Thirty years feels like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye in the watch world. While some brand’s wait until they have decades upon decades of history under a model’s belt before celebrating, Citizen knows that 30 years is just enough, especially for something as groundbreaking as its Eco-Drive tech.
Remaining one of the biggest watchmakers in the world, the brand has been quietly perfecting its proprietary solar movements since 1995, which can turn literally any light source into power — not just sunlight. To mark this milestone, the Japanese giant is diving deep into their cultural roots with a 30th-anniversary model under The Citizen premium sub-label (ref. AQ4106-26L), a timepiece that showcases traditional Japanese artistry front and center.
Paper Trails and Cloud Patterns
The star of this anniversary piece is paper. Specifically, hand-dyed Tosa washi paper that forms the dial through a process called Murakumo shibori dyeing. This is a traditional Japanese art form where artisans gently compress the ultra-thin washi paper to create delicate wrinkles, then apply indigo dye to achieve cloud-like patterns.
What makes this particularly compelling is the inherent uniqueness of each dial. The wrinkles you see are random, meaning no two watches will ever look identical. It’s the antithesis of modern manufacturing precision, and that’s exactly the point. The choice of indigo isn’t arbitrary either. The deep blue shade has cultural significance in Japan, and the way it plays across the textured washi is simply stunning.
Beyond the Beauty
Strip away the artisanal dial and you’re still left with a seriously capable timepiece. The Eco-Drive movement here achieves ±5 seconds annual accuracy, which puts it in high-end quartz territory. That’s paired with a perpetual calendar that runs until the year 2100. Plus, you also have Citizen’s impact detection and automatic hand correction functions.
The 38.3mm case is crafted from Citizen’s Super Titanium and treated with Duratect DLC coating that gives you the deep black finish you see here. At 40% lighter than steel but five times harder, it’s engineered for daily wear but also feels appropriately premium. Tying the watch together is a handsome crocodile leather strap that comes from a Leather Working Group-certified tanner.
On the dial, you’ll see a raised eagle emblem, which is repeated on the crown and closed caseback. The bird represents “foresight and dedication to the pursuit of ideals,” which have been core tenets of The Citizen sub-brand since its 1995 launch.
Spec Sheet
Model: 30th Anniversary Eco-Drive AQ4106-26L
Case Material: Super Titanium with Duratect DLC coating
Case Size: 38.3mm
Case Thickness: 12.2mm
Movement: Eco-Drive Cal.A060 solar
Power Reserve: 18 months (power save mode)
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: AR-coated dual-sphere sapphire
Dial: Hand-dyed indigo Tosa washi paper (Murakumo shibori technique)
Band: Blue crocodile leather strap (LWG-certified)
Functions: Perpetual calendar, impact detection, automatic hand correction
Limited Edition?: Yes, 300
Pricing & Availability
The Citizen 30th Anniversary Eco-Drive AQ4106-26L launches in August with a retail price of $3,300. Limited to just 300 pieces worldwide, this one will likely move quickly given the unique dial work and relatively accessible price point for such specialized craftsmanship.
Recap
The Citizen 30th Anniversary Eco-Drive AQ4106-26L
Citizen uses a DLC-coated titanium case and traditional Japanese paper dying techniques for the dial of the latest Eco-Drive watch, celebrating 30 years of its groundbreaking solar movement tech.
