Citizen’s new world-time chronograph can automatically adjust the time when you travel

Citizen has been steadily expanding its range of radio-controlled watches. Earlier this month, the Japanese watchmaker debuted a trio of affordable radio-controlled Eco-Drive timepieces with Direct Flight and UTC bezel, followed by five moonphase watches that use atomic timekeeping to sync their moonphase displays. Another radio-controlled watch has just landed, and it’s called the Citizen World Chronograph A.T. (AT8260-85X).

The new chronograph combines Citizen’s light-powered Eco-Drive technology with atomic timekeeping and a fairly busy green dial. It features a UTC scale around the perimeter along with city codes for 26 time zones, allowing you to keep track of time around the world without reaching for your phone.

At 43mm, the AT8260-85X is on the larger side, with a stainless steel case that mixes brushed and polished finishing. A matching stainless steel bracelet keeps the watch firmly in traditional chronograph territory, while the polished Dauphine-style hands and sharp, triangular indices lend the timepiece a sophisticated look.

The green dial packs in three vertically arranged subdials, with the chronograph at 6 o'clock capable of measuring elapsed time down to 1/20 of a second for up to 60 minutes. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock, along with indicators for the power reserve (12 o'clock subdial), a 12/24-hour clock at 9 o'clock, and a perpetual calendar.

Apart from the dial color, the AT8260-85X is identical to the World Chronograph references released earlier, such as the white-dialed AT8260-85A and the AT8260-85L with its dark blue dial, and is powered by the same Eco-Drive H800 solar movement.

This radio-controlled movement can automatically adjust the time and calendar in North America, Europe, Japan, and China, and thus can correct itself without requiring manual adjustments, provided it can pick up a local time signal.

As with most Eco-Drive watches, you won't have to engage in regular battery replacement, with the watch being able to power itself by light. You also get 100-meter water resistance suitable for swimming and snorkeling.

Pricing & Availability

The Citizen World Chronograph A.T. AT8260-85X is currently available in the UK for £499 from Citizen's official website. For now, this particular radio-controlled chronograph appears to be exclusive to the UK, and it’s unclear when it will make its way to other markets such as the US and Europe. 

View Citizen Eco-Drive Radio-Controlled Chronograph Blue Angels edition on Amazon

Specifications

• Model: AT8260-85X
• Movement: H800 Eco-Drive
• Functions: Atomic timekeeping, world time, perpetual calendar, 12/24-hour time, power reserve indicator
• Chronograph: 1/20-second chronograph, measures up to 60 minutes
• World time: 26 time zones
• Dial: Green
• Case: Stainless steel, 43mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Bracelet: Stainless steel with fold-over clasp and push buttons
• Water resistance: 100 meters / 10 bar
• Radio control: Global radio-controlled timekeeping with synchronized time adjustment
• Price: £499