(This page features affiliate links, for more information click here.)

Was I too harsh on Citizen? I produced an affordable watch brand 'tier list' video in December 2020, and it's fair to say that Citizen fans weren't too pleased with the brand's placement. Indeed, based on my previous experiences with Citizen watches, I placed them towards the top of the B-tier, meaning I think they're good but not exemplary. Was that a mistake, though? Should I have put them higher? A, or even S-tier?

Well, I figured that's what we'd explore today. I've grabbed another Citizen to scrutinize, thanks to Amazon for covering the cost of it for review purposes. How does this one line up with my previous experiences?

I think the best place to start is my original reasoning for their ranking spot.

Sizing & Design

While I liked the physical build quality of the few watches I had handled until that point, Citizen had a tiny catalog of men's watches below £200, which was the designated price bracket for the video mentioned above. Very few of those options were close to fitting my slim wrist, as their sub-41mm collection was even more limited. As far as I can tell, both factors still ring true in the Western market; this may vary in other territories, particularly in Asia.

I also mentioned some prominent alignment issues that I'd had with their pieces before. Something I failed to mention in that video was that I'm not a fan of their overall aesthetic. While I wouldn't say their watches are ugly, I can't say I'm particularly enthralled by them either, though that factor is arguably personal preference.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW:

Watch Material

Thankfully, many of their pieces house some of my favorite features, including the one in front of me. This model is the BM7360-82L, from their 'Super Titanium' lineup. I picked it due to the slimness and the inclusion of that proprietary material, which is where we'll begin.

'Super titanium' is advertised as titanium that's treated with a proprietary coating to improve its scratch resistance. The BM7360 appears to be one of the more affordable options endowed with this special serum, with some alternatives on the Citizen website retailing for far more than the approximate $250 you can grab this one for. I'll affiliate link this watch via the buttons in this article if you want to find out more.

I have to say, I'm amazed by this material so far, as it has the inherent lightweight benefits of titanium that I'm familiar with, along with more precise finishing than some of the titanium watches I've covered in days past. It also seems more scratch-resistant, as promised, as it's yet to accrue any scratches on the case, which is a rarity for review pieces that pass through our studio.

The brushed finish may help prevent scratches from becoming visible, and it's to be noted that this watch has seen less wrist time than similar pieces like the Casio LCW-M100TSE (my review of that is linked here) due to the ill-fitting proportions.

Dimensions

Indeed, despite the lovely 9.5mm side profile, it's still too large for my wrist, with a 41mm diameter and an effective lug to lug of 53.7mm due to the inflexible end-links.

I opted for it nonetheless, as it was the smallest of those I thought looked decent. In fact, on an appropriate wrist, I think this could be a good-looking and reasonably versatile watch. The simplistic styling could allow you to step between the boardroom and the beach; it feels like a halfway house between a sports watch and a dress option, especially sitting on that bracelet.

Dial

It's got a fine vertically engraved dial, which is executed to a good standard, considering the cost of the watch. It almost looks like a woven fabric, and the applied Citizen logo sits atop it. Possibly due to the surface and budget constraints, the logo is housed within a plain square, which somewhat spoils the illusion if you decide to examine this with a magnifying glass. Still, I like the minimal amount of text; it keeps the piece clean and concise.

While I like the nonchalant handset, I'm not sure what to think about the stubby hour markers, which remind me of my cat's teeth. That being said, the luminescent slices inhabiting these areas provide good low-light visibility, with a pleasing turquoise tone to boot.

Quality Control

Is there any recurrence of the QC issues I had experienced previously? Well, the handset here appears clean for a budget watch, and to the human eye, there's no notable dirt or dust particles under the crystal.

Second-hand alignment is also good this time, with it hitting or only narrowly missing the markers as it ticks away, something that won't bug you from a distance.

Something you may notice, however, is the misalignment of some of the indices. A couple of them are slightly offset or crooked, and while not uncommon on lower-cost watches, I did have a similar problem with the previous Citizen I looked at. To be fair, the blatant misplacement of the large 12-o'clock marker on that piece was much more egregious than any of the minor flaws here, so I suspect most people would let this fly.

Even so, the competing $250 titanium Casio I looked at had perfect alignment across the board. We'll come back to that one later.

Water Resistance

One advantage this piece has over the likes of the Casio is the water resistance. The screwback helps secure the watch to a decent 100m, which is the sweet spot for day-to-day usage. There's no need to fear water leaking into the innards unless you decide to unseat the crown when submerged.

That crown isn't screw-down but functions well enough. The ridged layers look like two crowns stacked atop one another, and it is quite protrusive, but that's a nitpick.

Watch Crystal

As expected at this price point, Citizen hasn't cut corners on the crystal, with a scratch-resistant piece of sapphire over the dial. This choice furthers the durable theme propagated so far. For those unfamiliar, this is essentially the premiere material that can only be damaged by diamond and a couple of extremely rare compounds (meaning it's virtually scratchproof). I have further information about this in my watch glass guide.

Movement

Within, you have the E111M eco-drive quartz movement. In 1976, Citizen created the very first solar-powered analog watch, an important milestone that still dictates their positioning half a Century later. Currently, the majority of their offerings house this technology, which removes the need for disposable battery replacements.

While other brands have since concocted their respective solar-charging implementations, it doesn't mean that Eco-Drive isn't good. I think this tech is the perfect complement to a quartz movement, which is supposed to prioritize function over elegance. In the long run, this method is both wallet and environmentally friendly.

Of course, you can get solar watches for much less money elsewhere, though they often come with their respective trade-offs, such as longer charging times, visible solar cells, and decreased power reserves.

Bracelet

A trade-off you perhaps make with this Citizen is the bracelet. Quality isn't the issue, as this titanium band has solid links throughout, including the end links, meaning it's both light and comfortable. The push-button clasp might be basic but does work as intended, though the limited number of micro-adjustment holes could be frustrating. Nevertheless, my main gripe is much more straightforward…the color!

You see, while still a matte silver, it's a much lighter tone that doesn't match that of the case. While not so noticeable in low-light conditions, at times, it really stands out as if it's been stripped from a completely different watch. Take a look at the in-box image below as an example; to the naked eye, the disparity is far more evident than these images indicate. I've seen this bracelet style on a couple of other Citizen watches, so it appears to be a standardized design; and not a very well-integrated one at that.

Perhaps the bracelet lacks the Super Titanium coating, hence the color variance? Honestly, it's tough to tell without specialist equipment, but I'd hazard a guess that it could be the culprit.

In the grand scheme of things, it's not a deal-breaker, you can switch it out if required, though it is a bizarre choice on Citizen's part. It's forgivable on a sub $50 Casio or even a low-cost Seiko 5, but for many, $200+ is a large sum to spend on a humble wristwatch. A matching bracelet (or as close as physically possible) should be a no-brainer at that cost.

Packaging

A nicer touch comes in the form of the Citizen packaging, which varies depending on the model you choose. Typically, you get a cylindrical container, which isn't over-the-top but does make for a pleasing unboxing experience that gives an air of quality compared to some competing brands. I imagine a gift recipient would be rather excited to unbox this.

Final Thoughts

So, does my experience with this one affect where I'd theoretically place them on a tier list today? I have to say no, not really; they'd still land at the top of the B tier in my list.

It's difficult for me to choose this over the likes of the Casio Lineage I mentioned previously, which squeezes more functionality in a more compact package at the same retail price. The finishing on the case and hands isn't as good as the Citizen, but the alignment and feature set is vastly superior. The sunburst dial on that piece is also far more striking than anything offered by Citizen for under $500.

To conclude, I think Citizen watches are decent, and the build quality is solid. The sticking point is that they don't appear to have any desirable, wearable watches for me, or anyone else with small to medium-sized wrists, for that matter.

This brand may rank higher for those with thick arms, and that's no problem. I just wish they'd experiment with sizing and styling to attract a wider audience.