Are you looking for a new, affordable timepiece? Good idea! Here are some of the best Citizen watches on the market.
If you love the feeling of filling your watch collection with practical timepieces, Citizen is your brand. The Japanese watchmaker specializes in creating affordable watches that don’t compromise on quality.
Citizen produces thousands of watches yearly that perpetuate the value of quality and simplicity over fancy architecture.
And unlike many affordable watch brands, Citizen’s story is actually interesting. The Japanese brand was one of the country’s leading watch and movement manufacturers in Japan during the 1970s.
It’s the brand you’ll recognize for creating world-famous designs like the Promaster and developing the Eco-Drive technology. If you like, you can check out how Eco-Drive technology works in more detail.
Above all, one thing makes Citizen such a respectable brand among affordable watch manufacturers. It’s the fact that its components, movements, and designs are all in-house.
This is a very cool thing for those who understand the challenges and skills involved in vertical integration. This is especially true when considering the average Citizen watch price.
The only drawback to Citizen watches is that they measure large. They’re not great for slender wrists; many measure around the 45mm mark.
However, that doesn’t mean they don’t look good, or you can’t find one that works for slender wrists. But if your wrists measure on the small side, it’s one thing to be aware of.
The options I’m selecting for this article are all reasonable sizes for Citizen’s standards, so don’t worry too much. You have options, and here they are.
Table of Contents
The All-Around Best Citizen Watches for Men
Citizen watches offer good build quality and come in a huge range of styles and functions. Despite promising plenty of innovative technological features, they require little maintenance for men with busy lifestyles.
I kept this in mind as I carefully chose these picks as the best Citizen watches for men.
Here’s a list of the best watches from Citizen in no particular order.
1. Citizen Classic Watch Ref NJ0100-71L
The Citizen reference NJ0100-71L is a practical daily watch I recommend to anyone looking for their first timepiece. It’s a great daily beater with a classic design, albeit with some subtle features that give it true Citizen identity.
It features a crown sitting close to the bodywork and a sporty cushion-shaped case. It’s also an automatic watch, making it a great entry point for the horologically curious.
I also like the striated pattern on its deep blue dial. It compliments a darker minute scale on the flange for extra sharpness and contrast.
2. Citizen Weekender Black IP Watch Ref AW1147-52L
No list of Citizen watches is complete without the mention of a Weekender. Ref AW1147-52L has a hard-edged case and a grille-like texture on the dial. Together, these features combine a classic, elegant look with industrial undertones.
As I mentioned, Citizen is a brand that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. This Citizen Weekender watch ticks both of those qualities off the list. It features Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, so it never needs a battery replacement.
This 41 mm model can be worn as a dress watch or as a sporty addition to casual attire. Its sleek aesthetic complements the black ion-plated steel case, which looks stealthy and ready for action.
3. Citizen Attesa Watch Ref BU0060-09H
Let me introduce this watch by saying it’s big. But if you’re looking for a contemporary Citizen watch, the Attesa is the answer. This reference BU0060-09H belongs to a family that has been around since 1987 and is a time-tested favorite.
This Citizen Attesa watch has a lightweight 43mm titanium body and a dark gradient dial, which give it an undeniable futuristic look. A triple calendar, moon phase indicator, and monochromatic design create a sleek and modern wrist companion.
I particularly like how the smooth black leather strap keeps this watch looking ultra-modern. The brand’s light source technology and 100-meter water resistance are also useful.
4. Citizen Weekender Garrison Watch reference BM8180-03E
Another Weekender watch, but this time a more compact one. The Citizen Weekender Garrison watch measures a very manageable 37mm diameter, making it an excellent option for small-wristed males.
This watch gives off undeniable military vibes with its field-watch aesthetic. A mineral glass front protects a simple yet legible three-handed dial and a day-date function.
The legible hands have a luminous treatment, as do the Arabic numerals. I also like the shot of vibrant red color coming from the second hand.
Its curved lugs, knurled texturing, and easy-grip crown make for a practical wristwatch you can enjoy wearing daily. It also promises a comfortable 9.5 mm thickness and 100m water resistance.
5. Citizen Promaster Diver Watch Ref EO2028-06L
I’d describe this Citizen Promaster as one of the boldest-looking of the entire collection. But get this – it only measures 36.5mm!
Its deep blue dial features lighter electric blue shades and an orange arrow-tipped minute hand. The hands and hour markers also have a generous coating of luminous material.
This dive watch offers excellent value for money because of its easy-grip dive bezel. Perfect for easy manipulation under the fingertips, it features a legible 60-minute scale.
Citizen experts equip the 200-meter water-resistant steel case with a 4 o’clock crown. It’s a feature that gives the watch a unique identity, along with its striking blue quick-drying rubber strap.
6. Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A.T. Watch Ref JY8146-54E
Full of technical innovation, the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A.T. celebrates the Promaster’s 35th anniversary. Its strong color palette, featuring a beautiful grey and Sakura case, takes inspiration from the changing seasons in the polar regions.
The 46mm size of this ion-plated steel case should not put you off, and here’s why: Many reviews suggest that this watch wears smaller than its dimensions would have you believe.
The tonneau shape is sporty but gently tapering, allowing the top and bottom of the case to sculpt your wrist’s contours.
This is a limited edition watch with unique specifications. It has a 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph, an LED display, and 200-meter water resistance. This high-spec watch has a tachymeter scale and a sapphire front for compromised dial protection.
The Best of the Best: Citizen Watch Edition
As of publication, 399 Citizen watch models are available on their website. That number does not include women’s watches that could work as small unisex watches. That means there are a lot of options to consider.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled the following list of the best of the best Citizen watches.
The Best Citizen Dive Watch: The Citizen Promaster Mechanical “Challenge” Diver 200m Watch Ref NB6025-59H
I wouldn’t blame you if you took one look at this watch and thought it looked pretty run-of-the-mill. But in fact, this affordable diving companion is a neo-vintage watch. It is 40 times lighter than a standard stainless steel case.
Advantages like being lightweight and legible are key factors for those who need a dive watch. The Promaster guarantees both, making it one of the best Citizen dive watches available.
This 41 mm Citizen watch is a relatively modest size for a Citizen watch. I love that it only weighs 70 grams, too! Having a dive watch on your wrist that you barely notice you’re wearing makes all the difference while underwater.
The Citizen Promaster Mechanical “Challenger” Diver 200M features a legible black dial with luminous markings for effortless readability.
What’s more, the Calibre Citizen 9051 beats inside this watch. It promises protection against magnetic fields up to 16,000 A/m and delivers a 42-hour power reserve.
The Best Citizen Eco-Drive Watch: The Citizen Zenshin Chrono Super Titanium Watch Ref CA4610-85A
The Citizen Zenshin Chrono Super Titanium is a no-brainer. It features a Super Titanium case for unprecedented lightness and stepped chronograph pushers for an extra sporty look.
Citizen architects designed a stylized crown with an easy-grip surface for extra functionality, plus a crisp, legible chronograph dial. Measuring elapsed time has never been easier, and what’s more, you’ll never need to replace the battery.
This Eco-Drive-powered watch has a distinctive silver dial and black-filled chronograph counters to achieve a panda-dial watch aesthetic. At first glance, the dial reminds you of the textured dial on the Grand Seiko Snowflake.
However, this Citizen isn’t a delicate snowflake. The 42mm watch, complete on a titanium bracelet, also features a tachymeter scale and a 12/24-hour function.
It’s sporty and classic, and the perfect chronograph watch for anyone looking for an affordable alternative to the Rolex Daytona.
The Best Citizen Dress Watch: The Citizen Corso Watch Ref AW0090-11Z
This Citizen dress watch measures a very practical 40mm diameter—a good, compact size for the brand.
It has a timeless ivory white dial with an intricate surface pattern that you quickly lose yourself in. The hour markers are like shards of metal, carefully trimmed and refracting the light majestically.
Clean and crisp, this is Citizen’s take on the sector dial. Perhaps not as refined as Baltic’s sector dial, of course, but classic and opulent all the same. Thanks to the texture on the dial’s surface, these layers give the Corso watch an unusual sense of depth.
I can’t find anything to dislike about this watch. The date window is discreet and unimposing, and the day window is another practical feature.
This Eco-Drive watch features a striking teal-colored leather band, constituting a versatile option for daytime or nighttime attire.
FAQs
These FAQs highlight some key facts about the brand and its watches.
Is Citizen Better Than Seiko?
If eco-friendliness in a watch design is important to you, you may prefer Citizen watches over Seiko watches. Citizen’s Eco-Drive range offers some excellent options that don’t require battery replacements and promise to last years.
Is Citizen Considered a Luxury Watch?
No, Citizen watches are not exactly what you’d call luxury timepieces. First and foremost, they’re functional, reliable, and offer great value for money. They’re not expensive, though luxury watch collectors still value them as great daily beaters.
What Is the Most Accurate Citizen watch?
The most accurate Citizen watch is the Citizen Caliber 0100. It has an annual accuracy of ±1 second and features light-power technology using the brand’s Eco-Drive technology.
Last Takeaways About the Best Citizen Watches
If you began this article wondering, “Are Citizen watches any good?” you should now have your answer.
I hope this round-up of the best Citizen watches has cinched how spec-forward they can be. If you do some digging, you can find some really cool out-of-character models.
While few Citizen watches measure under 40mm, few do exist. Even the smaller-sized options impact the wrist with their bold but simple designs. When it comes to larger watches, some wear smaller, thanks to their non-conventional case shapes.
Do you have some recommendations of your own? Let us know your go-to Citizen watch, and we can compare notes.
Two of these watches are under 40mm… The Slender Wrist indeed. Target audience, anyone? What an absolute waste if time.
Hey Koen, I’ll try to ignore the snark. Yes, the core readership are men with smallish wrists but we get people larger wrist sizes that read our stuff too. Also, Hamilton watches skew large, as do many other brands. Sorry you felt we wasted your time.
I just bought that Citizen smartwatch pictured on Amazon for 71% off because I couldn’t pass up a $425 smartwatch for $111. Looking forward to finally having a smartwatch. I will add it to the other Citizens in my collection the Promaster Diver (same one pictured) which I again got for a steal on Amazon at $154 and my Promaster Nighthawk pilot watch (super stealth looks) and Brycen chronograph with black dial. Love them all and they get heavy rotation in my wearing.