KIH[Purist]
12044
CITIZEN Eco-Drive "EYES" Launch Reception report
Jan 09, 2013,17:10 PM
Report of CITIZEN Eco-Drive "EYES" launch
reception.
As I have been reporting the innovative
products from CITIZEN design center, this model - announced at Basel
2010 - is to be soon launched (Feb. 2013) worldwide as LE of 250 for
each of black model and white model. The bottom line of these "concept models"
is "fusion of the innovative technology
and the beauty",
which may somewhat overlap with the PuristS
concept.
A Message from the
designer:
Sorry for the bad lighting -
White version
Black
version
The raw
material of the special ceramic.
Day, date indicator parts
(the EYES)
Inner bezel without index bar
and dial plate.
These 13 ceramic blocks are
the index bars - all surfaces
are polished with diamond paper
to be so sharp, shiny and
flat. The process which really takes
time.
Inner bezel and dome sapphire crystal (both sides ARC)
and stainless steel cover with "dura-tect" coating
to protect from scratch and swirl.
Dura-tect is CITIZEN's metal surface coating technology to keep the case more
durable and less prone to scratch for longer
period.
Case
Dome crystal is for collecting more light into
the dial.
In the
box
Enjoy the light and
shadow....
Those 4 screws need to be
unscrewed to disassemble and service the watch.
Straps
is called "liquid rubber
strap" with special coating to protect it from stains or dusts.
The first all ceramic dial -
and the solar panel is hidden under the center of the
dial.
Tries to
absorb as much light as possible through the dome crystal. Quite domey,
White
version's center of the dial is the thin white ceramic while the black version's center
of the dial is not ceramic but sapphire crystal to achieve the power charge
efficiency.
-
Specification, other
info -
Case diameter: 43mm
Case thickness: 18.7mm (including the top of the dome crystal)
Caliber 8676: +/-15sec per month (no radio wave adjustment
function), Eco-Drive, Fully charged power reserve=6 months. Day and date
indicators. Water resistant 5 ATM
Reference numbers: White model
AO9010-02A, Black model
AO9010-02E
LE
pieces: 250 for each color (500 in total)
MSRP: JPY420,000.-
Expected
Launch date: Feb 2013
Eco-Drive is quartz movement and not mechanical, so it
may not be of such interest for PuristS here. But "eco" is
something everyone should be mindful of these days and design concept and their "attention to detail" way must be
something we should appreciate. Not extremely accurate as some of the quartz watches out there (without radio wave capture function either), but
this is an interesting and fun watch to look at and wear.
Honestly, I think CITIZEN will do something very
interesting or already have
something very interesting under its sleeve even for purists. I have been wearing Proximity these days - it's so convenient, comfortable and useful
as a beater watch (read -> home.watchprosite.com
).
Thanks!
Ken
This message has been edited by dxboon on 2013-01-09 17:44:51 This message has been edited by dxboon on 2013-01-12 10:00:57
Comments:
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CITIZEN Eco-Drive "EYES" Launch Reception report
By: KIH : January 9th, 2013-17:10
Report of CITIZEN Eco-Drive "EYES" launch reception. As I have been reporting the innovative products from CITIZEN design center, this model - announced at Basel 2010 - is to be soon launched ( Feb. 2013) worldwide as LE of 250 for each of black model and...
Sorry for late reply...
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:17
... I asked CITIZEN and they say "thermocompensated movement is not common these days"..... Thanks! Ken
They say...
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-17:44
.. they used to make those movements (powered by the thermo- difference), but not today... Makes sense? Or do they misunderstand your question? Ken
Thanks Ken.
By: fernando : January 9th, 2013-18:35
So is this the first all ceramic dial solar powered watch? Apart from the ceramic, is there anything else that sets this watch apart from others in this category? Cheers fernando
Well, unique design...
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:19
...? The super domey crystal for more efficient light absorption, special coating on the strap to keep it cleaner, etc.... Ken
I love...
By: dxboon : January 9th, 2013-22:20
...the ceramic indices and also the voluptuous dimensions of the crystal. I would be excited to see this watch in person. Thanks for the great coverage, Ken. I think Citizen has some great ideas and I want to see MORE! Cheers, Daos
Always interesting...
By: Mark in Paris : January 10th, 2013-01:34
to have a view on something different. The approach based on the ceramic material is nice and the overall shape too (Dome, dial, case ...) Thanks for the follow up Ken :) Cheers, Mark PS : Glad you mention what it was. From the picture I thought it was an...
:-)
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:22
Yes, this is different, but interesting enough to stimulate my purist mind :-) Ken
Thanks Ken!
By: jporos : January 10th, 2013-06:34
Really beautiful and interesting watch; the depth of the dial seems like it is not gimmicky, unlike some other unnamed brands that create this dial depth to distinguish their watches. I wish that Citizen had pioneered a way to integrate the solar cell int...
Wow, that IS an interesting idea...
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:23
... I am sure CITIZEN is reading this and may start thinking about it, or they are already? Thank you! Ken
Ceramic ...
By: AndrewD : January 10th, 2013-13:49
... and other new materials seem to be used more for cases, so it is nice to see someone doing more innovative things with dials too. I will need to see one of these in the 'ceramic' as the dial comes across as rather 'plasticy', but I guess you can see t...
Their tendency is...
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:27
... to let the Concept Model they show at Basel to the market place, no matter how long it takes. They don't guarantee, but their "Concept Models" are not meant to end up as just concept models. And I guess it takes time to really commercialize the "Conce...
Thanks for the clarification ...
By: AndrewD : January 11th, 2013-12:52
Thanks for the clarification, Ken, I understand now. Much like the car industry, concept models often don't reach production, although ideas and parts of the concept may end up in production models. Andrew
Love it!
By: ingmar : January 10th, 2013-19:54
There's a watch brand with a similar style but rue execution on this is amazing. Wish the price weren't so high. Those $s for GS or even The Citizen make sense. This just feels so "fashion."
I understand..
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:29
.. but I guess it takes such resources to make this dial and time, man/hour... Yes, fashion may be more on the agenda for this one, I agree. Light and shadow - the statement like the artistic expression.... Thanks! Ken
Thanks, Joel.
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-09:31
This is what the parent company of La Joux-Perret and Arnold & Sons makes :-) Ken
Ah, I see..
By: KIH : January 11th, 2013-17:47
... well, this concept model was announced at 2010 Basel and there is no way CITIZEN saw LM1 (don't know about the other way around, may be coincident). The reason for the very domey glass is aesthetic and the effort to collect as much lights as possible ...