Not too long after the introduction of the Crystal Seven, Citizen added a line of Custom models. Using what were then more modern designs compared to the more traditional Crystal Sevens, the Customs (as with the Dandy Seven) trailed the way for the early 1970s designs with greater use of colour and bolder design of the case and detail, such as hour markers.
Using the 5200 movements with various jewel counts, the cases were typically of the ‘cushion’ type. This example boasts 33 jewels, and is on its original bracelet:
The case back shows production in August 1969:
The clasp is signed with the older ‘C’ type mark:
A closer shot of the dial:
Finally, here’s a scan from Citizen’s marketing material from 1969, showing three Crystal Seven Customs:
Sweephand's Vintage Citizen Watch Blog 
I recently bought an old crystal seven watch at a boot sale in france. On the back it says para water ac553007 y its a 33 jewel automatic movement. The watch is in need of servicing/repair but other wise is in fair condition. do you think it would be worth the cost of repair and if so where do you think i should take it? if you are interested i could take some photographs and send them to you. Thanks. Yours Tim from Berkshire.
Hi Tim – the Crystal Sevens are nice watches, and of Citizen’s automatics they are the most seen for sale on the auction sites. I’d suggest you search completed and active listings on eBay to get some idea of value. Ignore stupidly high start or ‘Buy It Now’ prices though. I’ve just had a very quick look and most seem to sell below what it might cost to service / repair one, bearing in mind as well that parts are going to be hard to come by if needed – usually a donor watch is the only / best approach.
This is your decision of course, and sometimes fondness for a particular watch, say through long ownership or inheritance, or you just simply like it and want to keep and use it for the foreseeable future, may well override economic considerations. As far as I recall, when I asked a year or two ago at my local watch repairer, his charge for a service (with no parts required) would cost about £60 to £70.
Stephen
Hi Tim. It took quite some doing but I finally found your blog and some much appreciated information on the crystal seven 33 jewels watch my grandfather left me. Thank you! The case reads: 91210351 and below that: 61-1174 it also has a burnt-orange colored face. I’m not sure how to tell the date it was made or anything else. Any information was be great. Thank you.
-Brian Elliott
Hi Brian – thanks for visiting my blog. Citizen launched the Crystal 7 range in 1965 and made many models with the 52 movement and different jewelling. There is more info on the Crystal Sevens here:
https://sweep-hand.org/2011/06/23/this-weeks-featured-watch-8-the-crystal-seven-27-jewels/ and the ‘Family Tree’ also indicates the extent of the model range: https://sweephand.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/52familytree-v2secure.pdf
The 52 movement was in production until the late 1960s, so yours was made in December 1969 (from the first three figures in the serial number – 91210351). It’s unusual to see this style of model number – 61-1174 – on a Crystal Seven. Does it have a case number? This would be in the form of 4-123456.
Stephen
It does indeed: 4-520751 Y. Thank you very much for your reply. I’ll look into those links now.
You’re welcome 🙂 Your watch can also be found with the earlier style of model/case number of ACSS2825 (or ACSG if gold plated).
Stephen