Citizen Eco-drive recommendations please
Discussion
I spend a lot of time lusting after expensive watches, and also some more budget friendly ones too, like Steinhart, Magrette, some Seiko...
Current collection is a Tissot chrono, Casio F91w, Seiko 5, Skagen something or other, all bought before I had taken a keen interest in watches and the engineering of them, bar the 5, which was a bargain.
I’m after something to wear every day that’s a bit more substantial and stylish than my Seiko 5. I work in engineering and it will get knocked about a bit so while I’ve considered something like a Longines Hydroconquest or a lower end TAG Heuer for every day wear, I would feel more comfortable spending less - at least for now, so looking between 1-350 pounds for a daily watch.
I like all kinds of styles of watch but usually divers, and I was reading a bit about the clever eco-drives today which got me interested, and they’re supposed to be very reliable.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5385878
I like the one linked to above as it has a slight hint of Breitling Superocean with the mesh strap etc.. good reviews.
Id be interested to hear if anyone have another model of Eco-drive they could recommend at all, or any other well made alternatives I may not have thought about
Current collection is a Tissot chrono, Casio F91w, Seiko 5, Skagen something or other, all bought before I had taken a keen interest in watches and the engineering of them, bar the 5, which was a bargain.
I’m after something to wear every day that’s a bit more substantial and stylish than my Seiko 5. I work in engineering and it will get knocked about a bit so while I’ve considered something like a Longines Hydroconquest or a lower end TAG Heuer for every day wear, I would feel more comfortable spending less - at least for now, so looking between 1-350 pounds for a daily watch.
I like all kinds of styles of watch but usually divers, and I was reading a bit about the clever eco-drives today which got me interested, and they’re supposed to be very reliable.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5385878
I like the one linked to above as it has a slight hint of Breitling Superocean with the mesh strap etc.. good reviews.
Id be interested to hear if anyone have another model of Eco-drive they could recommend at all, or any other well made alternatives I may not have thought about
Edited by CX53 on Saturday 5th October 18:37
My Orient diver was around your budget and I’ve worn it every day the last 2 years and it’s still in good shape and looks nice IMO.
I also have a Citizen red arrows which is a lovely thing, I should wear it more.
You can’t go wrong with a Seiko Monster of some kind, bit more substantial than your 5 bit similarly well made for the money.
I also have a Citizen red arrows which is a lovely thing, I should wear it more.
You can’t go wrong with a Seiko Monster of some kind, bit more substantial than your 5 bit similarly well made for the money.
I've owned a few Eco-drive watches over the past 10+ years, and still own a couple after thinning my collection down from 100+.
I work from home now, and only wear a watch when I go out. My daily is my late father's Eco-drive that he bought about 5 or 6 years ago. It's ideal for my usage pattern - just leave it on the window sill, and it's ready to go even if it's not been worn for a few days.
All of them have been trouble-free, except for one (Blue Angels Skyhawk, bought secondhand quite a few years ago) which wouldn't charge up after being left in the dark for about a year. I sent it off for repair, needed a new solar cell panel. This was replaced, along with the rechargeable battery, for less than £50.
As far as quartz watches go, I don't think you can beat Citizen for quality and reliability at the price.
I work from home now, and only wear a watch when I go out. My daily is my late father's Eco-drive that he bought about 5 or 6 years ago. It's ideal for my usage pattern - just leave it on the window sill, and it's ready to go even if it's not been worn for a few days.
All of them have been trouble-free, except for one (Blue Angels Skyhawk, bought secondhand quite a few years ago) which wouldn't charge up after being left in the dark for about a year. I sent it off for repair, needed a new solar cell panel. This was replaced, along with the rechargeable battery, for less than £50.
As far as quartz watches go, I don't think you can beat Citizen for quality and reliability at the price.
I have an Eco-drive from an Amazon Christmas sale some years ago (maybe 10?). It is my going-to-the-woods watch. Hasn't had an issue in all that time. I didn't like the strap though so put a black metal one on.
My Seiko kinetik is prettier but needs a new battery at about the same age.
My Seiko kinetik is prettier but needs a new battery at about the same age.
I’ve been wearing a Rolex Milgauss everyday, near enough, for some years.
I’ve said on here in the past that I’ve given up on ‘cheap’ watches because they just don’t last long. (Tried Skagen, various lesser names)
Anyway, Milgauss is in for a service, taking a couple of months, so bought an Eco Drive Red Arrows for £140 ( on a Jet2 flight, 20% off their usual discounted price). Seem to be about twice that on the high street.
Quite pleased with it so far; very accurate, feels good, looks fine ( though second hand and other features are a bit small for me).
They do seem to have a good reputation for quality and accuracy.
I’ve said on here in the past that I’ve given up on ‘cheap’ watches because they just don’t last long. (Tried Skagen, various lesser names)
Anyway, Milgauss is in for a service, taking a couple of months, so bought an Eco Drive Red Arrows for £140 ( on a Jet2 flight, 20% off their usual discounted price). Seem to be about twice that on the high street.
Quite pleased with it so far; very accurate, feels good, looks fine ( though second hand and other features are a bit small for me).
They do seem to have a good reputation for quality and accuracy.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th October 10:08
All cheap watches don’t last? You clearly haven’t ever bought and worn a Seiko for any length of time.
Not popular around these parts but I wore a ‘cheap’ around £700 at the time TAG Heuer almost every day including to work in a hands on job for 15 years and it’s still going great and worn very well.
The Citizen’s look nice to be fair, but they just don’t do it for me personally. I’d have to go for a Seiko at this price point.
Not popular around these parts but I wore a ‘cheap’ around £700 at the time TAG Heuer almost every day including to work in a hands on job for 15 years and it’s still going great and worn very well.
The Citizen’s look nice to be fair, but they just don’t do it for me personally. I’d have to go for a Seiko at this price point.
My wife bought me a Citizen eco drive Chrono about 25 years ago. I wore it every day and seriously abused it as my hobby was restoring cars or motorcycles Consequently, it got scratched, welding spatter on the glass, the case and a huge blob on the bracelet. It has more scratches than any other watch in the entire history of horology! In fact, I recall once catching it between the positive terminal of a battery and the body of the car which caused it to flash weld itself to the two parts and also weld my wrist to it, which was unbelievably painful.
It is still running, still keeps totally accurate time and is still worn if I am doing anything where a 'decent' watch is likely to get damaged. The only concession to its age and eco-drive(ness) is that I leave it in direct sunshine all the time. It is utterly wrecked and yet it can go for over a year without being worn or adjusted (even for daylight saving time) and when I put it on, it is always correct though the day is frequently wrong
I cannot recommend these watches strongly enough.
It is still running, still keeps totally accurate time and is still worn if I am doing anything where a 'decent' watch is likely to get damaged. The only concession to its age and eco-drive(ness) is that I leave it in direct sunshine all the time. It is utterly wrecked and yet it can go for over a year without being worn or adjusted (even for daylight saving time) and when I put it on, it is always correct though the day is frequently wrong
I cannot recommend these watches strongly enough.
Red Cupra said:
All cheap watches don’t last? You clearly haven’t ever bought and worn a Seiko for any length of time.
Not popular around these parts but I wore a ‘cheap’ around £700 at the time TAG Heuer almost every day including to work in a hands on job for 15 years and it’s still going great and worn very well.
The Citizen’s look nice to be fair, but they just don’t do it for me personally. I’d have to go for a Seiko at this price point.
Fair point, no I haven’t had a Seiko since the 80s!Not popular around these parts but I wore a ‘cheap’ around £700 at the time TAG Heuer almost every day including to work in a hands on job for 15 years and it’s still going great and worn very well.
The Citizen’s look nice to be fair, but they just don’t do it for me personally. I’d have to go for a Seiko at this price point.
I should clarify; the cheap watches I’ve had haven’t lasted.
I have a very modest collection of watches ranging from some HMT ebay franken classic manual wind thing which cost £16 plus postage, up to a new Omega Speedmaster Professional moon watch. My daily is a £300 Steinhart OVM which is very robust but I have a Citizen EcoDrive as my travel watch. I wanted a world timer function but didn't have the funds for one of the more luxury pieces. It only gets used when I fly which is mainly once or twice a month. It gets kept in a dark watch box most of the time but it's very reliable and accurate. I don't have to touch it other than to set the date now and then. Mrs Toon bought me it for £229. Absolute bargain considering it has a chrono function too. I can highly recommend for the price.
I have two. A "Stiletto" model with ultra thin hands, no second hand, really thin case (3mm?). Amazing in its simplicity, the face has a slight sheen to it so it looks like a normal face but it's actually a solar panel!?
I also have this military style watch:
Now on a black nato with black hardware, obvs.
I am a bit concerned that enemy troops will spot the white date when I'm on sniper duty, though.
And then call me out for being a camper.
I also have this military style watch:
Now on a black nato with black hardware, obvs.
I am a bit concerned that enemy troops will spot the white date when I'm on sniper duty, though.
And then call me out for being a camper.
Controversial, but if you spend a lot of time lusting after luxury watches, why not stick your £300 down on something special and pay the rest 0%. You only live once, and for less than the average monthly cost of a mobile phone contract, you could have something lovely to wear for years to come.
Rado ceramic watches are particularly good at taking some stick worn to work every day
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Rado-Diamaster-Mens-W...
or maybe try something like this:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Longines-HydroConques...
Rado ceramic watches are particularly good at taking some stick worn to work every day
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Rado-Diamaster-Mens-W...
or maybe try something like this:
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Longines-HydroConques...
CX53 said:
I spend a lot of time lusting after expensive watches, and also some more budget friendly ones too, like Steinhart, Magrette, some Seiko...
Current collection is a Tissot chrono, Casio F91w, Seiko 5, Skagen something or other, all bought before I had taken a keen interest in watches and the engineering of them, bar the 5, which was a bargain.
I’m after something to wear every day that’s a bit more substantial and stylish than my Seiko 5. I work in engineering and it will get knocked about a bit so while I’ve considered something like a Longines Hydroconquest or a lower end TAG Heuer for every day wear, I would feel more comfortable spending less - at least for now, so looking between 1-350 pounds for a daily watch.
I like all kinds of styles of watch but usually divers, and I was reading a bit about the clever eco-drives today which got me interested, and they’re supposed to be very reliable.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5385878
I like the one linked to above as it has a slight hint of Breitling Superocean with the mesh strap etc.. good reviews.
Id be interested to hear if anyone have another model of Eco-drive they could recommend at all, or any other well made alternatives I may not have thought about
My main watch is a Citizen eco drive perpetual calendar with the sapphire crystal glass. It's been the best watch I ever had and it's accuracy is, well ridiculous for the price it cost. I doubt any Rolex or omega is more accurate plus the world time feature is great for traveling. The luminous markers also great.Current collection is a Tissot chrono, Casio F91w, Seiko 5, Skagen something or other, all bought before I had taken a keen interest in watches and the engineering of them, bar the 5, which was a bargain.
I’m after something to wear every day that’s a bit more substantial and stylish than my Seiko 5. I work in engineering and it will get knocked about a bit so while I’ve considered something like a Longines Hydroconquest or a lower end TAG Heuer for every day wear, I would feel more comfortable spending less - at least for now, so looking between 1-350 pounds for a daily watch.
I like all kinds of styles of watch but usually divers, and I was reading a bit about the clever eco-drives today which got me interested, and they’re supposed to be very reliable.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5385878
I like the one linked to above as it has a slight hint of Breitling Superocean with the mesh strap etc.. good reviews.
Id be interested to hear if anyone have another model of Eco-drive they could recommend at all, or any other well made alternatives I may not have thought about
Edited by CX53 on Saturday 5th October 18:37
10/10 for me
Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Watch with Black Dial Analogue Display and Stainless Steel Bracelet, CB0020-50E https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0045TI0UO/ref=cm_sw_r...
Edited by ericmcn on Monday 7th October 11:41
loquacious said:
My wife bought me a Citizen eco drive Chrono about 25 years ago. I wore it every day and seriously abused it as my hobby was restoring cars or motorcycles Consequently, it got scratched, welding spatter on the glass, the case and a huge blob on the bracelet. It has more scratches than any other watch in the entire history of horology! In fact, I recall once catching it between the positive terminal of a battery and the body of the car which caused it to flash weld itself to the two parts and also weld my wrist to it, which was unbelievably painful.
It is still running, still keeps totally accurate time and is still worn if I am doing anything where a 'decent' watch is likely to get damaged. The only concession to its age and eco-drive(ness) is that I leave it in direct sunshine all the time. It is utterly wrecked and yet it can go for over a year without being worn or adjusted (even for daylight saving time) and when I put it on, it is always correct though the day is frequently wrong
I cannot recommend these watches strongly enough.
I'd love to see a pic, I like beaten up watches that are still going strong, I saw a Speedy owned by a welder in Australia that was wrecked and still running.It is still running, still keeps totally accurate time and is still worn if I am doing anything where a 'decent' watch is likely to get damaged. The only concession to its age and eco-drive(ness) is that I leave it in direct sunshine all the time. It is utterly wrecked and yet it can go for over a year without being worn or adjusted (even for daylight saving time) and when I put it on, it is always correct though the day is frequently wrong
I cannot recommend these watches strongly enough.
ETA pic
Edited by bingybongy on Monday 7th October 12:59
I have a couple of ECO drive watches. Very good quality and value. Keep in a glass topped watch box to maintain charge. When changing the time in Spring and Autumn, they are only 2-5 seconds out. Some models are complicated to set up. Love the way they go to sleep under your cuff, and catch up when you look at the time.
How about a nice Eco-Drive divers watch, the BN001. Currently my favourite watch since purchasing a few months ago. Put it on a cheap nato and it is perfect for everyday use and I really like the flat crystal being somewhat protected by the bezel.
It is available from Argos for £149.99. I managed to get it when it was on sale there for £119 - bargain!
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9157318
It is available from Argos for £149.99. I managed to get it when it was on sale there for £119 - bargain!
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9157318
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