The 'Super Deluxe' is a model released in 1958. If you look at Japanese industrial products from the 1950s (Showa 25–34), you will find many practical items that are still widely used in daily life today. It was in this era that this watch was introduced to the world.
With its simple and practical appearance, there is no excessive decoration on the case, dial, or small parts, making it look easy to use and clearly reflecting the spirit of the times. If anything, the box-shaped glass, the crown shaped like the tip of a rocket, and the curved case back are three features that add just the right amount of character. The fine case lugs, slender bezel, and large dial diameter all showcase the beautiful attention to detail.
The outer edge of the dial is bent, and together with the box-shaped glass and curved case back, it truly embodies 'thinness, performance, and the beauty of craftsmanship.' CITIZEN's sincere attitude is clearly present in this product, giving it an appeal that would make it competitive even today. The gentle reflections from the bent dial processing are also soft and pleasant.
From this 'Super Deluxe,' you can feel both the sincere craftsmanship and a gentle warmth reminiscent of human touch.
The distinctive slender bezel and the simple, elongated overall case silhouette. The box glass, which protrudes significantly on the top, is also an important aspect of its character.
The main body of the case has a simple and thin profile. The box glass and the rounded, protruding bubble back (case back shape) are also distinctive features.
The case shape gives an overall slender impression. The bezel and lugs are thin, creating a somewhat delicate atmosphere. The glass is box-shaped, the case back is curved, and the side profile feels slightly thicker.
The leather strap features a simple, stitchless style. It is crafted using the same calf material on both the front and back. A moderate pad inside the band gives it a gentle shape.
One of the features of this model is the case back shape. It has a beautiful, rounded, bubble-like form unique to this era.
A voluminous shape with rounded bulges on both the top and bottom, which cannot be imagined from the front view, is a distinctive feature.
A dial shape with a bent outer edge, often seen in classic models. The beauty of metal craftsmanship is evident. The bent part softly and gently reflects light.
A crown with a pointed shape, just like the tip of a rocket. In contrast to the simple case design, the crown shape is somewhat unique.
ENGINEER'S EYE
The Gentle Man
Introduced in 1958, the Deluxe was a model that showcased CITIZEN’s solid engineering to the world: despite its slim design, it adopted a large balance wheel to improve accurate timekeeping, and its well-rounded specification left a strong impression. In the same year, it became the first slim-design watch to receive the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award at the “Domestic Watch Quality Comparison Review.” With morale running high at the Yodobashi factory where assembly took place, the Super Deluxe was released as a specially tuned product. It was subject to a specially defined in-house precision standard and was meticulously adjusted.
Because the product pursued thinness, it did not use the standard three-hand structure in which the second, fourth, mainspring barrel, and cannon pinion overlap at the center. Instead, it adopted a “direct second with offset great wheel and forth wheel concept,” boldly shifting the second wheel off the center. The result, unintended at first, was a layout where the gears were cleanly dispersed, making it appear as if the “balance wheel section, mainspring barrel section, and gear train section” were neatly arranged under their respective bridges. Together with straight, linear engravings and carefully applied hairline finish, it conveys a distinctly Japanese, well-ordered impression.