Pure Precision

RECORD MASTER

https://ms.citizen.jp/assets/085_11-08_レコードマスター_01

A hand-wound three-hand chronograph wristwatch manufactured for about five years from 1967. According to advertising materials from the time, it appears to have been released as a product aimed at the younger generation.
At that time, watches were transitioning from hand-wound to automatic winding, and automatic chronographs were released by other companies two years after the launch of the Record Master.
Although it was produced for only a short period, it is a classic model, and its beauty lies in the delicate craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout.

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A hand-wound chronograph with a three-hand structure. The dial features delicate detailing, especially in the 1/5 minute track area. The case is composed of sharp lines, giving a clean impression.

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A beautiful, sharp slope runs from the tip of the case lugs to the sides.

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The twelve grooved indexes have a sharp, unadorned shape. Combined with highly legible Arabic numerals and the delicate 1/5 minute track, these elements are packed in to ensure accurate time measurement.

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The crown and push buttons have a simple, completely unadorned shape.

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A clean side view. Even with a fully polished finish, the surface quality remains visually appealing. The back of the case features a reverse-arc chamfer, likely to reduce the perceived thickness from the side and to give a lighter impression.

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A screw-down waterproof case back is used. The push buttons are of the crab-eye type, making them easy to press like a stopwatch.

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The hands are dauphine-shaped with a mountain-cut design. The slender tips of the minute and second hands reach all the way to the minute track, ensuring excellent legibility for measurement.

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https://ms.citizen.jp/assets/070_10-02_カリキュレーター_01

Retro Future

In the 1970s, a new method of time display—digital display—was developed. At the time, this display function evoked expectations for watches of the near future. This watch was designed based on the idea of utilizing the effectiveness of digital display and, for the first time, adding a calculator function to a wristwatch. The first domestically produced wristwatch to combine watch and calculator functions is expressed with a unique design style: a central display monitor and 23 push buttons arranged radially around the perimeter. Achieving this in the classic round shape of a wristwatch is a testament to the creativity of watch designers. The artificial brilliance of the push buttons, arranged every 15 degrees. The simple lines of the case and band, free from any recesses or protrusions. These are the result of traditional machining, and the combination of a thick case and cool digital display creates a retro-futuristic feel through the imbalance of old and new technologies. Additionally, this early model is unified in gold, skillfully using gold with different textures for each exterior part, creating an elegant atmosphere despite the flashy color scheme. Although the distinctive button layout did not become standard, it exudes the coolness and pride of being a pioneer.

https://ms.citizen.jp/assets/100_12-08_L 漆玉_01

Feeling Light

Urushi beads, diamonds, and smoked glass—each reflects light differently, revealing a model with depth and ever-changing expressions depending on the light source and time of day. The simplicity of the case shape and dial design highlights the beauty of the details, allowing you to sense not mechanical time, but the gentle passage of time illuminated by light. Although there are no indexes on the dial, the hour and minute hands are easy to read, giving the impression of a bracelet that also functions as a watch. Furthermore, urushi lacquer is not presented in the traditional way, but is fused with the watch in a modern design, letting you enjoy a contemporary expression of traditional craftsmanship. Despite its asymmetrical shape, it is comfortable to wear and offers a special feeling, as if wearing modern jewelry.

https://ms.citizen.jp/assets/099_12-07_L ムービングダイヤ_01

Vitality of Nature

Many CITIZEN L models are inspired by shapes and light found in nature, and this model is themed around 'morning dew.' The three diamonds on the case move smoothly along the curve of the case, and the indexes are scattered across the dial, creating a story that evokes scenes from nature even for those who know nothing about the watch. Looking at the parts, despite the many asymmetrical elements—such as the dial pattern, index arrangement, crown position, and case shape—each is balanced in its placement, so there is no sense of discomfort or difficulty in wearing it. The asymmetrical design brings a rhythm and movement reminiscent of the vitality of nature, making you feel a relaxed, natural flow of time rather than a uniform one. Although the watch uses many diamonds and has a jewelry-like feel, the arrangement of the indexes and the spacing between the case and band give it an airy look, making it suitable for everyday wear as well.

https://ms.citizen.jp/assets/098_12-06_エクシード ユーロス_01

From Small Cues to Decoration

"Band, hands, circle"—these are the minimal components by which people recognize a watch. ◆ A watch is a "wrist" watch because it has a band. ◆ A watch is a watch because it has hands. ◆ Time was created from the recurring cycles (circles) of celestial bodies. This model seems to be a textbook example of a "watch" that focuses on these three elements. By lavishly decorating these three elements, it clearly establishes the hierarchy among the other components. Isn’t this the ideal model for all watches, combining the "watch-like" qualities users seek with the beauty of an ornament that satisfies them?