Citizen is Japan's largest watchmaker and the world's largest watch manufacturer by volume. But beyond scale, Citizen has pioneered technologies that changed how we think about timekeeping: Eco-Drive solar power, atomic radio synchronization, and satellite-synced watches that work anywhere on Earth. Innovation, not just production, defines this century-old company.
Tokyo Origins (1918)
Citizen began as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute in Tokyo in 1918, founded to produce quality watches domestically rather than rely on imports. The first pocket watch appeared in 1924, named "Citizen" by Tokyo's mayor Shinpei Goto to reflect his hope that the watches would be widely owned by citizens.
Wristwatch production began in 1931, and Citizen grew steadily through Japan's industrialization, surviving World War II and rebuilding to become a major force in post-war Japanese manufacturing.
Eco-Drive Revolution (1976)
Citizen's defining innovation came in 1976: the first analog quartz watch powered by light. Originally marketed under various names before being unified as "Eco-Drive" in 1995, this technology converts any light—natural or artificial—into electrical energy stored in a rechargeable cell.
Eco-Drive watches never need battery replacements. A fully charged watch can run for months in complete darkness. The technology was revolutionary: sustainable, practical, and virtually maintenance-free.
How Eco-Drive Works: A solar cell beneath the dial converts light into electricity, which charges a lithium-ion cell. The system is remarkably efficient—indoor lighting is often sufficient. Citizen has produced over 500 million Eco-Drive movements, preventing billions of disposable batteries from entering landfills.
Atomic Timekeeping (1993)
In 1993, Citizen introduced the world's first multi-band atomic radio-controlled watch. These timepieces receive signals from atomic clock transmitters (in the US, Japan, Germany, and UK), automatically setting themselves to perfect accuracy.
Combined with Eco-Drive, this created watches that are always accurate and never need batteries—the ultimate "set and forget" timekeeping solution.
Satellite Wave (2011)
Radio-controlled watches have a limitation: they only work within range of atomic clock transmitters. In 2011, Citizen solved this with Satellite Wave technology—watches that receive time signals directly from GPS satellites.
Satellite Wave watches work anywhere on Earth with a view of the sky, automatically adjusting to local time zones. The technology was miniaturized progressively, with the 2014 CC3000 claiming the title of world's thinnest satellite-synced watch.
The Citizen: Haute Horlogerie
While Citizen is primarily known for accessible technology, the company produces a high-end line called simply "The Citizen." These watches feature:
• Annual accuracy of ±5 seconds: Among the most accurate quartz movements ever made
• Washi paper dials: Traditional Japanese paper craft
• Hand-assembled movements: Built by certified master watchmakers
• Exceptional finishing: Zaratsu polishing techniques
The Citizen represents Japanese perfectionism applied to quartz technology—proof that high-accuracy quartz can be as artisanal as mechanical watchmaking.
Shokosha Watch Research Institute founded in Tokyo
First "Citizen" branded pocket watch
First light-powered analog quartz watch
First multi-band atomic radio-controlled watch
"Eco-Drive" name unified globally
Satellite Wave GPS-synced watches debut
Acquires Frederique Constant and Arnold & Son
The Citizen Watch Group
Citizen has grown into a conglomerate that includes:
• Citizen: Core brand with Eco-Drive technology
• Bulova: American heritage brand (acquired 2008)
• Frederique Constant: Swiss manufacture (acquired 2016)
• Arnold & Son: High-end complications (acquired 2016)
• Campanola: Japanese luxury collection
• La Joux-Perret: Swiss movement manufacturer
This portfolio spans from accessible Eco-Drive to haute horlogerie, all under Citizen ownership.
Promaster: Professional Instruments
The Promaster line represents Citizen's professional tool watches: dive watches to 1000m, aviation chronographs with slide rules, and land models with compass/altimeter functions. All incorporate Eco-Drive technology, meaning these professional instruments never need battery changes—even in demanding conditions.
Today's Citizen
Citizen manufactures over 300 million watches annually across its brands, making it the world's largest watchmaker by volume. Yet volume hasn't prevented innovation: the company continues developing new technologies including Super Titanium (hardened, scratch-resistant titanium) and increasingly miniaturized satellite receivers.
For those who value practical innovation over tradition, Citizen offers timepieces that are perpetually powered, permanently accurate, and essentially maintenance-free—the logical endpoint of functional watchmaking.