Back in April, one of the Featured Watches was a Leopard 7220 from 1970, a high beat model with day and date window at the 12 o’clock position (https://sweep-hand.org/2012/04/13/this-weeks-featured-watch-30-the-leopard-7220/). The unusual day and date design, in one window, means that the changeover has to be instant at midnight.
Citizen also used this design in one of its Seven Star V2 models, this time using the 7280 movement. As a mid range model it runs at 21,600 beats per hour (the Leopard is 28,800), and has no fine adjuster on the balance. It hacks and hand winds though, like the Leopard. You can see where these two fit in the ’72 Leopard/V2 Family Tree’ via the link in the blogroll.
Here’s my well used example, with mid-blue dial:
The case back shows production in August 1970, and the case number is 4-780108 (as with the Leopard the 78xxxx indicates this particular day/date design), note the crown is in the fully out ‘hacking’/time setting position:
The 23 jewel movement, showing the movement number stamped in the usual place:
Crown is signed:
The Seven Star V2 models fitted in Citizen’s line-up just below the Leopards – in fact their retail prices overlapped to some extent. With solid and reliable movements, they were a nicely specified (hand wind-able and hacking, with quick set date) range of automatics.
Sweephand's Vintage Citizen Watch Blog 
Dear Stephen,
Now, as my collection of vintage citizens grows, I’d like to ask you a few more questions.
I’m trying to source spare crystals for two watches:
– 67-9119 chrono and
– seven star V2 with what i believe is 7280 movement (23 jewels and that peculiar joint day/date), case type GN-3-S, case nr 4-780094 TA, serial 01004654 (I hope the caseback is original)
I already know, thanks to your post here, that for 67-9119 I need 54-50880 crystal. Any ideas where I can find it? I searched Yahoo Japan auctions but found no matches at the moment.
And can you tell me what part nr. should I search for to get a spare crystal for the V2? I’v already tried changing the original crystal to some generic domed mineral glass of the same width, but I’m not happy with the results.
Thanks,
Hi trxtr, good to hear from you again. Firstly, the case back seems fine to me for the V2 with the 12 o’clock day/date window. I really like that design, partly because it has to change instantly at midnight with a definite click. I haven’t got a crystal number for you yet for that one I’m afraid – I will see if I can find it when I have a bit more time.
Original crystals are getting harder and harder to find – but I might be able to help with a 54-50880 for your 67-9119 🙂 Are you ok for me to email you directly? (no need to post your email address, I get that when someone posts a comment).
Stephen
Thanks for the answer and please do email me
email just sent 🙂
hi, I just got one with nice white dial. my question is does the quickset work only for the date or also for the day, as mine does only date (still, better than in the oposite case 😉
Hi Miso, yes that’s right, just the date is quick set. Stephen
Hello,
Perhaps do you know something about citizen v2 seven star 26J Cal.7790? Or where can i find info about them?
Thanks.
Hi Luis, thanks for visiting my blog, and apologies for my slow reply. The 7790 movement was first produced around 1971, and was made for just a few years before Citizen focused on quartz and significantly reduced the range of mechanical models it made. It is a very nice movement, running at 21,600 beats per hour and made with 22, 24 or 26 jewels. It was used in Seven Star V2 models as you know, ‘V2’ indicating that these were the second line of watches with the Seven Star name. The earlier models used 52xx movements. The 7790 has a couple of interesting features – first, it ‘hacks’, meaning that the movement is stopped when the crown is pulled out to set the time. This helps to accurately synchronise the watch. More interesting, and only used on a few of Citizen’s watches, is the unusual way of changing the day and date – with the crown in the ‘in’ or running position, when the watch is held vertically in the 12 o’clock position pressing the crown changes the date. When the watch is then turned the other way up, i.e. held vertically with 6 0’clock at the top, the day is changed when the crown is pressed. Stephen
I acquired one of these watches a while ago now and Brian Leiser brought it back up to snuff for me earlier this year. It’s such a neat watch and I’d love to see more examples out there. Citizen’s history sure can be a mystery to us outside of Japan. Thanks for this article, it was instrumental in helping me research the watch after I just happened to come across it on eBay one day.
Hi Gregory, thanks for visiting my blog, and it’s good to hear that have found it useful. Stephen
hello,
i got what seems to be an almost unworn model with a silver dial, it works fine and runs at ~+20s a day, But when i was opened the watch to see if it was ever serviced i noticed that one of the jewels seemed to be cracked. it seems to be the one holding the barrel axis (so i guess i should get it replaces ASAP?) well i was wondering whats the part number for this jewel or the plate it and if its the same part in the 7470 automatic movement.
sorry for the long text .
Thanks.
Hi Mark, can you please confirm exactly which model it is – just so I’m sure, is it the 7280 movement? Thanks, Stephen
Yes, Seven Star V2 with 4-780108 on the case back and the day/date at 12 o’ clock. And a second question, what’s the parts compatibility between the seven star and the leopard 7220 (nothing too detailed if it’s alot of trouble just wanted to know what donor watches I should look for) and the crystal part number for that leopard.
Thanks again for answering.
thanks Mark – I’ll mail you about this. Stephen