When I read the press information for the Citizen Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition, I couldn’t believe it has been five decades since the Japanese brand introduced its first Eco-Drive-powered watch. That’s especially surprising when I put it into personal perspective, as it happened a year before I was born. In my mind, Eco-Drive technology still feels very fresh and relevant. The fact that it is still one of Citizen’s key technological achievements half a century after its introduction is evidence of this. To celebrate this anniversary, Citizen releases the Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition. It’s a 650-piece limited edition that underscores the brand’s commitment to accuracy. Let’s find out more.
When I started reading about the new Citizen Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition, it immediately transported me back five years. In 2021, I reviewed “The Citizen,” a watch powered by the mechanical 0200 movement. It generated a lot of buzz as the brand’s high-end mechanical offering. It was a good way to get a feel for The Citizen line, which shows a different and impressive side of this Japanese watchmaker. The watch I reviewed was the follow-up to Citizen’s Caliber 0100 from 2018, which celebrated the company’s 100th anniversary. In the context of the new release, Caliber 0100 is even more relevant. This specially developed Eco-Drive movement was accurate to ±1 second per year and represented the ultimate in Citizen’s quest for accuracy and excellence.
The story of the Citizen Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition
The new Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition is another reminder of the brilliant quest. The watch features a special dial made of washi (和紙, Japanese paper) dyed in chitose midori (千歳緑, thousand-year green). The color was inspired by pine needles that remain verdant throughout the seasons.
To create this special dial, skilled artisans color the paper by hand using a pigment created by fusing indigo and the yellow ibuki kariyasu (伊吹刈安, small carpetgrass) dyes. The result is a dial with a distinct texture and a bright green color that shows its great depth depending on how the light hits it. Furthermore, the dial features applied markers filled with lume, a framed date window at 3 o’clock, and white minute markings on the rehaut. Hovering over the dial are the razor-shape dauphine hour and minute hands, also filled with lume.
As mentioned, this release commemorates Citizen’s first light-powered analog watch, which debuted in 1976. Yes, the technology we now know as Eco-Drive was introduced five decades ago. To mark that special anniversary, the dial features a gold-colored eagle on the lower half and a gold-colored seconds hand.
Furthermore, the eagle serves as a reminder that the watch is part of the high-end The Citizen series. You will also find the eagle mark on the crown and the case back, representing “the foresight and dedication to the pursuit of ideals as well as the enduring connection between watch and wearer,” as the brand puts it.
The exterior
The special green dial sits inside a 40mm × 12.2mm Super Titanium case with a 100m water resistance rating. As some of you might know, Citizen’s proprietary Super Titanium is five times harder and 40% lighter than steel. It makes the material perfectly suited for watches. While the case is predominantly brushed, the lug facets and the bezel have a mirror-polished finish for visual contrast.
Additionally, the watch comes with a brushed Super Titanium five-row bracelet with a folding clasp. Both the case and the bracelet are treated with a Duratect Platinum coating. It gives the Super Titanium an almost transparent silver finish that helps keep the watch in great condition longer.
The special Citizen caliber A060
Powering the Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition is Citizen’s in-house A060 movement. It offers an accuracy rating of ±5 seconds per year and can run for 18 months on a full charge with the special power-saving mode active. Furthermore, it is a perpetual calendar. As such, it automatically adjusts for months and leap years until February 28th, 2100. Lastly, it features an independently adjustable hour hand, a practical feature for those who regularly travel through multiple time zones.
Final thoughts on the new Citizen Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition
I love seeing this special anniversary release, and the eagle crest serves as a great reminder of Citizen’s high-end watch series. With its special green dial and gold details, this Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition looks stunning. As the brand’s other high-end watches have taught us, it will also be beautifully made and meticulously finished.
It makes this 650-piece limited edition the perfect follow-up to The Citizen 30th-anniversary releases unveiled late last year. The watch will be available worldwide for US$3,100 through select retailers. Considering how much enthusiasts love The Citizen models, I do not doubt that this one will sell quickly. Not only is it a great timepiece to celebrate Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, but it’s also a brilliant reminder that the Japanese brand’s high-end offerings are truly special.
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Jorg Weppelink
2026-03-19 04:00:00