Citizen's new "Sacred Morning in the Forest" limited edition Eco-Drive features a stunning blue dial

Alongside the Attesa Ever Since limited-edition moon phase, Citizen has announced another watch inspired by a crisp winter morning. The new Exceed CB1140-79L “Sacred Morning in the Forest” is part of Citizen’s high-end dress watch lineup, which caters primarily to the Japanese domestic market. And while it might look like a fairly traditional dress watch at first glance, its dial has a few tricks up its sleeve.

The watch is part of Citizen’s 2026 DEAR Collection, a pair-watch series built around the idea of spending time with someone you love. Its deep blue dial features a gradient that shifts from a lighter shade around the edges to a darker, almost midnight-blue center. 

A fine layer of glitter gives it a crystalline shimmer, while a subtle forest-inspired pattern evokes trees silhouetted against the morning sky. The lighter blue inner bezel, meanwhile, is meant to capture the first rays of sunlight reflecting off mist drifting across a lake.

Silver-tone hour markers, a mix of Roman numerals and batons, and faceted hands keep things looking suitably dressy. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock, along with markings around the dial for the watch’s radio-controlled timekeeping functions. A sapphire crystal with Citizen’s Clarity Coating sits on top to keep reflections in check.

The CB1140-79L has a 38mm Super Titanium case that measures just 7mm thick, making it even slimmer than the Exceed “Arrow of Oath” that Citizen launched in January—though still nowhere near the razor-thin Eco-Drive One. That watch had an 8.5mm profile, so the new model shaves off another 1.5mm. The case and integrated bracelet feature Citizen’s Duratect Platinum surface treatment, giving them a bright silver finish while keeping the watch lightweight and scratch-resistant.

The slimmer profile also necessitated a change of caliber. The Eco-Drive H149 caliber that Citizen used inside the Arrow of Oath’s Eco-Drive H149 is only designed for standard slim profiles, 9.3mm to 8mm thick cases. For the latest model, Citizen went with the H147 caliber, which is designed primarily for ultra-thin dress watches but is otherwise identical to the H149 in terms of features and specifications.

Eco-Drive tech means you won’t have to worry about regular battery changes. You also get radio-controlled timekeeping across Japan, China, Europe, and the US, plus a perpetual calendar and 26-time-zone world time.

Pricing & Availability

The Citizen Exceed “Sacred Morning in the Forest” is limited to 500 units and goes on sale in Japan on November 5 for ¥187,000 (around $1,180). It’s a Japan-exclusive release, but buyers in the US and UK should be able to import one through retailers like Sakura Watches. It’s also a fair bit more expensive than the Arrow of Oath, which launched in January for ¥132,000.

Citizen CB1140-79L "Sacred Morning in the Forest: Specifications

• Limited edition: 500 units
• Case size: 38mm
• Case thickness: 7mm
• Case material: Super Titanium
• Case finish: Duratect Platinum
• Dial: Blue gradient with glitter accents and a forest-inspired pattern
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal with Clarity Coating
• Movement: Citizen H147 Eco-Drive
• Power source: Solar-powered
• Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month when not receiving radio signals
• Timekeeping: Radio-controlled timekeeping in Japan, China, Europe, and the US
• World time: 26 time zones with Direct Flight functionality
• Calendar: Date display and perpetual calendar
• Power reserve: Approximately two years with power-saving mode activated
• Bracelet: Super Titanium with a three-fold push-button clasp
• Water resistance: Daily-use water resistance
• Magnetic resistance: Type 1