Citizen celebrates its 100th anniversary with a particularly elevated ‘The Citizen’ limited edition
Jamie Weiss- Citizen marks the 100th anniversary of the first Citizen-branded watch with a luxe ‘The Citizen’ model, limited to 160 pieces worldwide.
- Under the hood beats the high-accuracy Caliber 0200 movement, which has an average daily accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds – exceeding the chronometer standard for accuracy.
- It features a steel case with a white gold bezel and a lacquered Himeji Kurozan leather strap.
Just as Seiko has Grand Seiko, Citizen – Japan’s other watchmaking giant – has The Citizen. It’s a slightly unwieldy name, but the watches under The Citizen line are anything but. The most headline-snatching watches from the collection have until this point been Eco-Drive models such as the Black Washi Paper Dial, which have helped change the perception of both solar quartz and the Citizen brand. However, Citizen’s latest release bearing this prestigious The Citizen designation is a mechanical watch, and it sets a new bar for refinement for the Japanese brand.
To avoid confusion about its name (Citizen’s model naming regimes are confusing and inconsistent at the best of times aside from the unwieldiness of ‘The Citizen’), I’ll refer to this new model by its reference number, NC0210-11A. As the title of this article alludes to, its release celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first Citizen-branded watch. Where that watch was a traditional pocket watch with a classic white dial, Arabic numerals and based on a Swiss design, the NC0210-11A is a modern, minimalist and entirely Japanese timepiece.
Its Japanese-ness is expressed in different ways. Firstly, the case: it’s made from stainless steel but unusually features an 18k white gold bezel. Both the bezel and case feature alternating brushed and Zaratsu-polished surfaces – a finishing technique widely recognised by enthusiasts as being distinctly Japanese (despite its European origins). The NC0210-11A’s dial texture also feels very distinctly Japanese in its execution: silver with a subtle electroformed texture evocative of drift ice.
The strap is also extremely Japanese. A striking faux-integrated design that appears almost weightlessly attached to the watch’s case, it’s crafted from Himeji Kurozan leather, also known as black diamond leather. This leather is made from Japanese black cattle or ox hide, which is tanned black and then coated with flecks of urushi lacquer (the Grand Seiko Kodo’s strap is made from a similar leather). This gives the leather a lustrous quality as well as makes it more durable – indeed, Himeji Kurozan leather resembles the lacquered leathers used to make samurai armour during Japan’s Warring States period. It’s pretty hard to get much more Japanese than that.
However, it’s the NC0210-11A’s movement, the Calibre 0200, that Citizen is perhaps most proud of. Developed completely in-house by Citizen and manufactured in Japan (it’s not a La Joux-Perret movement, even though there’s been some clear technical exchanging going on), the Calibre 0200 is basically the nicest mechanical movement made by Citizen… It’s like a Miyota going Super Saiyan. Not only is it aesthetically beautiful, with anglage, perlage, satinage and prominent counter-sunk rubies proudly on display behind a large, open 22k yellow gold rotor – but it boasts an average daily accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds. In other words, it exceeds COSC chronometer standards. A 60-hour power reserve is the icing on the cake.
The Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition NC0210-11A pricing and availability
The Citizen NC0210-11A is a limited edition of 160 pieces worldwide. Citizen explains that it will be available globally from the start of 2025 and will be released sequentially in different markets but has provided no further details as to what this rollout will look like. However, Time+Tide can confirm that it’s scheduled to release in Japan on November 30th, 2024. Price: US$10,095, ¥1,540,000
| Brand | Citizen |
| Model | The Citizen Mechanical Model Calibre 0200 100th Anniversary Limited Edition |
| Reference Number | NC0210-11A |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 10.9mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, 18k white gold bezel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Textured silver |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Lacquered Himeji Kurozan leather, deployant clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 0200, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds |
| Availability | Limited edition of 160 pieces |
| Price | US$10,095 ¥1,540,000 |