"VITRO" means "inside the glass" in Latin. While this "glass" appears to be completely transparent, in reality, it contains semiconductors arranged in ultra-fine lines that are invisible to the human eye. In other words, this "glass" is a transparent solar cell.
To emphasize its transparency, a transparent case back has been adopted, allowing you to see through the case. This is a challenging idea that creates multiple layers within the limited space of a women's model.
In CITIZEN products, the connection between technology and beauty is extremely close and powerful. Designers are always striving to challenge new forms of expression that can surprise people by deeply understanding this correlation between technology and beauty, and the solar cell within this glass has become one of the footprints moving forward. We are always imagining the future that awaits beyond this point.
Simple case and band design, that draw user's attention on the dial and the see through space. (skeleton case design)
Bangle shape case design for women's.
The minute hand passes over the inner case. The tips of the hour and minute hands are curved.
The case and band are smoothly connected.
The movement visible through the skeleton case back highlights the transparency of this model.
Thanks to the skeleton structure, light easily passes through the solar glass.
Inside this "glass," extremely fine semiconductors are arranged, functioning as a solar cell.
ENGINEER'S EYE
Invisible Solar Cell
This is a light-powered watch that uses CITIZEN’s independently developed transparent solar cell. Because the cover glass serves as the solar cell, it can generate power stably without being affected by the shape of the hands or the decoration on the dial. With no constraint on the translucency of dial materials, we were able to make abundant use of metal components and offer an even more brilliant women's watch. On the other hand, since the electricity generated in the cover glass must be delivered to the movement, this model also required a variety of innovations in both exterior engineering and movement engineering.
In the transparent solar cell, the power-generating element—amorphous silicon—is formed into a film just 6 microns thin and arranged in 257 strips spaced 94 microns apart, achieving a state that is invisible to the naked eye. Considering that a human hair is said to be about 100 microns in diameter, this should give you a sense of just how fine that is.