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Citizen CC3097-52L Satellite Wave GPS X Bracelet Watch - W38378
Ref. CC3097-52L
Sits in Citizen’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Citizen watches we list, which start at £139.
Price range £139 to £895 across 76 Citizen watches in stock.The "X" in Satellite Wave X is the Roman numeral ten, marking a decade since the F100 first demonstrated that a solar watch could pull a GPS time signal faster than almost anything on the market. That speed claim stands at 3 seconds for a full satellite fix, and with a 7-year running time under power save mode on a single charge, the practical case for ever adjusting it manually is essentially theoretical. What makes the design earn its name is the case architecture: four triangular corner surfaces cut into the lugs in a way that references satellite geometry rather than borrowing it loosely, and the dial and case flow into one another in a continuous stepped descent from 12 o'clock inward. In blue, with the Duratect titanium carbide treatment giving the Super Titanium a harder, darker edge than raw titanium would, the overall read is purposeful rather than decorative. At 45.4mm it is a significant presence on the wrist, but Super Titanium's weight — roughly 40 percent lighter than steel at equivalent thickness — means it wears considerably smaller than a steel watch of those dimensions would. The bracelet is listed as stainless steel rather than the titanium of the case, which is worth noting: the material shift at the lugs is the one place the integrated look asks a question the specifications answer plainly.
- Reference
- CC3097-52L
- Brand
- Citizen
- Case size
- 45mm
- Case thickness
- 12.7mm
- Lug width
- 14mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Functions
- GMT, Date, Power reserve indicator, World time, Perpetual calendar, Solar powered, Radio controlled, GPS
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Titanium bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Learn more about 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.
- 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.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,460), Blue Dial Watches (701), Watches 44mm and Over (569), GMT Watches (202), Solar & Kinetic Watches (171) and Titanium Watches (167).
Temporarily out of stock
F.Hinds is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 27 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
- One of Citizen's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
Citizen CC3097-52L Satellite Wave GPS alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | CC3097-52L | T1534204405101 | 010-02906-11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,145 | £1,135 | £779 |
| Case size | 45mm | 44mm | 47mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 100m |
| Movement | Solar | Solar | Solar |
| Strap | Titanium bracelet | Titanium bracelet | Silicone strap |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It charges from light, and the cell behind that is designed to last a decade or more.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
14mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
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