Citizen Watches, another iconic Japanese watchmaker with a rich legacy of innovation and craftsmanship—often considered Seiko’s biggest domestic rival:Founding & Early Years: 1918–1949
1918: The Shokosha Watch Research Institute was established in Tokyo.
1924: The first pocket watch branded “Citizen” was released—named by then-mayor of Tokyo, hoping the watch would be affordable to every “citizen.”
1930: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. was officially founded, with the aim of mass-producing watches in Japan.
Post-War Rebuilding: 1950s–1960s
1959: Launched Citizen Parawater, the country’s first water-resistant watch.
Rebuilt after WWII and focused on creating reliable and affordable watches for the domestic market.
1956: Released Citizen Parashock, Japan’s first shock-resistant watch.
Quartz Revolution & Tech Innovations: 1970s–1980s
1980s: Began expanding globally, offering high-accuracy quartz, multi-function digital watches, and analog-digital hybrids.
Embraced quartz technology during the global quartz revolution.
1976: Introduced the world’s first light-powered analog quartz watch, laying the foundation for Eco-Drive technology.
Eco-Drive & Beyond: 1990s–2000s
Developed radio-controlled watches that automatically set time via atomic clock signals.
1995: Officially branded Eco-Drive, a revolutionary solar-powered system—no battery changes required.
Emphasized environmental sustainability and long-term performance.
Modern Innovation: 2010–Present
- Eco-Drive Satellite Wave (2011): The world’s first satellite-synchronized watch—received time updates from space.
- Continued to innovate with Bluetooth connectivity, durable materials (e.g., Super Titanium™), and ultra-thin movements.
- Citizen Group acquired Bulova (USA) and Frederique Constant (Switzerland), expanding into international markets and luxury segments.
Notable Citizen Collections
Series 8: Elegant mechanical watches with modern aesthetics.
Eco-Drive: Flagship solar-powered line.
Promaster: Rugged, professional-grade watches for land, sea, and air.
Satellite Wave: GPS time-syncing, cutting-edge design.
The Citizen: High-end precision timepieces.
Citizen is the king of quartz, solar innovation, and high-tech timekeeping
