Citizen

The Shokosha Watch Research Institute began in Tokyo in 1918, and the Citizen name was given to its first pocket watch in 1924 by the then mayor of Tokyo, Shinpei Goto, who wanted a watch that would be available to ordinary citizens rather than only the wealthy. The company formally took the name in 1930.

That founding intention has held. Citizen is the largest watch manufacturer in the world by volume and is fully vertically integrated, making its own movements, cases, and electronic components.

Its most significant technology is Eco-Drive, introduced in 1976 and refined over decades. A photovoltaic cell beneath the dial converts any light — including indoor light — into stored energy, so the watch never needs a battery change. Citizen has sold well over a hundred million Eco-Drive watches, and the environmental argument is substantial: hundreds of millions of cells not discarded.

The company also produced the first analogue quartz watch with a titanium case in 1970, the first professional dive watch with an electronic depth sensor, and the Caliber 0100, an Eco-Drive movement accurate to within one second a year — the most accurate independent watch movement ever put into production.

Citizen owns Bulova, Frederique Constant, Alpina, and the movement manufacturer Miyota, whose calibres power a large share of the affordable mechanical watch market worldwide.

Citizen holds 96 models, from £139 to £895. Half cost less than £249, and a quarter less than £197. 6 of 96 are automatic. 14 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 112 offers in total. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.

1918

The Shokosha Watch Research Institute is founded.

1924

The Citizen name is given to its first pocket watch.

1976

Eco-Drive light-powered technology is introduced.

2018

The Caliber 0100 achieves accuracy of one second a year.