Launched just over a year ago, the Tsuyosa has been an incredible success. It’s true that it has some serious assets, including summery colors that make you want to dare, and above all a price that’s hard to beat. Initially available in four colors, the new Citizen has recently been released in four new versions, including this one “Ice Blue which we review today.
A Citizen named Tsuyosa
It’s as if a Day-Date and an OysterQuartz had an illegitimate child, a DateJust and an Oyster Perpetual did the same, and their respective children had a child born in Japan. With the Tsuyosa, the Japanese firm strikes a major blow while continuing the trend towards sport-chic watches with integrated bracelet. Swiss-inspired with a seventies” style combining a case with sharp lines and a bracelet with rounded links, all sprinkled with alternating brushing and polishing to give it character. And to please as many people as possible: a 40mm size with a thickness of 12mm. What do the people want?
Highlights
Let’s start with its €299 price tag which defies all competition. For an automatic watch with an integrated steel bracelet, that’s a rare thing. What’s more, from a brand that offers simple but solid timepieces. Next, the stylistic exercise is very successful because, at first glance, mixing sharp edges with curved links was a bit daring. We love the spectrum of colors, especially this “Ice Blue” version and the yellow dial released last year. Even if Citizen Miyota movements are distributed to many brands in other variants, we still appreciate the fact that the caliber 8210 that drives the hands of this timepiece is directly manufactured by the brand, making it a “Citizen”. manufacture movement. This is almost unheard of in this price range. We also appreciate its size, which, thanks to a length of just 45mm, appears smaller than a traditional 40mm case. On the side legibilityThe formula has been tried and tested, even if the Japanese brand has added its own little touches: a cut-out index next to the date, double hour markers at 6 and 12 o’clock, luminescent dots on the hour markers, not to mention the slightly oversized appearance of the hour markers. Another distinguishing feature of the watch is its all-metal dial. small crown housed in the case middle at 4 o’clock, not screwed in – thus limiting its water resistance to 5 ATM – but easy to handle from below.
Our regrets
If this watch were waterproof to 10 ATM, it would still be much more practical for a watch with such summery colors. Because of its resistance to only 5 ATMswimming is to be avoided. It’s a shame for a watch with a “sport-chic” style that’s not at all sporty. Then, while brushing is well executed, polishing is a little lackingespecially around the case middle. If you’re used to the cyclops of a Rolex, the magnifying glass over the sapphire crystal of this watch will pale into insignificance, but let’s not forget the colossal price difference. Also, as is systematically the case with watches at this price, while the links do their job very well, it’s on the the folding clasp that we feel a weakness, even if Citizen has had the good idea of applying the same vertical brushing as on the case, whose rendering is good. We could also add its highly inspired styling of the brand with the crown, creating confusion – embarrassing for some – in the eyes of others. Personally, as long as it’s not a replica or counterfeit, we don’t care. In the end, it’s going backwards of the watch, it is easy to understand why few brands anchor small crowns in their carrures: it makes the tedious task.
Our opinion on this Citizen watch
Of course, at less than 300 eurosfinding weak points is easy. But when you consider the price, you have to put it into perspective to realize just how good this Citizen Tsuyosa is. superb bargain. This is one of Citizen’s great strengths: to offer watches at the right price. exceptional value for money. Until last year, it was also a very “tool watches” oriented manufacturer, so the Japanese firm fills a gap in its catalog, and in a damn clever way. The watch is simple, but not overly so, elegant yet cheerfulness with its bright colors (although you’ll also find sober dials). It’s probably a unanimous opinion in the watchmaking worldbut we’re 100% behind this watch!
FEATURES – CITIZEN TSUYOSA
Case : 316L stainless steel – brushed and polished finish – 40mm wide x 45mm long x 12mm thick – flat sapphire crystal with cyclops magnifier – transparent mineral glass caseback – 5 ATM (50 meters) water resistance
Dial : light blue background – sunray finish – applied hour-markers – black minute scale – date window at 3 o’clock – Natulite on hour-markers and hands
Movement : self-winding – manufacture – Citizen calibre 8210 – 40-hour power reserve – 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) – stop-second function – hours, minutes, seconds and date – gold treatment on weight and bridges
Straps : 3-link stainless steel – brushed and polished finish – single folding clasp with micro-adjustments
Information : reference NJ0151-88M – in permanent collection – available from authorized dealers – 2-year warranty – €299 incl. VAT
