When discussing super-affordable entry-level watches with enthusiasts, the name Citizen Tsuyosa is likely to come up. Since the Japanese brand first unveiled the Tsuyosa in 2022, the line has become incredibly popular. Over the past four years, we have seen striking new dial variations of the inaugural 40mm versions, smaller 37mm variations, and a series of small-seconds models. For its newest addition to the lineup, Citizen has transformed the elegant daily wearer into a stylish sports watch. The addition of a rotatable bezel and improved specs has made the new Tsuyosa Shore series another potential fan favorite. I had a chance to learn more about these new watches.
My last experience with a Tsuyosa wasn’t with one of the brand’s regular models. Just a few months ago, I was lucky enough to go hands-on with the fun Citizen × Seconde/Seconde/ Tsuyosa Limited Edition. This whimsical version of the Tsuyosa perfectly captured what I like so much about the series. Both the standard 40mm Tsuyosa and the smaller 37mm series offer elegant daily wearers that feel far more expensive than they actually are. It’s a great accomplishment, and the commercial success only seems to prove that. For its newest series, Citizen is now introducing four watches that take the Tsuyosa into new territory. The new Tsuyosa Shore is a sporty version of the Tsuyosa that will undoubtedly become popular with fans as well.
The story of the new Citizen Tsuyosa Shore series
If you could explain this new series in a few words, most people would say it’s the sports version of the regular Tsuyosa thanks to the addition of a rotatable bezel. And that assessment would not be wrong. But Citizen also bumped up the specs and made this new Tsuyosa Shore ready to take out in the water. The water resistance increased from 50 meters to 100 meters, ensuring the watches are ready for a nice summer adventure, whether on land or in the water. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them dive watches, but they are a great series of sporty summer pieces.
As mentioned, I had a chance to go hands-on with all four new models. They all have the same mid-case as the inaugural Tsuyosa, but the overall case dimensions have slightly changed due to the style changes.
The new case has a 40mm diameter, 12.5mm thickness, and 45mm length. Additionally, it features the signature recessed push-pull crown at 4 o’clock.
The case flows nicely into the usual President-style bracelet. Both elements feature a mix of polished and brushed surfaces, giving the watches a luxurious feel. The bracelet features a folding clasp to secure the watch to your wrist. The overall quality of the bracelet and clasp is decent, but they ensure the watches are very comfortable to wear.
All new watches come with a rotating bezel with an aluminum insert featuring a 60-minute scale. The insert color matches the four dials, each lying underneath a sapphire crystal with a date magnifier. This detail has become another signature element of the Tsuyosa series. The four newly introduced models offer a variety of colors and styles.
The NJ0230-59L combines steel and navy blue, while the NJ0231-56 combines steel and marine blue. The stylish NJ0232-53X is a mix of gold with moss green, and lastly, the NJ0234-58X is a two-tone version with dial and bezel in coral red.
A slightly different dial design
Looking at the dial designs of all four models, the basics remain the same. They all come with a radially brushed sunray dial and applied hour markers. The first change compared to the regular models is the minute track, which now features intricate subdivisions for the seconds. I like this change because it adds a level of visual refinement.
Another update is the handset. Citizen opted for two larger sword-style hands instead of the baton-style hands of the regular models. The lollipop seconds hand also adds a nice touch, and all three hands feature a filling of lume.
Inside the case of all four models, you will find the in-house caliber 8210 that also powers the regular 40mm and 37mm models. The automatic movement operates at 21,600 vph, has 21 jewels, and offers a 40-hour power reserve. Additionally, it features manual winding and hacking. As I have stated in previous reviews, it is a simple yet reliable powertrain for the Tsuyosa collection, making these watches a fun series of daily wearers.
Wearing the new Citizen Tsuyosa Shore series
On the wrist, these new Shore models immediately display how they differ from the regular Tsuyosa. While many of Tsuyosa’s signature elements remain the same, the watches have evolved stylistically into a series of sports pieces. But the Citizen designers have done a great job of integrating that stylistic change and maintaining a great visual balance, making the watches feel nicely proportioned and familiar.
Despite the slightly increased thickness, the watches also sit comfortably on the wrist. The flexible President-style bracelets are super comfortable, and the push-button deployant clasp feels decent and secures the watch to the wrist. The polished center links also carry over from the standard Tsuyosa, providing a nice contrast with the brushed outer links. This is another detail showing that the Tsuyosa Shore is not a hardcore dive watch but, instead, a sporty version of the regular Tsuyosa.
Final thoughts on the new Citizen Tsuyosa Shore series
The new Citizen Tsuyosa series is a fresh take on a familiar recipe. It is a clever move from Citizen that will only further increase the popularity of the Tsuyosa collection. This new series offers a more casual Tsuyosa for people who maybe weren’t sold on the initial series. But a Tsuyosa Shore is also a perfect complement to a regular Tsuyosa, making for a nice duo of watches to wear on different occasions. I could also see myself taking both on summer holidays, with the Tsuyosa Shore as the daytime watch and the regular Tsuyosa as the watch for dinner.
As for the different versions, it’s clear that personal preference will determine the right one for you. I liked the marine-blue version, with its almost-turquoise dial and bezel, the most of the four. It presents a nice, fresh blue shade that works well for this stainless steel model. The gold-plated and two-tone versions are louder on the wrist, making them an acquired taste.
That said, the combination of gold and green looks pretty stylish and was fun to wear. In terms of pricing, the two steel models retail for €329, the two-tone version for €349, and the gold-tone model for €359. All in all, Citizen did a great job creating the new Tsuyosa Shore series. It proves there is plenty more to expect from this popular line, and I can’t wait to find out what the brand will unveil in the future. For now, this will undoubtedly be another hit for Citizen.
Jorg Weppelink
2026-05-12 05:00:00