rated to an accuracy of plus or minus five seconds per month. When fully powered, it can continue running for up to five years in power-saving mode.

Titanium at the Heart

The ATTESA collection has been part of Citizen’s portfolio since 1987, establishing a reputation for lightweight titanium construction and advanced electronic watchmaking. Both anniversary models continue that tradition with cases and bracelets made from Citizen’s proprietary Super Titanium™.

The material combines solid titanium with DURATECT surface-hardening treatments, giving it greater resistance to scratching and everyday wear. Citizen states that Super Titanium™ is approximately 40 percent lighter than stainless steel, with a surface more than five times harder.

For these watches, the predominantly dark appearance comes from DURATECT DLC, a diamond-like carbon coating that also provides additional surface protection. The contrasting pink and amber treatments supply the more decorative accents.

Both measure 44.6mm in diameter and 15.4mm thick, dimensions that reflect the complexity of their displays. Double-curved sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coatings protect the dials, while water resistance is rated to 100 meters.

Two Interpretations of Innovation

The Power of Purple Aurora and Power of Green Flash are each limited to 1,500 pieces worldwide. They launched in October, with both priced at $2,295.

Citizen’s reputation has been built on technological achievements, from light-powered movements to satellite-synchronized timekeeping and advanced titanium treatments. Yet the anniversary models show an equally strong interest in how those technologies can be showcased in an elegant, innovative wristwatch.

[1] CITIZEN is a registered trademark
[2] ATTESA is a registered trademark
[3] Eco-Drive is a registered trademark
[4] Powering varies by light intensity
[5] DURATECT is a registered trademark