Author Archives: sweephand

Citizen’s Record Master Chronographs

Posted on August 16, 2020 by sweephand

I’ve covered Citizen’s range of automatic chronographs in some detail, but made less reference to their hand wound models based on the 5700 calibre. I’m now very pleased to bring your attention to a new reference page, put together by … Continue reading →

Posted in Vintage Watches | 4 Comments

Citizen Parawater – The Oceanic Tests Update

Posted on June 30, 2020 by sweephand

English language sub-titles are now included in this excellent YouTube video:

Posted in Vintage Watches | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Today’s Watch – Citizen Diamond Flake

Posted on June 27, 2020 by sweephand

It’s the weekend so today’s watch is a hand winder 🙂 The Diamond Flake was Japan’s thinnest watch when it was launched in 1962. The 25 or 31 jewels 0700 movement was a mere 2.75mm deep, beating the Seiko Gold … Continue reading →

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Citizen’s Case Numbers – the Mysterious Case Number Letter

Posted on June 26, 2020 by sweephand

A change today from a watch feature to something that’s always been a bit of a mystery – the letter stamped at the end of Citizen’s case numbers. Although not needed as a part number since the case number alone, … Continue reading →

Posted in Vintage Watches | 11 Comments

Today’s Watch – Citizen Cosmotron GX

Posted on June 25, 2020 by sweephand

Today’s piece is another battery powered model, and although it’s a Cosmotron, it’s something of an anomaly. Unlike any other Cosmotron this one does not have a magnet driven hairspring – in fact it is a ‘hummer’ – a tuning … Continue reading →

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Today’s Watch – Citizen’s First Quartz, 8811

Posted on June 23, 2020 by sweephand

Today’s watch was a very significant one for Citizen – launched in mid-1973 it was their first quartz model. Using the 8810, 8811 and 8821 movements, they were electro-mechanical calibres, like the Cosmotrons before them. In other words they were … Continue reading →

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Today’s Watch – Citizen X8 Chronometer

Posted on June 22, 2020 by sweephand

Continuing with the electric theme, today’s watch is a rare Officially Certified Chronometer version of the electro-mechanical X8 line. The 0820 movement runs at 21,600 beats per hour, has 19 jewels and mine is uniquely numbered X00294. The case is … Continue reading →

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Citizen Parawater – The Oceanic Tests

Posted on June 19, 2020 by sweephand

There’s a change today from my daily and weekend watch features, since a new video documentary has just been published about Citizen’s testing of their parawater automatics in the 1960s. And I want to leave this post at the top … Continue reading →

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Today’s Watch – Citizen Quartz 8600 ‘Blinker’

Posted on June 18, 2020 by sweephand

Citizen moved into quartz technology in a big way in the early 1970s, and their early quartz models are high quality pieces, designed to be serviced, and used for many years. They are collectable things as a result and a … Continue reading →

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Today’s Watch – Citizen X8 Chronometer, Titanium

Posted on June 17, 2020 by sweephand

Citizen was the first company in the world to make a watch case fully from titanium. Although common these days, manufacturing challenges made it difficult to work with in the early 1970s. Citizen made and sold less than 2000 of … Continue reading →

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