Poor man's watch thread

[am55]

Just a hair under PMW ceiling.

 

[DorianGreen]

Pretty happy with my new purchase.

 

[NakedYoga]

This isn't a bad looking PMW from Hamilton.

 

[DorianGreen]

This isn't a bad looking PMW from Hamilton.

Very nice! 😻

 

[SixOhNine]

I don't love the asymmetric case, but it is damn nice.

 

[Thin White Duke]

View attachment 1863987

I like the fonts and the train track seconds indicator. Might be subject to copyright infringement from IWC!

 

[Jazzmenco]

Really like this watch. Not sure if utilitarian is quite the right description. I think it's also attractive. And the price was around $350.

 

[am55]

Pretty happy with my new purchase.

View attachment 1864062

Thanks for the photo. There are very, very few wrist shots of the series 8 around, which is a shame because Citizen's recent forays into the mechanical middle market following their excellent high accuracy quartz (more interesting, IMO, than Seiko's... but I digress) are quite promising. The brand flies under the radar diluted by their eco-drive mass market image.

I note the case is even fatter than on the promo shots, perhaps because the complex environment breaks up the reflections and draws away from the highly gem like, sculpted, angular design. It's almost in Seiko turtle territory. But at the same time the long, thin markers break up the edge of the dial and make it look larger than it is. You can sort of understand the logic. I've never seen one in the flesh. Must correct that soon.

 

[DorianGreen]

Thanks for the photo. There are very, very few wrist shots of the series 8 around, which is a shame because Citizen's recent forays into the mechanical middle market following their excellent high accuracy quartz (more interesting, IMO, than Seiko's... but I digress) are quite promising. The brand flies under the radar diluted by their eco-drive mass market image.

I note the case is even fatter than on the promo shots, perhaps because the complex environment breaks up the reflections and draws away from the highly gem like, sculpted, angular design. It's almost in Seiko turtle territory. But at the same time the long, thin markers break up the edge of the dial and make it look larger than it is. You can sort of understand the logic. I've never seen one in the flesh. Must correct that soon.

A really nice watch, pretty different from the usual cheap Eco-Drive Citizen. I bought it at €669 and think it's an excellent entry level timepiece.

There are also a silver and a blue dial versions.

As well as a limited version with a brown operated dial and a leather strap (not my taste)

 

[DorianGreen]

Citizen even produced a high end watch with a proprietary movement, but with a $6000 price tag, it can be hardly seen as a poor man's watch. It's called The Mechanical Citizen.

Here something more:
https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a35724461/the-citizen-mechanical-automatic-watch/

 

[NakedYoga]

Thanks for the photo. There are very, very few wrist shots of the series 8 around, which is a shame because Citizen's recent forays into the mechanical middle market following their excellent high accuracy quartz (more interesting, IMO, than Seiko's... but I digress) are quite promising. The brand flies under the radar diluted by their eco-drive mass market image.

I note the case is even fatter than on the promo shots, perhaps because the complex environment breaks up the reflections and draws away from the highly gem like, sculpted, angular design. It's almost in Seiko turtle territory. But at the same time the long, thin markers break up the edge of the dial and make it look larger than it is. You can sort of understand the logic. I've never seen one in the flesh. Must correct that soon.

A really nice watch, pretty different from the usual cheap Eco-Drive Citizen. I bought it at €669 and think it's an excellent entry level timepiece.

There are also a silver and a blue dial versions.

View attachment 1864588 View attachment 1864586

As well as a limited version with a brown operated dial and a leather strap (not my taste)

View attachment 1864597

It's definitely an interesting case shape. I really like the angles at the lugs. The dial is nice, too. The only thing I don't really like is the "Series 8" text, which reminds me too much of the default email font I use at the office. It doesn't really go together with the Citizen logo. I think the dial would look much better with that model text removed altogether.

To @am55 's point, it's nice to see something completely different from Citizen. When I think of the brand, I immediately think Eco Drive.

 

[DorianGreen]

It's definitely an interesting case shape. I really like the angles at the lugs. The dial is nice, too. The only thing I don't really like is the "Series 8" text, which reminds me too much of the default email font I use at the office. It doesn't really go together with the Citizen logo. I think the dial would look much better with that model text removed altogether.

To @am55 's point, it's nice to see something completely different from Citizen. When I think of the brand, I immediately think Eco Drive.

I agree with you. As often, text is mostly redundant and unnecessary. Rolex is a brilliant example.

 

[am55]

To @am55 's point, it's nice to see something completely different from Citizen. When I think of the brand, I immediately think Eco Drive.

Technically, the amazing 0100 (16 times the PMW budget, 1 second per year through some true mechanical magic) is eco drive: https://www.citizenwatch-global.com/caliber0100/technology02.html

A bit like the Toyota Century (or "real" Land Cruiser, built in the best factory in Japan to extreme standards, withdrawn from the US market, 3 year wait list in Australia). You have to differentiate your brands for the US market. In other parts of the world the trust gained in the mass market gives the luxury product an aura of comfort and reliability.

 

[am55]

My point being here to look past the badge and into what the serial number implies in terms of manufacturing quality, standards, materials, etc. See the gradual disappearance of zaratsu from Seiko lineup. I also remember when the SKX007 was still around you could get one from Japan or from the Malaysia or Thailand factory "supervised by the Japanese" and there might even have been a price difference for this of perhaps 10-20% (maybe it was just a retailer thing).

 

[NakedYoga]

I also remember when the SKX007 was still around you could get one from Japan or from the Malaysia or Thailand factory "supervised by the Japanese" and there might even have been a price difference for this of perhaps 10-20% (maybe it was just a retailer thing).

I think you're right about that. If I recall correctly, there was a "J" in the serial number or model number that indicated this. I still have an SKX007 (though US-purchased) I bought during law school some 13-15 years ago.