Review: Citizen Attesa Shades of Red Super Titanium

Superlatives are thrown around often in watch conversations. We all enjoy videos like “the best” dive watches under $1000. When chatting with our friends we love to declare bracelets to be the most comfortable and dials to be the easiest to read. But if we are being honest with ourselves, that exaggerated language is often used to capture our fleeting excitement about great (though not necessarily the best) watches before moving onto the next shiny thing.

When exaggerated language fueled by initial infatuation seeps into reviews and forums, it has a tendency to leave fellow enthusiasts feeling misled when they accept it as truth and hit the buy button only to be let down by reality. I bring this up because, after having been burned myself, honesty and grounded language are top priorities when I sit down to write a review. But in full disclosure, I found myself smitten as soon as I unboxed the Limited Edition Attesa Shades of Red Super Titanium from Citizen. It wasn’t until I found myself questioning design choices after a few days of wear that I finally felt ready to put pen to paper without that honeymoon phase bias. Unsurprisingly from the photos of this watch that are stunning yet don’t fully capture its depth, my first jottings focused on the dial. 

The Watch

On March 3rd a total lunar eclipse was visible across all of Japan, an event Citizen commemorated with two “Shades of Red” watches inspired by the red moon visible during totality. The watch that has me so enamored is one of these, a new addition to Citizen’s luxury Attesa collection, based on the line’s flagship model and powered by the highly capable F950. 

The captivating dial on the limited edition (1,800 pieces worldwide, priced at $2,195) Shades of Red is achieved by layering a red dial over a mother-of-pearl base. And while it often does present with a crimson hue matching the eclipse that inspired it, the dial could more accurately be described as a chameleon- alternating between pink, red, purple and even green depending on the light, and sometimes all of them at once. While full, it feels notably balanced, a formula that begins with the brand name applied at the 12:00. Two printed lines of text sit below, appearing to float between the layers. “Printed” tends to carry negative connotations of being flatter and cheaper than applied. In the case of the Attesa, the print looks premium and (whether intentional or not) has an anti-gravity feeling that suits the cosmic motif.

Without minimizing the functionality that may be a primary draw for many collectors, this new Attesa is so packed full of complications that it’s probably best to simply list them: GPS satellite timekeeping with automatic time sync, world time across 27 cities and 40 time zones, dual time display, universal coordinated time display, perpetual calendar, 1/20 second chronograph, power reserve indicator, light level indicator and an alarm. Oh yeah, and a date complication. The display of this seemingly endless functionality is rooted in a commitment to refinement that exceeds what is found in other Citizen models such as the capable and attainably priced Promaster line, a step-up that is reflected (appropriately, in my opinion) in its four digit MSRP. 

Try using the worldtimer and you’re bound to get distracted by how the sapphire bezel can change from deep red to dark purple in an instant. According to Citizen, the out of this world effect is appropriately inspired by interstellar clouds of dust and gas. Read the date and you’ll see a window that isn’t framed in the traditional sense, but rather beveled, allowing the red and mother-of-pearl layers to frame the date in constantly shifting colors depending on the light. Even reading the time feels special thanks to five minute markers that hover above the dial and generously lumed hands that contrast nicely between both the matte texture of the purple triple register layout and the reflective main dial. 

My time with the Shades of Red Attesa was greatly enhanced by the fact that I could interact with Citizen’s Caliber F950 without worry of causing damage. Mechanical watches with many complications, while admittedly easy to romanticize, are inherently finicky and aren’t really something to play with. Heck, even changing the date out of the “safety zone” on a mechanical watch carries some risk. Many enthusiasts are averse to quartz movements of any kind due to their perceived lack mystique and charm, which I totally understand after having shared a similar sentiment for many years. But for anyone open to having their opinions challenged, the Shades of Red Attesa is about the most compelling counterpoint out there. First, there is an allure to operating a caliber that doesn’t feel fragile. And, while we tend to romanticize wheels and springs that don’t need batteries, what’s more romantic than the idea of a watch that’s powered by light that uses GPS satellite signals to automatically adjust time in any location on earth?

After my initial fascination with the chameleon nature of the dial faded and the novelty of playing with complications most people will never use subsided, it was the case and bracelet that had the biggest impact on my experience. As enthusiasts we tend to focus on aesthetics and functionality, but in the grand scheme of things, the time we spend looking at and interacting with our watches is minimal compared to the time our watches spend sitting unused on our wrists. Despite this being the largest watch I’ve ever reviewed at 44.6mm and about 15.4mm thick, thanks to the inherent lightweight nature of Citizen’s Super Titanium and design choices like aggressively downward sloping lugs, it was still one of the least obtrusive. It usually takes a couple of days for a new watch to feel at home on my wrist, but it was easy to forget I was wearing the Attesa almost immediately. And, between the proprietary scratch resistant coating and the 100 meters of water resistance, I never felt the need to baby it as I washed dishes and passed through door frames. 

While titanium is becoming more prevalent and affordable, it often looks like, well, titanium. It’s grey, and can appear a bit dull and sometimes even dingy. I was happy to learn that Citizen’s DLC coated Super Titanium hides fingerprints with ease and overall has a premium feel. Crisp angles, such as on a jutting crown guard and dramatically faceted lugs, carry over from the case to the bracelet, resulting in a complete and cohesive feeling package. This transition starts with male end links (which feature multiple angles that seamlessly line up with the lugs- my favorite minor detail on the entire watch) and do add considerable length to the lug to lug, but because the grade matches that of the downturned lugs, I didn’t notice any negative impact on wearability. While a full titanium bracelet in itself is an admirable undertaking, to do so with H links that are flat in the center and rounded on the edges really takes it to another level. The result is a bracelet that not only offers superb articulation, but that also manages to catch the light at any angle in any environment. As one minor gripe, I’m really not sure there is an excuse to not offer any form of micro adjustment in 2026. I understand Citizen isn’t going to adapt a NodeX like many microbrands have and that using a proprietary material like Super Titanium may be an obstacle, but I wouldn’t say no to a couple of old school holes in the side of the deployant clasp.

Final Thoughts

Reviews of Citizen watches tend to share common themes of impressive value and applauding functionality. This is the third Citizen I’ve reviewed, making it the third time I’ve grappled with how to share a laundry list of complications without writing a novel and the third time I’ve danced around the cliché (though accurate) “punches above its weight”. 

But value and functionality aren’t my main takeaways. What I’m really thinking about as I reflect on my test drive is why the Attesa collection was previously barely on my radar, and why it’s not regularly discussed as a top contender by collectors seeking luxury quartz, unique dials, or both. Just as it did previously for Grand Seiko, enthusiast sentiment seems to be shifting to embrace Citizen as a brand worth paying luxury prices for at times. Citizen’s The Citizen collection (also Super Titanium) seems to be leading that charge. They are great watches no doubt that tap into the emerging dress watch trend. But considering an Attesa with a time-tested sporty layout and significantly more functionality can be had for about half the price, I can’t help but feel it’s often overlooked. Maybe it’s because of the considerable size, or maybe I’ve been living under a rock and visiting the wrong forums. If you disagree or agree with this take, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

I naively went into this review thinking I knew the brand and couldn’t be surprised. I’m pleased to admit I was wildly wrong on both counts, and it probably comes as no surprise that my eBay alerts have been updated to find an Attesa of my own. Keeping in mind my commitment to honesty, it’s not an exaggeration to say by every interpretation, the Attesa is a great watch. And, if things like finishing, functionality and use of technology in watchmaking are important to you, hyperbole aside, it’s not a stretch to say it’s one of the best watches out there. Citizen