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!

  • Creato938@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I`m a big fan of solar quartz watches, they are really practical and last a long time.

  • Sobek5150@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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.

  • BrowningLoPower@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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.

  • vaughnie4@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    i got the same one with a green band, great watch, goes with almost anything i wear

  • Grundlage@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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.

    • best_of_badgers@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      and so far keeps great time.

      I sure hope so. A fifty cent quartz movement should be accurate within a few seconds a month.

  • magefont1@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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.

    • Amesb34r@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      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.

  • Itsallgood190@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    This has caught my eye a few times before. Still need an eco-drive but after a few more automatics on my list

    • Amesb34r@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      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.

    • RobbersTwo@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      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.

      • TheEndlessVoid7@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        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.

      • lord_of_lafayette@alien.topOPBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        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.

  • vawhitewater@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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).

    • lord_of_lafayette@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      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

  • bmxcrx@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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.

  • trivial_vista@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    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 …