Palms-On: Citizen Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950 Watch

aBlogtoWatch not too long ago debuted this novel limited-edition Japanese Citizen watch that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Citizen’s first titanium watch. The moment watch right here is the 2020 (deep breath, as it’s a lengthy title) Citizen Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Restricted-Mannequin Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950 reference CC4025-82E — and it’s restricted to 550 items. Extra on it in a second. What of titanium? It was 1970 when Citizen launched what was apparently the primary commercially accessible titanium within the (then) relatively unique metallic made well-known by its use in aerospace know-how.

Titanium made sense as a watch case materials when Citizen first used it for the Citizen X-Eight watch due to its mild weight, general power, and friendliness to human pores and skin. Since then, Citizen has grow to be one of many world’s dominant gamers in democratizing the usage of titanium for watches past merely high-luxury timepieces. Citizen nearly single-handedly launched titanium as a watch materials accessible in watches priced at only some hundred . Citizen didn’t cease there; as a part of its concentrate on ever-improving its merchandise, the engineer-run firm additionally developed a sequence of proprietary methods that render a few of the finest titanium in the marketplace.

Citizen Tremendous Titanium is the results of Citizen’s nice efforts in making titanium much more scratch resistant and more durable relating to put on and tear. Tremendous Titanium can be on the coronary heart of this specific Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary limited-edition product. That mentioned, although this specific timepiece is an actual luxurious merchandise, what makes Tremendous Titanium so tremendous in my eyes is that Citizen is ready to use it for a lot of watches that begin at just some hundred .

Along with the “Sakura” pink gold-tone coated Tremendous Titanium that contrasts with the anthracite tone of the remainder of the Tremendous Titanium case and bracelet, this product can be meant to have fun Citizen’s accomplishments with GPS actions. Every of the three main Japanese watchmakers have their very own GPS watches — a spotlight that’s nearly solely Japanese (when not taking into account smartwatches). The F950 motion is an fascinating system that represents a stack of methods Citizen has made through the years. In that regard, Citizen’s actions are comparable in precept from these at manufacturers like Casio, the place ongoing enhancements and new options stack up over time.

The motion is Eco-Drive light-powered, that means it doesn’t require battery modifications. That, and its means to mechanically replace the native time from GPS indicators, makes it an genuine “set it and neglect it” timepiece (a specific purpose of many Japanese timepiece designers). The F950 motion additionally makes use of a function-selector system when the crown is pulled out in its first place. Which means the palms on the primary dial will be reconfigured to supply a couple of shows, together with the native time, world time, chronograph, and alarm. The dial additionally features a full calendar in addition to a power-reserve indicator for the battery life. Lastly, the dial additionally has a couple of indicators that you just use when manually syncing the watch with a GPS sign or to examine if it efficiently synced the final time round.

Whereas the Citizen F950 Eco-Drive GPS motion is busy, it’s extremely useful and fairly logical one you move a small studying curve. What I actually like is the data accessible to the viewer at a look and the comparatively quick sign receiving occasions I’ve skilled from the motion when I’ve tried to connect with GPS indicators manually. The F950 isn’t a brand-new motion — it will have been good if this anniversary piece additionally included an replace to the motion, however the F950 is the most recent in a sequence of enhancements on the GPS watch theme by the model)

In 2015, once I reviewed the Citizen Satellite tv for pc Wave F100 watch, I questioned what would possibly come after it. 5 years later, we see a extra luxurious and well-equipped GPS watch from Citizen, and one which makes an attempt to make a extra distinct mark on the luxurious market. For me, this latter factor is what actually defines the Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950. It isn’t making an attempt to be the subsequent mainstream-appeal Japanese gadget watch, however relatively a visually assertive life-style merchandise that mixes an efficient working system and combines it with a slick design and fancy supplies.

Talking of design, the 47.5mm-wide Tremendous Titanium case (it doesn’t’ really feel so massive on the wrist, given the built-in lugs) is a good-looking however quirky wrist deal with that mixes the deserves of a Japanese instrument watch with the visible curiosity of a style piece. Whereas the value is definitely increased than the earlier era of Satellite tv for pc Wave F950 fashions, Citizen has clearly utilized extra funding to general high quality and supplies. That is an much more premium taste of an already premium assortment with the Citizen household. Likewise, at Seiko, the competing Astron GPS watch has been climbing market classes with increased costs however with accordingly extra “beautiful-feeling” merchandise.

Appreciation of the Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Restricted-Version Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950 watch’s dial is a matter of style. With that, the standard is superb — and begins with the finely AR-coated sapphire crystal. Citizen design the hours markers to exist on two planes, which makes for a stimulating impact and really doesn’t hurt legibility. (Be aware that the actual watch I’m capturing for this text is a pre-production prototype. Citizen has requested I inform you that the ultimate watches could have a barely completely different set of markings within the backside of the left subdial.)

Not all one-piece hyperlink bracelets are snug to put on on the wrist, however Citizen did a fantastic job right here. The within of the bracelet is definitely extra three-link in type, however with the exterior look of getting a single, roughly pyramid-style hyperlink. The angles on the built-in, tapering bracelet are engaging, and with its specific design and shade additionally considerably masculine in aesthetic. I feel it’s an excellent search for the watch, nevertheless it isn’t one thing that would most likely be made in excessive quantity given the numerous particular person titanium items that have to be machined after which handled.

The message Citizen is sending to customers and the watch trade, basically, with this Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Restricted-Mannequin Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950 watch is that the model is now looking for to re-approach luxurious merchandise as an space to characteristic Tremendous Titanium. Obtainable in a number of colours and with legendary sturdiness, Tremendous Titanium is a trademark that Citizen deserves to go alongside its different accolades. Whereas for some legacy Citizen followers, the reference CC4025-82E can be seen as costly and never as technologically novel as, say, the Citizen 0100, it’s a satisfying product that promotes a luxurious aspect to the model that the corporate is slowly engendering as soon as once more. It additionally occurs to look fairly cool on the wrist. Worth for the restricted version of 550 items Citizen Titanium Expertise 50th Anniversary Restricted-Mannequin Satellite tv for pc Wave GPS F950 watch is $5,000 USD. Study extra or order on the Citizen web site right here.