Basically the title says it all. I picked up one of these brand new off eBay for $120 and I think this is a fantastic tool watch. I ended up with one for work as I’m in healthcare and didn’t want to gunk up my nicer GADA watch. It’s a great size for my slender wrist, easy to read and so far keeps great time! Yeah it’s an eco drive, not automatic but I mean for a watch I just can slip on and head to work I can’t think of a better model in ths price range. Definitely a firm recommendation from me for whatever that’s worth.
Like some others I wasn’t keen on the original strap but I picked up a few from CNS and I’m loving the single pass strap on it!
I`m a big fan of solar quartz watches, they are really practical and last a long time.
I do enjoy this watch too. I got it as a gift a couple years ago from a coworker.
For me it’s a little small on my wrist. I’ve had to play with straps, opting for a bund style strap to make it have more of a presence. Even still it gets very little wrist time for me personally. Most of the time I’m wearing one of my many modded Seiko watches on the daily. Or my Skyhawk - love that thing too on the right day.
This is one of my all-time favorites, though I have a few nitpicky gripes: the hands should be a bit longer, the lume should be a bit stronger, it should have drilled lugs, and the minute numerals from 20 to 40 should be inverted (unless there’s a specific reason for the way they are now).
I love the size, style, legibility, accuracy, the fact that it’s solar-powered, and that it has a date AND day complication.
i got the same one with a green band, great watch, goes with almost anything i wear
Citizens watch are truly great value for money. Imo They deserve more love
I love solar quartz watches (I own three!) and am the rare watch enthusiast who prefers them to autos. But I don’t own this one because it’s a mineral crystal. Why Citizen doesn’t offer more sapphire versions of their eco-drive watches is beyond me, I’d happily pay a small premium for that.
Funny you say that as the nicer watch I mentioned is a VAER!
I didn’t know anything’s out this stuff when I bought my version of this watch but I’ve come to love the mineral crystal. Mines best to all hell and it’s given the watch a lot of character that I love.
Are you sure about Seiko? They use mineral glass Hardlex for a lot of models in entry and even some mid level watches.
As someone without a lot of background on the subject, what’s the concern with a mineral crystal?
scratches faster but heard impact wise it’s better
Yeah, you always hear how it is less brittle.
I’m a quartz enthusiast too and in general, Citizen watches are just too big for my chicken wrists.
I have small wrists and this watch fits great.
You guys know about polywatch right?
I love mine. Rugged, reliable and so far keeps great time.
and so far keeps great time.
I sure hope so. A fifty cent quartz movement should be accurate within a few seconds a month.
Got this watch on an olive green nato strap. Absolutely love it but man I wish it came bigger than a 37mm for my 7.25" wrist.
Same here. If it were 39 or 40, that’d be great. Pair that with a sapphire crystal and you’ve got a hell of a watch.
This has caught my eye a few times before. Still need an eco-drive but after a few more automatics on my list
I have 2 Citizen Eco Drives, one with radio controlled time. They have never let me down and I would definitely recommend picking one up.
Yeah I love this watch, I just hate the mineral crystal. Ew.
Why? Nothing wrong with mineral crystal. It’s a sub 150 dollar watch with a purpose. Id rather a watch in this price range scratch than shatter. And truthfully, mineral is fine for most watches. This whole mineral vs sapphire conversation is silly.
I’ve never had a sapphire crystal shatter. I know they can it’s just never happened to me and I’m extremely hard on watches. I have had mineral get so scratched up it’s pretty much useless. So for me, it’s sapphire only.
I’ll chime in and say that my nicer watch is a VAER with sapphire crystal and dual layer AR and it’s definitely a different look to it. Maybe I’m too detail oriented but I for sure notice the difference in the refraction. Even though my VAER C3 is a matte dial it looked pearlescent because of the AR coatings. Not saying bad vs good but definitely noticeable. On the Garrison there’s no refraction, just a clear visual on the dial. All business.
I have a very similar watch, the Centric Instruments Lightwell MkIII. It’s a basic field watch, 39mm, sapphire with AR, screw down crown, 100m water resistance, and a Seiko solar movement. The only real difference is it doesn’t have a date complication (which is my preference).
My issue is that 37mm is really the max size that I like on my slim wrist. Plus I often have to ask patients the day and date so it’s helpful when I know that info, hahahaha
Have one. The mineral crystal is scratched. It cost too must to have Citizen swap it out. I debated on finding a sapphire replacement for it. After receiving a Hamilton Khahi Field as a present the Citizen has not received any wrist time.
Was actually just looking for one last week as it’s an eco-drive and has day-date drawbacks are the large size, small crown, overly busy display and 100m wr had it been a 38 with a larger crown, cleaner display and 200m wr would of had one immediatly …
I have their Aqualand series bad ass!
I have one. Grows on you.