Citizen hasn’t necessarily raised hell for its 100th anniversary but its humble string of releases has always caught our attention, such as the beautiful reinterpretation of its original pocket watch and an indigo washi paper dial version of its top-shelf The Citizen in titanium. Now, however, the Japanese watchmaker has capped off its jubilee year with arguably its finest creation ever.
From Nothing to Icon
Considering today they’re one of the most ubiquitous watchmakers and electronics brands on a global level, it’s hard to imagine a time when Citizen was just starting out. Founded in 1918 as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute, the Tokyo-based company would hold the tenets of many other Japanese brands: to offer high-quality timepieces at prices customers could actually afford. However, it wouldn’t create its first timepiece bearing the Citizen name until 1924 — a pocket watch powered by the caliber 16 hand-wound movement. While they opened the year with a commemorative release of that pocket watch, Citizen has bookended 2024 with a wristwatch that piggybacks off of some of these features.
Not Your Average Citizen
Known for making some of the most desirable quartz watches in the world, and at highly reasonable prices, Citizen does toy with some mechanical functionality from time to time. Consider its namesake The Citizen line, which features elevated case materials and more sophistication under the hood, ranging from uber-precise quartz to actual mechanical movements. These watches are often limited in edition size, just like this 100th Anniversary model we’re discussing today.
With just 160 examples made, the new Caliber 0200 watch in honor of the 100th anniversary starts with a brushed 18k white gold bezel on top of its 40mm stainless steel case, which adds a dash of luxury without skyrocketing the price tag too much (albeit, it’s still in the $10k+ range).
Using the “glistening iceberg” as a metaphor for enduring beauty, the timepiece features a silvery dial color featuring electroformed patterns for texture. The watch is brilliantly paired with a black Himeji Kurozan cow leather strap, also known as “diamond leather,” which combines traditional tanning and hand-lacquering methods for a sparkly sheen finish.
Visible through the caseback is the Caliber 0200 automatic movement, featuring a 22k yellow gold rotor and the signature eagle symbol of The Citizen, which is also on the top of the dial. Accurate at -3/+5 seconds per day, the mechanism boasts a 60-hour power reserve.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 40mm
Case Thickness: 10.9mm
Case Material: Stainless steel with 18k white gold bezel
Movement: Caliber 0200 automatic
Band: Black diamond leather strap
Limited Edition?: Yes, 160
Pricing & Availability
Again, limited to just 160 pieces as numbered on the caseback, The Citizen Caliber 0200 100th Anniversary is steep in price at $10,400 — $2,000 more than the non-gold versions. It will be on sale at the end of November. Keep an eye on Citizen’s website for more information.
Recap
Citizen The Citizen Caliber 0200 100th Anniversary
Citizen celebrates its 100th anniversary with a limited-to-160 automatic watch in its The Citizen range, featuring an 18k white gold bezel and a luxe diamond leather strap.
