Citizen's new stainless-steel atomic Eco-Drive chronograph debuts in the US with sapphire

Citizen has finally brought the AT8260-85X to the US at $675, five weeks after the green-dialled world-time chronograph went on sale in Britain as a UK exclusive. It is listed as new on Citizen's US store, orderable now — delivery is quoted from 17 September.

The UK figure is 499 pounds including 20% VAT, which leaves 415.83 before tax, or about $562. The US $675 excludes sales tax. On a like-for-like basis American buyers pay roughly 20% more for the same watch. Put another way, $675 is almost exactly what 499 pounds converts to gross, so the US price matches Britain's tax-inclusive figure before American sales tax is added at the till.

It is the same pattern Citizen followed with the BJ6570-50E and its siblings, which reached the US at a gap of well over $100 against their British prices. Also, the two markets do not even use the same name. Citizen UK sells it as the World Chronograph A.T.; Citizen US lists it as "Sport Luxury" and tags it a store exclusive. The reference is the same.

Powering the watch is the H800 Eco-Drive, a light-powered radio-controlled movement that receives time signals in North America, Europe, Japan and China and corrects time and calendar automatically across 26 time zones. The chronograph reads to a twentieth of a second across 60 minutes, and the dial adds a perpetual calendar, 12/24-hour display, power reserve indicator and date.

The case is 43 mm of silver-tone stainless steel under sapphire, on a steel bracelet closing with a fold-over clasp and push buttons. Water resistance is 100 m. Citizen scopes that to swimming, showering and snorkelling rather than diving.

Buy the Citizen AT2387-52E on Amazon.