Seiko or Citizen?

[ctrph]

Hi everyone,

looking for a little advice or opinion, stuck between these two watches.

The seiko:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Analogue-Automatic-...

The citizen:

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/9157318

[anonymous-user]

Both nice but totally different.
Love my Seiko automatic. Gains say 10 seconds a day & will stop if not worn for a day or so,
My latest titanium Citizen eco drive is 100% accurate. Never stops if left in light. Great watch for the £100 or so I paid for it in sales. It Just works, I have 2. Oldest is 15 years old & still going strong!

[anonymous-user]

I have both of these. Both radio controlled so keep perfect time all the time. Great for daily wear as they are relatively inexpensive but look good and keep time better than my Breitling which cost 20 x more.

[sad61t]

Agree with Jimboka.

The Citizen is the better time keeper, is quartz and can be worn intermittently. The Seiko is a mechanical watch, needs to be worn to be kept wound and generally requires more interaction.

[simonr100]

Just wait a few days for Christmas and you may find one in your Christmas cracker......

[wong]

I have several dive watches.
I have the Citizen BN0100 (in both silver and Rose gold), two SKX007's, a Seiko Orange Monster (skx779) and recently got a Citizen BN0151.

The Seiko you picked is a '5' (ie not a 'proper' ISO rated dive watch) and only waterproof to 100m. However it as automatic and looks good with a day and date. Seikos tend to have the day in two languages and take several hours ~ 01.00am-04.00am to roll over. I have no experience of this watch, however, Seiko 5s are a step down from the Seiko skx007 (also automatic) which is the MX5 of the watch world.

The Citizen is an excellent watch. It's a solar quartz with all its advantages (accuracy, don't need to change battery for >10 years) and disadvantages - lack of Kudos). The bracelet is the best I've seen at this price point, solid end links, machined clasp links and an ingenious extension ratchet that extends in ~ 2mm steps up to ~ 1.5cm. It has raised minute markers!!!!! I've seen this on several Grand Seiko's ,but most dive watches only have printed dials. The bad points - it takes 23mm straps (most replacement straps are 22 or 24mm - may not be relevant if you don't intend to change the bracelet. But a lot of dive watches look good on Natos, rubber or even rugged leather straps.

Of the two watches you chose, I would definitaly pick the Citizen. Compared against the skx 007, then the choice is more difficult. (the skx jubilee bracelet is crap - rattly, no dive extension and most people source an after market super oyster bracelet, the rubber strap is marginaly less bad - stiff, too long for most).

I liked the Citizen so much, that I got the rose gold version as well. Later when I wanted a blue diver it was Citizen v Seiko again and I got the BN0151 - the bezel felt more precise, but the blue rubber strap is a bit naff.

[NDA]

I have a Citizen world time eco drive - perfect for travelling and sets itself daily on a radio signal.... never have to adjust the time or date and it's simple to change to local time. Also it should never need a battery.

Amazing technology.

I generally wear a mechanical watch, but a big vote for Citizens.

[ctrph]

simonr100 said:

Just wait a few days for Christmas and you may find one in your Christmas cracker......

There won't be one waiting for me tomorrow.

wong, thank you for the in depth reply. I'm not bothered about their ability as dive watches, I just liked the style of both of these. I'm swaying more towards the citizen now and will probably treat myself in the new year.

[nammynake]

I’m thinking of buying the following with radio controlled time. Apparently the signal comes from Germany. Does anyone know if this is within range of the UK ( Yorkshire) for getting reliable automatic updates?

I specifically wanted a strap rather than bracelet and like the simple design. What does everyone think for £369 ?

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/mens-eco-drive-stai...

[NDA]

nammynake said:

I’m thinking of buying the following with radio controlled time. Apparently the signal comes from Germany. Does anyone know if this is within range of the UK ( Yorkshire) for getting reliable automatic updates?

I specifically wanted a strap rather than bracelet and like the simple design. What does everyone think for £369 ?

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/mens-eco-drive-stai...

I can't comment specifically on Yorkshire - but I have this watch in my collection and it receives the signal perfectly well in the south of England. It's a clever thing, never needs a battery and never needs adjusting and has a perpetual calendar too of course.

It receives (or looks for) the signal once a day (at 2am I think) - although you can force it to look and you can confirm it's received the latest signal at any time.

[nammynake]

Thank you. The difference in distance from Germany to Yorkshire and the South must be similar - I think I’ll take a punt.

[peterg1955]

nammynake said:

I’m thinking of buying the following with radio controlled time. Apparently the signal comes from Germany. Does anyone know if this is within range of the UK ( Yorkshire) for getting reliable automatic updates?

I specifically wanted a strap rather than bracelet and like the simple design. What does everyone think for £369 ?

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/mens-eco-drive-stai...

Radio controlled watches connect to atomic clocks to make sure that the time kept on your watch is as precise as it can possibly be. Citizen claim that their radio controlled watches have a margin of error of just one second in 100,000 years. Radio controlled watches regularly connect to local atomic clock transmitters to make sure that they stay as precise as possible.

There are transmitters for atomic clocks all around the world, so your watch will connect to the nearest one you are within range of. You will usually need to be within 500km and 1,500km of a transmitter to be able to connect to it. Many radio controlled watches, including those from Citizen, will connect to an atomic transmitter at night time. This ensures that the your watch does not interfere with household appliances on the same frequency and that your watch is as correct as possible when you use it on the morning.

[seefarr]

peterg1955 said:

This ensures that the your watch does not interfere with household appliances on the same frequency

The watches don't transmit a signal, they only receive. Citizen say they synchronise "In the middle of the night when the noise from smartphones is at a minimum".

https://www.citizenwatch-global.com/technologies/r...

[NDA]

nammynake said:

Thank you. The difference in distance from Germany to Yorkshire and the South must be similar - I think I’ll take a punt.

Great, let us know how you get on.... I rarely wear mine because I have a few other watches, but I do like it. It's the perfect watch for travelling and I do like the fact it's always 100% accurate.

From memory it is waterproof, although it doesn't have a screw down crown.

[nammynake]

NDA said:

Great, let us know how you get on.... I rarely wear mine because I have a few other watches, but I do like it. It's the perfect watch for travelling and I do like the fact it's always 100% accurate.

From memory it is waterproof, although it doesn't have a screw down crown.

Order placed - found it for a relative bargain (IMO) for £212.99 with free next day delivery. I’ll report back tomorrow!