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Eco-Drive
Powered by Light
What is the ideal source of power for a watch?
CITIZEN created the world's first light-powered analogue quartz watch in 1976.
We named the technology Eco-Drive in acknowledgement of its eco-friendly origins.
It converts any kind of light into energy to power a watch and stores the surplus on a power cell.
On a full charge, an Eco-Drive watch runs for months even in darkness with no need for regular battery replacement.
As a light-power pioneer, we continue exploring new possibilities.
In a first for a watchmaker, Eco-Drive products obtained Eco Mark certification, a label managed by the Japan Environment Association (JEA), in recognition of their contribution to environmental sustainability in 1996. Eco-Drive went on to be awarded a Gold Prize at the JEA's Eco Mark Awards 2014, a first in the watch business.
No need
for regular battery replacementOnce upon a time, everyone accepted that quartz watches had to have their batteries replaced at regular intervals. But the advent of Eco-Drive overturned the conventional thinking. Eco-Drive is a light-powered technology that drives watches by capturing light and converting it into energy using an inbuilt solar cell.
Suddenly the hassle of replacing batteries was a thing of the past.
Runs even
in dim lightEco-Drive is designed to charge from ordinary everyday light sources like indoor fluorescent lighting and desk lights. You can go about your everyday life confident that your watch will never stop.
* To get the most out of your watch, set aside about five or six hours per month to charge it in sunlight.
Runs for over six months
even in darknessDo you need light to generate power for your watch all the time? Not with Eco-Drive. A single full charge is enough to keep Eco-Drive working for over six months in total darkness. Indeed, some models equipped with power save function can run for as long as seven years.
* Some models run for less than six months.
Eco-Drive Technology
HOW IT WORKS
Light-powered technology
Solar cells absorb light and convert it into energy. With Eco-Drive, we use different solar cells for different models to increase the range of designs we can offer.
Standard solar
As the name suggests, this is the most commonly used solar cell in our watches. It sits directly beneath the dial. Due to its excellent power-generation capabilities, it is used in many of our advanced-function models.
Ring Solar
This ring-shaped solar cell sits above the dial, encircling it. With a ring solar cell, there is no need for the dial to be translucent, allowing for greater latitude in dial design.
Reducing energy consumption
How can we get the most out of the energy we generate from light? CITIZEN's relentless focus on reducing energy consumption has driven the creation of advanced functions and other value-added innovations. We redesigned the circuits and programming of the integrated circuit (IC) and optimised the motor with numerous subtle tweaks to achieve better energy performance.
- [Insufficient charge warning]
- This function warns you when the watch is inadequately charged by making the second hand move at twosecond, rather than one-second, intervals.
- [Power save function]
- This function, which temporarily stops the hands to save power when the solar cell is not exposed to light for a certain period, is what makes Eco-Drive's long running time possible. When light is detected, the hands resume moving as normal to indicate the time.
Light-Level Indicator
CITIZEN was the first company in the world to build a Light-Level Indicator into its analogue quartz watches. The indicator detects the intensity of light striking the dial and displays the current level of electricity generation, allowing the wearer to gauge the amount of power being generated at any given moment.
The Eco-Drive Story
For watches,
a new source of energyThe first oil shock of 1973 raised global awareness and interest in alternative sources of clean energy. CITIZEN responded to the challenge by starting to develop watches driven by a completely new energy source: light.
In the 1970s, battery-driven quartz watches were very much the mainstream in Japan. Their shortcomings, however, included the hassle of having to replace and dispose of dead batteries. The desire to solve these problems and come up with something new and better was what inspired CITIZEN to develop a light-powered watch.The world's first
light-powered analogue quartz watchIn the mid-1970s, solar cells were bulky and prone to crack. Incorporating them into something so small as a watch was far from easy. But after much experimentation and not a few dead ends, CITIZEN unveiled a design prototype of a light powered analogue quartz watch in 1974. Two years later in 1976, we unveiled the CRYSTRON SOLAR CELL, the world's first commercial light-powered analogue quartz watch.
An everyday
watch that never stopsWhen the CRYSTRON SOLAR CELL debuted in the 1970s, neither the solar cell (which generated energy) nor the power cell (which stored it) had sufficient generating capacity or battery life for the watch to become a realistic part of anyone's everyday life. The engineers at CITIZEN were acutely conscious of these limitations.
But as the 1980s got under way, thinner solar cells capable of generating power from indoor light and power cells with longer battery life appeared. Thanks to these advances, CITIZEN's light-powered watches made a major leap forward. We made a series of improvements and innovations with a view to creating "a watch that never stops and integrates easily into everyday life." In 1986, we debuted a model that could keep running for eight days (roughly 200 hours) on a single charge.
In 1995, through the addition of a lithium-ion power cell, we were able to develop a model with a running time of six months on a single full charge. This was a landmark achievement that led directly to Eco-Drive of the present day.* Model shown is from 1993
Eco-Drive
CITIZEN's proprietary light-powered technology Eco-Drive is an exceptional technological achievement that also reflects our concern for the natural environment. The name and logo display our commitment to building a brand for people all over the world.
World's first
light-powered analogue quartz
diver's watch
Light-powered analogue quartz watch
which absorbs light
from the sides of the case
World's first
Bluetooth light-powered
analogue quartz watch
World's thinnest light-powered
radio-controlled watch
with world time function
World's thinnest
light-powered analogue quartz watchNever-ending innovation
In line with its "Better Starts Now" brand statement, CITIZEN has developed Eco-Drive watches that are smaller, thinner, lighter and have more functions. In fact, we have produced a whole series of world firsts. With our focus on functionality, convenience and beauty, CITIZEN will keep innovating and improving in the years ahead.
* Some models are no longer in production or are not available in certain countries.
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Super Titanium™
Strong. Beautiful. Comfortable.
What is the ideal material for a watch?
In 1970, CITIZEN unveiled the world's first titanium watch.
From there, we went on to develop Super TitaniumTM.
By processing solid titanium and applying Duratect, our proprietary surface-hardening technology,
we created a material five times harder than stainless steel.
Super TitaniumTM: light, gentle on the skin, scratch- and rust-resistant.
And we won't stop now.
We'll keep exploring ways to make your watch more comfortable.Scratch resistant means
freedom of movementThere's nothing sadder than scratching a watch you've only just bought. Super TitaniumTM is produced by treating solid titanium with our proprietary surface-hardening technology, Duratect, to achieve a level of hardness over five times that of stainless steel. Now you can keep your watch pristine and free from nicks and scratches.
Scratch comparison test by CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Light,
for better comfortA watch is something you wear all day, so the lighter it is, the better. Super TitaniumTM is around half the weight of stainless steel, making it very comfortable on the wrist. Whether you're working, doing the housework or just having fun, its lightness will make life that much easier.
* Super TitaniumTM is 40% lighter than stainless steel.
Comparison between the same series made of stainless steel and Super TitaniumTM
Gentle on the skin.
Good for everyoneSolid titanium is naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin. Processing, however, often undermines the metal's hypoallergenic properties. In the case of Super TitaniumTM, application of CITIZEN's surface-hardening technology Duratect solves this problem and guards against nickel and metal allergies. That's good news for people with allergies—and for people with partners or family members with allergies. Everyone can wear a Super TitaniumTM watch with total confidence.
* Some models are not metal- or nickel-allergy resistant. Consult the catalogue for specific model details.
Resistant to rust.
Open to activitySuper TitaniumTM is highly resistant to corrosion from salt water. Thanks to its rust-resistance, you can keep your watch on in all sorts of situations, confident that it will keep its brilliant finish.
* The pins used in the band may tarnish. CITIZEN recommends regular cleaning.
Super TitaniumTM Technology
Eco-Drive One | Super TitaniumTM
Titanium-processing technologies
Super TitaniumTM is made from solid titanium. While solid titanium has excellent hypoallergenic properties, its softness makes it particularly difficult to process. At CITIZEN, we applied our mastery of processing to develop unique technologies that overcome the challenges posed by solid titanium.
- [Pressing]
- Solid titanium is an active metal which reacts easily with oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, etc. That makes it difficult to press into shape because it is prone to galling in the mold. (Galling is a form of wear caused by adhesion between sliding surfaces.) At CITIZEN, we apply a very high level of heat to the titanium. This reduces its deformation resistance and makes it possible to press it into a variety of shapes.
- [Machining]
- Solid titanium is quick to react to the oxygen in the atmosphere. As a result, when it is being machined, the filings tend to adhere to the cutting edges of the tool. The resulting friction wears out drills and makes stabilising the bore diameter very difficult. At CITIZEN, we tested a wide range of cutting fluids, lubricants and machining speeds. Once we found the optimum combination of the three, we were able to process the titanium in a stable fashion.
- [Polishing]
- One characteristic of titanium is that, while the outer part (where the crystallites interlock) is hard, the central part is soft. If you just polished titanium in the normal way, only the central part would be shaved away producing a so-called "orange peel" effect. That was why achieving a beautiful and flat mirror finish was so difficult. At CITIZEN, our response was to experiment with every possible combination of buff polishing materials and abrasive until we managed to develop our own special polishing method. We top this off with Sallaz polishing performed by one of our expert craftspeople. This combination of processes enables us to achieve a beautiful mirror finish. Only CITIZEN has the know-how and technology to polish titanium to such a beautiful sheen.
Duratect, CITIZEN's proprietary surface-hardening technology
Duratect is CITIZEN's proprietary technology for hardening the surfaces of watch parts. The human arm is the part of the body we move most. As such, watches are most exposed to the risk of being scratched or bumped. We want your watch to stay pristine and beautiful for as long as possible. That was the thinking behind the birth of Duratect.
The Super TitaniumTM Story
Making a watch
from space-age materialIn the 1960s, the whole world was excited about the Apollo Program, the first manned mission to the moon. Light, strong and resistant to rust, titanium's profile rose along with the perception of it as a new metal for spacecraft applications. CITIZEN began research into titanium as a material, convinced that its properties could be leveraged to produce the perfect material for watchcases.
The world's first titanium watch
CITIZEN released the X-8 Chronometer, the world's first-ever watch with a solid titanium case, in 1970, after overcoming various problems of titanium processing. The name is a combination of "X," representing the unknown, with "8," which evokes the infinity symbol. It expresses the boundless possibilities of titanium, a relatively unknown material at the time.
Titanium for the many, not the few
From research, CITIZEN discovered that titanium had many merits as a material for making the watches we wear.
One of those merits was the metal's hypoallergenic properties. In fact, CITIZEN was the first company to spot the benefits of titanium's hypoallergenic properties, and we teamed up with a group of dermatologists specialising in metal allergy to test how patients responded to solid titanium watches.
In 1987, seventeen long years of research after the launch of the X-8 Chronometer, our efforts to create a watch that was gentle on the skin came to fruition with the launch of ATTESA. We had made a giant leap towards a world where everyone, with or without allergies, could safely wear a watch.
Titanium diver's watch
with the world's highest*
water pressure resistance
to the depth of 1,300 meters
* At the time of release in 1982
All-titanium metal-allergy
resistant watch
Platinum-plated
titanium watch
Titanium watch treated
with Duratect
Titanium watch treated
with Duratect DLC/MRKCITIZEN defining the future
"Let's try to make a watch from an almost unknown material" —That was the thinking that first inspired us to research titanium. And we're still pushing the envelope today with Super TitaniumTM, a CITIZEN proprietary material derived from our titanium-processing technologies and Duratect surface-hardening technology. As our titanium-processing technology progresses, we can offer a wider range of designs; and as our surface-hardening technology, Duratect, evolves, we can develop even more scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic models.
We look forward to a future where everyone can slip their watch on confident that it will feel safe and comfortable.
The challenge goes on.* Some models are no longer in production or are not available in certain countries.
Satellite Wave GPS
The precise time. Anywhere in the world.
What is the ideal system for precise timekeeping?
Satellite Wave GPS, a unique CITIZEN technology,
receives position data and a time signal from orbiting GPS satellites
to automatically update your watch to the correct date and time.
Because it incorporates CITIZEN's Eco-Drive light-powered technology,
Satellite Wave GPS provides you with the precise time,
wherever you are in the world, as long there is open sky above you.
CITIZEN will keep innovating until everyone, everywhere
has access to the correct time.
* GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System
Whole-earth coverage
CITIZEN Satellite Wave GPS has coverage in 38 of the world's time zones.* It receives position data and a time signal from GPS satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 20,000 kilometres to display the correct time for your precise location, wherever you are. Out in the desert, on a snowy mountain top, or out at sea, you can get the correct current time for that specific location.
* GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System
* Time zone coverage varies by model.
Coverage of 38 Times Zones
* This is a simplified time zone map. Actual time zones may differ.
The precise time,
however far you travelImagine that you are driving across a continent like Australia or the United States where you have to cross multiple time zones. Wherever you go, Satellite Wave GPS syncs to GPS satellites to acquire position data and a time signal at the simple push of a button. Using this data to work out which time zone you are in, it sets your watch to the correct time for where you are at that moment. Even when passing through multiple time zones, you can go on your way with complete confidence that your watch is displaying the correct local time.
* GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System
* Getting position data requires a minimum of 30 seconds. Switching to daylight saving time must be done by hand.
Get the precise time.
Fast. And whenever you wantAll CITIZEN Satellite Wave GPS* models tell the time with a high level of accuracy of ±5 seconds per month. They express CITIZEN's desire to provide the precise time with no need for adjustment. In fact, CITIZEN was the first watch company in the world to achieve time signal reception as fast as 3 seconds.* We made it possible to reset the time whenever you want; all you need is open sky overhead. Nothing beats the dynamic thrill of connecting with GPS satellites to synchronise to the correct time.
* GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning Systems.
* In 2015, CITIZEN was first in the world to achieve a reception time as fast as three seconds for a light-powered GPS satellite watch.
Satellite Wave GPS Technology
Satellite signal reception technology
This technology captures position data and a time signal from GPS satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 20,000 kilometres to automatically correct the time and date of your watch. To synchronise your watch, all you need to do is go outside where there are no buildings or trees obstructing the satellite signals, point the dial of your watch towards the sky, and perform the manual operation.
In pursuit of further speed
Being able to receive a time signal and display the precise time for a specific country or region fast is a clear gain in convenience terms for customers. CITIZEN never stops experimenting in its pursuit of greater speed.
- [A CITIZEN-only algorithm]
- At CITIZEN, we wrote, tested and revised thousands of programmes in order to develop a proprietary algorithm for speedy signal reception. It's thanks to this algorithm that we managed to be the first to achieve the world's fastest GPS satellite time signal reception speed, as quick as three seconds.*
* In 2015, CITIZEN set a world record for a light-powered GPS satellite watch, achieving time signal reception as fast as 3 seconds (according to research by Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.). - [High-speed motor]
- Our watches incorporate a high-speed motor to move the watch hands rapidly into the correct position based on the position data and time signal captured from the GPS satellites.
The Satellite Wave GPS Story
Precise timekeeping
for people everywhere"We want to provide the precise time to as many people as possible around the world." That was the thinking that inspired us to start developing Satellite Wave GPS. When we launched our R&D efforts, GPS chips for dedicated high-speed time-signal reception did not exist so we had to develop and manufacture them ourselves. As we tackled these challenges, we were literally building the future.
* GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System
World's first
light-powered satellite-synchronised watchEco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE, the world's first light-powered satellite-synchronised watch, came out in 2011, after much experimentation. The design of the watch played up the GPS satellite motif, evoking images of satellites, outer space, the earth, the sun, and light. The model represented the fusion of all CITIZEN's best technology, not to mention our focus on aesthetics.
The ongoing quest
for speedFor CITIZEN, genuine convenience means enabling our customers to acquire and display the time information for whatever country or region they are in as fast as possible. Driven by a huge amount of research, the Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE model we launched in 2011 was able to acquire a time signal in a minimum time of six seconds.
The Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE F100, introduced in 2014, achieved a satellite reception speed of as little as three seconds. By providing each of the three hands—the hour hand, minute hand and second hand—with its own independent motor, adjusting the time became totally stress-free. The Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE F100 was also the world's thinnest satellite-synchronised watch at the time.
GPS functionality
on an upward curveIn 2015, CITIZEN developed a model that could capture not just time signals, but position data too. This was the Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE F900, a multifunctional light-powered GPS satellite-synchronised watch first announced at Baselworld 2015. It pushed the concepts of speed and thin design even further to get the maximum out of GPS functionality. Featuring a motor that could drive the hands both clockwise and counter-clockwise extremely fast, it provided the precise time for your specific location. It is the world’s thinnest multifunctional GPS satellite-synchronised watch.*
CITIZEN continues to strive for faster and more precise timekeeping. Our quest never ends.∗ As of Sept. 2018, according to research by Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
* Some featured models are no longer in production or are unavailable in some markets.
Radio-Controlled
The precise time. All the time.
What is the ideal system for precise timekeeping?
Capturing a time signal from an atomic clock accurate to 1 second every 100,000 years,
iRadio-Controlled auto-corrects the time and calendar in your watch.
Combined with CITIZEN's light-powered Eco-Drive technology,
the result is ultraprecise timekeeping
with no need to replace batteries or adjust the time.
In 1993, CITIZEN released the world's first multi-band radio-controlled watch.
As a pioneer, we continue to lead the field.Margin of error:
One second every 100,000 years3... 2... 1... Happy New Year! With a Radio-Controlled watch, you can be sure that your personal New Year countdown will be bang on time. The atomic clocks from which Radio-Controlled watches receive their time signals are accurate to an astonishing margin of one second every 100,000 years. By synchronising with the most accurate time source in existence, your watch will always tell you the precise time.
The right time. Automatically.
Every dayAdjusting your watch is a bore. Radio-Controlled does away with all that anxiety and fuss. In the middle of the night when the noise from smartphones is at a minimum, it automatically synchronises to the correct time. Radio-Controlled, in other words, fine-tunes itself every day of the week so that you don't need to worry about resetting your watch anymore. Ever.
Radio-Controlled Technology
Time signal reception technology
This technology automatically updates the time and date based on a time signal from an atomic clock with a margin of error of one second every 100,000 years. In Japan, it receives signals from the Mount Otakadoya Standard Time Transmitter in Fukushima and the Mount Hagane Standard Time Transmitter in Kyushu, meaning that it covers the whole country.
Receives signals
in 4 geographic regions*Radio-Controlled operates based on the reception of a time signal from transmitters in four different regions: Europe, the United States, China, and Japan.
* Applies to world multiband models.
* Map is a rough illustration only.
* Concentric circles indicating time signals on the map are purely for illustrative purposes and do not indicate actual ranges.
* Different models have different coverage
* Reception can be affected by radio noise, local topography, buildings and weather.
* Time differences and city names may change depending on the country/territory.
Three functions
for precise timekeepingCITIZEN has developed a proprietary technology that makes precise timekeeping possible by combining three functions: an antimagnetic function, an impact detection function and an automatic hand correction function.
The Radio-Controlled Story
The ultimate goal of
the world's watchmakers'Genuinely precise timekeeping' was an unobtainable goal that still lay beyond the grasp of the watchmaking community when in 1989 CITIZEN decided to develop a watch that would display precise time based upon the reception of radio waves. CITIZEN had no background in this field, meaning that there was a veritable mountain of technological challenges we had to overcome. Lacking the proper equipment, we had, for example, to rig up an antenna close to the window of the R&D laboratory and build our own devices to measure receiver sensitivity. We even developed our own integrated circuit compatible with time signals (not available in Japan at the time), and grappled with how to miniaturise the antenna.
The world's
first multi-band radio-controlled watchIt was after overcoming many technological challenges that in 1993 CITIZEN launched the world's first multiband radio-controlled watch. Signal reception sensitivity depends upon the antenna but is prone to interference from the metal watchcase and other metal parts. That's why we went for a bold, counterintuitive look with the antenna right in the centre of the dial. 'Look at me! I'm a radio-controlled watch!' the design proclaimed.
The world's first
light-powered radio-controlled watchIn 1996, CITIZEN developed the world's first Radio-Controlled model incorporating Eco-Drive. We placed the antenna on the 9 o'clock side of the case, improving both reception and design. The addition of light-powered technology and automatic signal reception eliminated the hassle of adjusting the time and replacing batteries.
Towards a more discreet
and attractive designRadio-Controlled had evolved to the stage where the design no longer stressed the radio-controlled theme.
Having producing a model with the antenna on the side, in 2001 we produced a model with the antenna built into a ceramic case and an Eco-Drive model with reduced power consumption. By improving the antenna and the receiving circuit we dramatically boosted reception sensitivity, meaning that in 2003, we were able to produce the world's first radio-controlled watch with a full metal case—something until then believed to be impossible.
Smaller,
thinner and more variedFollowing the introduction of the Eco-Drive Radio-Controlled model with full metal case in 2003, Radio-Controlled established itself as one of CITIZEN's core technologies. In a quest for smaller, thinner, more elegant, and more varied watch designs, we further miniaturised the antenna and made the movement smaller by reducing energy consumption.
The picture below shows 15 years' worth of antennas from 1993 to 2008. You can see that the antenna grew significantly smaller over time. The challenge, however, goes on. CITIZEN's quest for the perfect form never ends.
* Some featured models are no longer in production or are unavailable in some markets.
Copyright CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD ALL RIGHTS RESERVED