Citizen's new limited-edition "Ana-Digi Temp" watches blend retro-futuristic flair with playful nostalgia

There was a time when cramming as much tech as possible into a wristwatch felt like the future. In the early ’80s, Citizen’s Ana-Digi Temp did exactly that, pairing analog hands with LCD screens, alarms, and a thermometer. In 2026, Citizen is bringing its cult favorite watch back with two new limited edition models under its Record Label Playground Edition line, and they’re just as joyfully weird.

The reissue models don’t mess with the formula. You still get that aircraft cockpit instrument-style layout featuring multiple analog sub-dials, digital displays, and the Thermo Sensor. What’s new is the color. The JG2170-59Y is the most attention-grabbing of the two, featuring a striking bright yellow dial with round sub-dials. The temperature sensor and Ana-Digi Temp branding are prominently placed beneath the display.

Then there’s the JG2120-73L with an aqua blue dial, which offers square sub-dials inside a slightly larger 33.4mm case. It skips the vintage logo on the front and integrates the temperature sensor into the dial. Unlike the yellow model, it sports a separate bezel—which is why it’s slightly thicker at 9.7mm vs 8mm—and decorative holes in its stainless steel band.

Both models feature a specialized luminous dial that steals the show. Once charged by ambient light, the vibrant, pop-color faces emit a soft, continuous glow in the dark, a playful twist that feels straight out of a ’90s gadget catalog. On the inside, you are getting the reliable quartz Caliber 8989 movement with a two-year battery life. It powers a suite of timekeeping features, including a dual time display, a 1/1000-second chronograph, daily alarms, a perpetual calendar, and that famously quirky temperature sensor.

Limited to 500 units each, the Citizen Record Label Playground Edition will be sold exclusively in Japan. The yellow model will set you back ￥36,300 (~$232) while the blue model costs ￥40,700 (~$261). Both watches will be up for grabs on March 12 from Citizen’s online store and official retail channels.