In 2018, Citizen celebrated 100 years of creating high-quality timepieces and developing watchmaking technology. This milestone was marked with the announcement of another horological landmark, the Citizen Caliber 0100 Eco-Drive movement which delivers the world’s most impressive time-keeping accuracy within ±1 second per year. Today, Citizen is proud to announce the three inaugural “Caliber 0100” watches outfitted with this revolutionary movement. These limited-edition watches will be the world’s most accurate timepieces, as well as a demonstration of Citizen’s uniquely Japanese design and peerless manufacturing ability.

The Citizen Caliber 0100 Watches

These three inaugural limited-edition Caliber 0100 watches are: the White Gold Model AQ6010-06A; the Super Titanium AQ6021-51E with metallic black dial; and the Super Titanium AQ6020-53X with mother-of-pearl dial.

The three inaugural Citizen limited-edition watches utilizing the Caliber 0100 movement share intentionally simple design, underscoring Citizen’s mission to “pursue the true essence of a watch.” One dial aspect that is most impressive about these watches is the perfect alignment of the second hand and indices when looking at the watch head-on. This is achieved by foregoing machine-cut gears and springs for a superior LIGA fabrication process. LIGA uses photolithography and electrocasting, allowing for the manufacture of ultra-precisely made parts. Using this process, Citizen is able to manufacture hands that align absolutely perfectly with indices.

Additionally, the watch hands are done using brass elements that are typically never used in quartz movements, due to the difficulty traditional quartz movement motors have in producing the necessary torque. The precise alignment of the second hand with each of the 60 dial indices is finally ensured by the same Citizen master craftspeople who assemble the Caliber 0100.

From the sapphire crystal caseback, the movement is visible. Done in corrosion-resistant black ruthenium plating with striping, this is, indeed, a movement that stands alone in the world of haute horlogerie.

Before we get into the details of each of these three Caliber 0100 watches, let’s take a brief look at the pioneering Cal.0100 Eco-Drive movement that was introduced last year.

The World’s Most Accurate Movement: Citizen Caliber 0100 Eco-Drive

For the first time in horology, we have what is essentially satellite-connected accuracy in an autonomous light-powered quartz movement in the form of the Caliber 0100 Eco-Drive movement. The resulting accuracy of ±1 second per year is the world’s most accurate. This “quest for the perfectly pure second” began by Citizen in reimagining the crystal oscillator. For years, tuning-fork shaped crystal oscillators have been used in quartz movements. We created an AT-cut crystal oscillator that vibrates at a frequency of 8.4 MHz (8,388,608 Hz), which is more than 250 times higher than tuning fork-shaped crystal oscillators.

The AT-cut type crystal oscillator allows for greater temperature tolerances (specifically, in the range of 5°C to 40°C), reduced deviation caused by wearer orientation — which can have adverse affects on accuracy — and finally, much greater durability. This final point about durability is addressed by Citizen’s proprietary Shock Counteraction Function which locks the rotor before restarting the movement after significant shock and on-board automatic hand correction that constantly checks positioning. After detecting shock or any kind of deviation, this function corrects hand positioning so that it remains in line with the movement’s precise display of time. 

Caliber 0100 allows for Eco-Drive to operate continuously and in a stable way for up to six months on a single charge, or eight months on power-save mode, all without a light source.

This is just a brief summary of the intricacy and innovation found in the Citizen Caliber 0100 Eco-Drive movement. To get the details about what goes into the Cal.0100 Eco-Drive, we encourage you to read the launch article here.

The Brass Second Hand

The second hand of the Citizen Caliber 0100 watches is essential to their identity. Symbolic of the ±1 second per year accuracy, the second hand is also the symbol of the watch. Brass was used in making the second hand, a material that is difficult to work with due to its weight. Here, we chose to use the longest piece of brass that the movement could tolerate, which is made possible by using a high-holding torque motor. 

There is also a special gear built using the LIGA fabrication process specifically designed to prevent the backlash from a second hand in typical watches. This is a fine detail, but one that couldn’t be overlooked when seeking this kind of accuracy. The innovative and one-of-a-kind system Citizen has created allows for the second hand to rotate forward and backward, allowing the watch to show the exact right time when waking from power saving mode. 

Finally, the tip of the second hand and the edge of the dial actually create corresponding arcs to further align perfectly. The parabolic curve on the brass second hand tip is subtle in its execution, but something nobody has previously achieved with this kind of accuracy in mind. 

Citizen Caliber 0100 White Gold AQ6010-06A

This model is limited to 100 pieces, with a case and crown done in 18k white gold case measuring 37.5mm wide and 9.1mm in height. The finishes on the case, band, and crown are done with sharp-appearing edges designed to evoke the image of a crystal. Again, the design of the dial is intentionally minimal in order to leave the focus on the absolute precision of the movement and corresponding fit and finish of the unique components. 

On the ivory-colored dial, you’ll note the brass second hand with parabola curve corresponding with the curved edge of the dial. This helps in perfectly aligning the hands and indices. This model will come on a crocodile strap with an 18k white gold buckle and will be numbered out of 100.

Super Titanium AQ6021-51E & AQ6020-53X

These two models have cases and bracelets done in Super Titanium, Citizen’s proprietary titanium that is treated with Duractect surface hardening technology. These two models are water resistant to 50 meters and are also 37.5mm wide and 9.1mm in height.

The AQ6021-51E has a deep black dial that utilizes small apertures that absorb light. This model will come in a limited-edition run of 500 pieces. The AQ6020-53X has a mother of pearl dial that takes several years to achieve the perfect aesthetic. There is a symbolism to this, with the dial representing the ceaseless passage of time in nature. 

The Citizen Caliber 0100 AQ6010-06A in white gold will be limited to 100 pieces with a price of $16,800 USD. The AQ6021-51E (5oo pieces) and AQ6020-53X (200 pieces) will each be priced at $7,400 USD. The watches will be available in Autumn of 2019 and you can learn more at citizenwatch.com.

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