This model was developed as the highest precision watch, representing the pinnacle of CITIZEN’s precision technology at the time. Rather than following the trend of the era for slim and simple designs, it features prominent indexes and hands for outstanding legibility, allowing you to check the accurate time at any moment.
Additionally, the case lugs are boldly constructed with edges and slopes, resulting in a design that stands out on the wrist, even in an era when understated, simple designs were mainstream.
Overall, it combines high precision and a sense of luxury, making it a highly satisfying watch and a representative model of CITIZEN from that era.
While the case is simple, the lugs are thick and robust. The indexes are also thick, but the delicate vertical lines on their top surfaces prevent them from appearing too bold. The original leather strap was a luxurious specification, made of crocodile leather on both sides.
The entire upper surface of the hands is chamfered. The hour and minute hands are thick, diamond-shaped, and make a strong statement, but the chamfered edges also give them a sense of delicacy.
All the edges of the lugs are chamfered, making this a good example of combining a sense of luxury. Even the sharp parts on the back that touch the skin are chamfered.
The simple shape emphasizes the thin case by giving the slopes a wide surface. Even inside the case back, which is usually not visible, perlage is applied to create a sense of luxury.
While following the design of the "Deluxe" model, which had a curved dial and simple bar indexes and was distributed before this model, the indexes are thicker, giving it a more luxurious feel. The dial also features the eagle mark, a symbol of high precision.
Because it is a hand-wound movement, the outer edge has solid knurling for a good grip, and the central C mark, symbolizing CITIZEN, is three-dimensional.
The buckle, like the case, is simply made, but the C mark on the top highlights that it is a CITIZEN product.
ENGINEER'S EYE
CITIZEN 30mm Caliber
It is believed that in CITIZEN’s Technical Division, Research Section, efforts to develop chronometer-grade watches based on data began in earnest around 1958. In manufacturing as well, from around this time, die-based finish-blanking techniques for the main plate and bridges were introduced in stages, and the precision of the parts was steadily improving. In other words, this was an era when “harmony between theory and practice” was being achieved, making the development of high-precision products a natural course.
The CITIZEN Chronometer was released in 1962, and the installed Cal. 0401 was not a tuned version of an existing model but an entirely new design. Moreover, it is worth noting that the movement diameter was set at φ30 mm.
To stabilize accurate timekeeping, it is necessary to increase the balance wheel’s moment of inertia, while at the same time keeping the drop in the balance wheel’s amplitude to a minimum 24 hours after a full wind. Inevitably, a mainspring barrel with high output and low torque-variation ratio is required, and thus a movement diameter that could accommodate a large barrel was adopted. In this way, this watch secured its place in the history of Japanese watchmaking as a timepiece capable of passing the then “Superior” grade of chronometer certification.