Well, it is now 2023 and I thought it’s finally time to do a new blog post! I must first apologise for the lack of activity over the past 18+ months and my failure to respond to people’s comments and enquiries. Although I have tried to reply to questions via the ‘Got A Question?’ form on the right side panel, I have not logged comments on the blog itself. Again apologies for that.
After the end of the Covid ‘lockdown’ and my daily posts, I kind of ran out of steam for a while – and then other priorities intervened, particularly relating to elderly parents. Things have now moved on though and my enthusiasm for Citizen’s vintage watches has revived somewhat. So, I hope from now on you will see more posts, and I’ll try to keep the blog ‘alive’.
Given that this blog (like me!) won’t go on forever, I’ve been thinking what might be a useful way forward. Since information about vintage Citizens has always been fairly hard to come by, my intention has always been to provide a source of reference material for fellow Citizen enthusiasts, collectors and even watchmakers. For example, I’ve always had enquiries from people looking for part numbers, servicing information etc., perhaps because they are working on/restoring their old watch. So I will create new pages where I can upload reference information that can’t (easily) be found elsewhere, which will be more accessible than simple posts, which soon get harder to find.
If you need good technical information including disassembly, assembly and servicing, case design and general and specific guidance on movements, please go to these downloadable original English language publications on TheWatchSite (the Seiko & Citizen Forum):
https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/1971-citizen-technical-information.171138/
I’ll add this link to the Reference Data found in the right hand panel on the Home Page. Although the information precedes the 81 and 82 movements, and doesn’t cover the earlier Jet movements, it does cover the Citizen’s main movement families from the 1960s and early 1970s.
I do still have a few models that I’ve not yet covered on my ‘Featured Watches’ page, so I will continue with that.
Although comments are very welcome in response to my posts, if you have a question about a vintage watch (maybe one you’ve not got an answer to before!) please use the ‘Got A Question‘ form – thank you.
Finally, I only have reference material on Citizen’s vintage mechanical, electro-mechanical (e.g. the Cosmotrons) and very early quartz watches, i.e. up to 1980. I’m afraid I can’t help much with more recent quartz models and Eco-Drives.
Need pictures to finish…..so here is my Jet 777 Autodater, one of the rarer models from the early 1960s:
Sweephand's Vintage Citizen Watch Blog 
Good to have you back Stephen, I for one have been wondering if all was ok in Sweep Hand Land so this is welcome news.
Robert
Thanks Robert
Mate. Good to have you back. I can totally relate, I have closed my watch business, until my messy divorce from my narcissistic wife is over. It will never be over, my narcissistic dad used to haunt his ex-wife (my mum). I am living the drama again, except I married my dad and I am my mum…
Thanks Dan – sorry to hear about your situation though. I wish you well
So good to have you back, it just makes the vintage Citizen world so much better.
Thanks Kerry, a very kind message
Gracias por retomar el trabajo y no hay porque pedir disculpas cuidar a los padres es una obligación y a la vez bendición. Ánimo ánimo y bienvenido a tu misma casa. Saludos.
Hola Rodolfo, gracias por tu amable comentario
Hi Stephen, glad you’re well. We spoke some time ago about a couple of bullheads I was getting restored – still ongoing unfortunately – and you were extremely helpful, I’ll always appreciate that. I pop by from time to time when the watch bug is in full flow, great to see this valuable resource still going strong. Keep up the good work!
thank you for your comment – good to see that you keep an eye on the blog. I hope you can sort out those bullheads soon!
They’ll get there, got almost all the parts, just got to find a friendly watch guy to do the work, I wouldn’t attempt it myself given the scarcity of parts. I actually swung by on a hunt for information on this model of watch: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295473764010
I can’t find a lot of information about it but the hunt is on for the blue striped version, not sure if I’ll ever find one though! Do you know anything about this watch?
Great to hear you’re back online, all the best!
I’m afraid I don’t have anything on that particular model, or the blue striped version. It is one of Citizen’s ‘Eagle 7’ range, which uses their 8200 auto movement – more info on that here: https://sweep-hand.org/2013/01/27/the-8200-movement-citizens-standard-auto/
Thanks for pointing me in he right direction. Although not mechanically very interesting the variations in case shape and dials with these Eagle 7s are vast from my last couple of days of googling around. Some lovely designs out there. All the best mate, love this blog.
Enjoy your search and hope you find a good example. Please note that there are many Eagle 7’s that have repainted dials, often of rather poor quality, so beware!
Thanks for the warning! I’ve seen some absolute atrocities, mostly from a particular part of the world famous for repainting dials in bizarre ways….. saying that some of the original Citizen designs are mad so it’s hard to distinguish on some. It’s all part of the fun of the hunt!
Glad to hear you’re back Stephen, I know what it’s like caring for elderly (and dementia) parents.
Would you be able to revisit https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/1971-citizen-technical-information.171138/ and see if the links can be retored?
Thanks!
Mark in NJ
Hi Mark, thanks. Didn’t realise the files were no longer available, thanks for letting me know.
Greating from Holland.
End good to have you back
Thank you Martin
Really great to hear from you. I was worried the blog/you were kaput! I became interested in vintage Citizens in significant part due to your blog. I have a Super Deluxe, Ace, Homer Second Setting, and Leopard now. I look forward to learning more about these interesting watches! Also, thank you for the parts help here.
thanks JP
Good to have you back Stephen. I get what you are saying. There is more to life than watches. However, I’m glad to hear that you have got at least some of the enthusiasm back.
Thank you 🙂