When viewed head-on, the silhouette is understated. However, as you change the angle, the large polished surfaces begin to shift their expression, as if slicing through the reflected scenery. From the case back, indexes, to the crown, every element is crafted with mirror-like, pristine surfaces. Amidst these rhythmically shining elements, the beveled case back and dial subtly change the speed of light. Had everything been strictly linear, the model might have ended up looking superficial. By skillfully balancing the bold rhythm without overstepping, the result is a refined watch.
A sharp impression. Both the glass and case are composed of bold, linear surfaces, giving the form a tightened look.
A dial as impeccably refined as the exterior. It’s clean and crisp yet three-dimensional, evoking a sense of crystal-clear air in the world beyond the glass.
A flawless polished finish. The lugs, sparkling like crystal, are especially distinctive.
Even when stylized, the eagle emblem retains its dignity.
The medal featuring the eagle exudes presence and gives the entire watch a sense of cohesion. The beveled case back not only makes the case appear thinner but also serves as an accent to prevent monotony.
The day window is track-shaped and displays the full day name, making it very legible. The rare angular logo is highly legible and beautifully reflects light.
The date window is also wide, with the inner bevel finished in matte to suppress reflections.
ENGINEER'S EYE
A True Masterpiece
Released in 1962, the “CITIZEN chronometer” is now rightly celebrated as a legendary movement, but being a hand-wound, non-date specification, by the latter half of the 1960s the market was seeking modern high-precision watches with automatic winding and a date display. Fine-tuning the 1965 hit Crystal Seven, CITIZEN created the “Chronomaster,” a watch that passed a “specially established, rigorous precision test.”
It debuted in 1967, and the following year the long-awaited Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute was founded, beginning precision certification operations in 1969. From its first year, the Chronomaster lineup also included officially certified chronometer models.
With a day-and-date display and a movement thickness of just 4.48 mm, it offers a notably slim design and excellent wearability. In addition, it adopts crystal glass that embodied CITIZEN’s then-leading new design language: a gently domed profile with a beautifully executed chamfer around the perimeter. This enhances both tactile quality and airtightness. It’s a watch whose superb packaging shines—one that you’d be inclined to call not merely a “great movement,” but rather a true “masterpiece.”