Citizen debuts three affordable mechanical watches with Clous de Paris dials and see-through casebacks

Citizen is best known for its Eco-Drive light-powered watches, but the company also offers a solid range of automatic watches with great value for money. Case in point: the Japanese watchmaker has just dropped three new entry-level mechanical watches that offer premium looks without the premium price tag.

The new NJ0250-01A, NJ0250-01B, and NJ0252-05A lean heavily into classic watchmaking design, with polished stainless steel cases, box-shaped crystals, cowhide leather straps, and textured dials. The centerpiece is a delicate pyramid pattern inspired by Clous de Paris, better known as a hobnail pattern, that gives the otherwise simple dials a sense of visual depth and a premium look.

The NJ0250-01A goes for blue Roman numerals and matching blue hands against a silver dial. The NJ0250-01B is more traditional, swapping in black Arabic numerals and hands. Then there’s the NJ0252-05A, which gets a rose gold-colored case, Roman numerals, and hands, along with a brown leather strap.

Citizen has also given the watches a spherical, box-shaped crystal designed to evoke the look of vintage watches. A date window sits at 3 o’clock, while the open caseback offers a view of the movement inside. At 40mm in diameter and 10.7mm thick, all three should wear relatively neatly on the wrist without feeling hefty.

That movement is Citizen’s 8210 automatic caliber, which offers both automatic and manual winding, a 42-hour power reserve, 21 jewels, and a 21,600-vph beat rate. The watches also come with 50-meter (5 ATM) water resistance and Type 1 magnetic resistance.

Pricing & Availability

Part of the Citizen Collection, the new NJ0250-01B and NJ0250-01A watches are priced at ￥38,500 (~$241), while the rose gold NJ0252-05A is slightly more expensive at ¥40,700 (~$255). All three watches are set to launch in Japan on September 10. There’s no word on when the trio will make its way to other markets, including the US and UK. 

Specifications

• Models: NJ0250-01A, NJ0250-01B, NJ0252-05A
• Movement: Citizen Caliber 8210 automatic
• Winding: Automatic and manual winding
• Power reserve: Approximately 42 hours
• Accuracy: -20 to +40 seconds/day
• Case diameter: 40mm
• Case thickness: 10.7mm
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Case finish: Rose gold-color plating on NJ0252-05A
• Crystal: Spherical crystal glass
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Magnetic resistance: Type 1
• Dial: Clous de Paris-inspired pyramid/hobnail pattern
• Strap: Cowhide leather
• Strap width: 19mm
• Caseback: See-through
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
• Beat rate: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz)
• Jewels: 21
• Origin: Made in Japan
• Price: ¥38,500 (NJ0250-01A/01B); ¥40,700 (NJ0252-05A)