Citizen unveils new compact radio-controlled watch with titanium case, preorders now open

Citizen has added a black-dialled reference to its xC hikari collection Square 2way line. The ES9503-01E is listed at ¥110,000 including tax, or about $704, and is scheduled for release in Japan on 10 September. Preorders are open on Citizen's Japanese store.

The case is Super Titanium finished in Duratect Amber Yellow, a gold-toned surface treatment, measuring 25 mm across and 7.8 mm thick. On its cowhide strap the watch weighs only 21 g. Citizen has included sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating and rates the watch to 5 bar. The dial itself is black — it's textured with a radiating pattern Citizen describes as depicting emitted light, and carries white Roman numerals. Yellow gold-coloured faceted parts sit at the 12, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. The hands are luminous.

The watch is powered by the caliber H060, an Eco-Drive movement with radio reception covering transmitters in Japan, China, the United States and Europe. Citizen quotes accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds a month when the watch is running without a signal, and a whopping three years of operation from a full charge with power save engaged. The function list features a perpetual calendar, world time across 24 zones, summer time adjustment, Direct Flight time zone setting via the crown, and Citizen's Perfex package covering JIS class 1 magnetic resistance, shock detection and automatic hand correction.

The 2way in the model name refers to the strap. A second cowhide band ships in the box as well; it is different in texture from the fitted one, and the case uses an interchangeable fitting to swap between them. Band width is 14 mm, adjustable between 124 and 174 mm.

The watch is made in Japan and covered by a three-year international warranty, extended to five years within Japan for buyers who register with 'My Citizen' inside the first year.

Buy the Citizen BH1673-50E on Amazon.