Japanese Craft, World Time
Cal. H610 features the ability to display the local time of a selected city with simple crown operations. This new style of world timer leverages the advantages of electronic control to express, in a smart way, functions that are difficult to realize with a mechanical watch, and in that I sensed the distinct character of a Japanese manufacturer. From that, I began the design of this model under the theme “a world time watch born from Japanese craftsmanship.”
Counting Achievement
Fishing is an activity where it is important to attune to the rhythms of nature and discern the best times of day. Among anglers, there are those who are fascinated not by the size of the fish, but by how many they can catch—a style known as 'quantity fishing.' Focusing on these individuals, we created a mechanical watch equipped with a counter function that visualizes both the date and the number of catches. A four-digit counter is displayed in a window at the 6 o'clock position, and you can count each catch by clicking the lever.
Longevity
The world is overflowing with products. Every year, countless new items are born and then disappear, shaped by the trends, lifestyles, and tastes of the moment. And yet, there are also products that people cherish and keep using with care for a long time. What sets apart things that soon vanish from those that become long-loved companions?
Linking DNA
This model is a multifunction Eco-Drive light-powered radio-controlled watch developed in the early 2000s as CITIZEN advanced the Eco-Drive (light-powered) adoption across its watches. It was developed to lead the LAND category of PROMASTER, which deploys models across the LAND, SKY, and MARINE domains.
Nostalgic Future
When conceptualizing this model, I wanted to start by thinking about various things without deciding on a direction first. These included thoughts about the world, about time, about CITIZEN, and about my own interests. Below, I will summarize these thoughts little by little.
Strength and Charm
With the maturation of globalization and the information society, we have entered a complex era where countless people and information intersect. Furthermore, the uncertainty brought about by pandemics and conflicts is increasing. In such circumstances, I thought that, in the end, all we can do is live through the present with all our might and continue to possess the "strength" to do so. This led me to try designing a watch as a kind of survival tool to support that strength—this is what I wanted to attempt with this model.
The Tension and Precision of Machinery
The PROMASTER E210 RACING CONCEPT is a model born from an in-house design competition in 2023, which challenged participants to design the "101st watch." As the name RACING suggests, the design concept is to incorporate the unique density, precision, and tension found in machines such as racing cars and motorcycles into a watch. While there are many watches inspired by cars and racing, each manufacturer interprets "automotive" and "racing" elements differently. For this project, we focused on what a CITIZEN-like interpretation of racing elements would look like in the design.
Timeless for All Ages
I hope that the things we use as children are ones we want to keep using even as adults. This model was designed with the desire to create a watch that blends gently into everyday life, grows more beloved the more it is used, and brings a sense of poise when worn—a watch for all generations, from children to adults.
Affection
I believe that a watch is something that can reflect one's individuality and convey the atmosphere of its wearer. Perhaps because of my profession, when I meet someone, the watch they wear often stays in my memory. It feels like a part of their expression, and when the watch suits them well, it makes me happy, as if the watch is being cherished. Since a watch is chosen out of many by some special connection, it goes without saying, but I hope people will use their watches for a long time with care. With that in mind, I thought of a watch that can be 'repolished'—a design that evokes feelings of affection and gentleness, making you want to treasure and repair it for continued use.
Breaking Conventional Wisdom
It has been said for many years now, but the spread of mobile phones has led to a decline in the use of wristwatches. Also, considering that most people only wear a watch on one wrist, the reality is that wristwatches and smartwatches are competing for the same spot. In this context, I started thinking from the question, "How can we get people to wear wristwatches again?" By resetting the assumption that "wristwatches are worn on the wrist," I wondered if a new possibility could be created through an approach that is not bound by conventional wisdom.
Evolved Watch
The RECORD LABEL 1984 chronograph is a modern refinement of CITIZEN's first multifunctional analog quartz watch with three motors, the 'SPORTE' series, which was released in 1984. While retaining the unique atmosphere of 1980s watches, it has been updated for practicality and environmental consideration by adopting a light-powered movement.
Simple yet Distinctive
PROMASTER is a brand for professionals on land, at sea, and in the air. In particular, diver's watches, which are designed for sea professionals, must meet strict standards set by ISO 6425, including high water resistance, a unidirectional bezel, visibility in the dark, and shock resistance. The product introduced here was born from the family model project of the 'PROMASTER AQUALAND 200m,' which was released last year to great acclaim. While inheriting the case lines and rotating bezel design, this ISO-compliant 200m water-resistant diver's watch adds new value with a GMT function and titanium material. In addition to the PROMASTER mission of functionality, durability, and safety, the watch was developed with a focus on the visibility and operability most needed in a diver's watch, and it won the Good Design Award in 2019.
Visualizing Precision
The newly developed mechanical movement Cal.0200 is a next-generation movement that achieves a high level of aesthetic quality by leveraging the technology and expertise of Manufacture La Joux-Perret S.A. (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), a subsidiary. It was born from the fusion of Japanese and Swiss watchmaking cultures. The classical mechanism of center two hands with a small second reflects the developer’s strong desire to express a beautiful gear train that adheres to the origins of the watch. The design and assembly are carried out by CITIZEN, while the exterior decoration utilizes the advanced and diverse decorative techniques possessed by La Joux-Perret to the fullest. This is how the development of this movement began.
Dynamic Shapes and Meticulous Finish
In the Series 8 collection, model names are composed of three-digit numbers starting with 8, in line with the brand name. The second digit represents the portfolio: the smaller the number, the more modern the model; as the number increases, the design becomes sportier. Following the 870 and 880, the development theme this time was the '890,' the sportiest model in the Series 8 collection.
Simplicity in Many Functions
The PROMASTER AQUALAND is a diver's watch series equipped with a depth gauge. Under the concept of creating a diver's watch that embodies both the 'inheritance' and 'evolution' of AQUALAND, we revisited the fundamental concept of PROMASTER and developed a genuine diver's watch that expresses many functions in a simple way. In a broad market where minimal designer watches and impact-focused designs coexist, this model can be called a new standard, thoroughly pursuing functionality, durability, and safety to withstand harsh environments. Its high functionality and design have been recognized, earning it the Good Design Award in 2018.
Feeling Time
Since 2016, CITIZEN L has been developing products with the theme of “sustainability.” A new project was launched to propose a model that symbolizes the concept, as a new kind of luxury watch that combines an “ethical” approach with jewelry design.
Simplicity through subtraction.
Series 8 originally debuted in 2008 as a collection. Its distinctive feature was an innovative 8-part case structure for the time, based on an urban and modern concept. The collection was temporarily discontinued in 2014, but in 2021, eight years later, the new Series 8 was relaunched. Simple and modern. Simplicity through subtraction. While inheriting the design concept known as the 'aesthetic of subtraction,' the brand has restarted as a mechanical watch that combines the specifications and presence demanded today.
Feeling Nature
Since I have been involved with CITIZEN L since its launch in 2016, we have undertaken various initiatives from a sustainable perspective. Recently, with the increase in remote work and people seeking a more relaxed lifestyle, I felt the need to create something that fits the new lifestyle of women. Then, when I was thinking about the next new creation, I came across the word 'biomimicry.'