Citizen's new compact Eco-Drive limited-editions get mother-of-pearl dials, lab-grown diamonds

Citizen has two more xC limited editions coming. Together, they take the brand's anniversary count to six.

The ES9468-60D arrives November 5 at 148,500 yen, around $941. The ES9431-51D comes on December 3 at 110,000 yen, roughly $697. Both are capped at 1,200 pieces worldwide, the smallest runs xC has announced this year.

xC launched in 1996 and turns 30 in 2026. Citizen has been keeping it replenished with new launches all year. A Sakura model in March at 2,200 pieces, a daichi Happy Flight in August at 1,300, then two Midnight Voyage references on October 8 at 1,400 and 1,500. Add these two and the anniversary comes to 8,800 watches.

The expensive one here is also the stranger one. Citizen has built the ES9468-60D from Super Titanium, finished it in Duratect Sakura Pink, and set a lab-grown diamond into the middle of its domed sapphire. The white mother-of-pearl dial is etched with ice crystals. The case runs 29.0 mm across and 9.1 mm thick, and it holds 5 bar.

The cheaper ES9431-51D is steel under Duratect Platinum, 25.0 mm across and 7.2 mm thick, and it holds 10 bar. The watch costing 38,500 yen less is thinner and rated to twice the depth, but to be fair, these aren't going a 100 meters underneath regardless. Six lab-grown diamonds are present on its lace-pattern bezel, one of them at nine o'clock alongside three cut parts at ten, which Citizen says spell out 30.

Both these timepieces are powered by Caliber H060. That gets you Eco-Drive, radio sync across Japan, China, Europe and America, a perpetual calendar, Direct Flight, world time across 24 zones and Perfex. Accuracy is plus or minus 15 seconds a month with no signal, and a full charge lasts about three years in power save.

Both dials use partly recycled components, and both are made in Japan.