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Citizen Tsuno Chrono Racer Hands-On: What to Know About the Bullhead Chronograph

The Citizen Tsuno Chrono Racer pairs a 1970s-inspired bullhead layout with Eco-Drive timing. Here’s what to know about the AV0070-57L and its fit, functions and variants.
Estimate4–5 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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The Citizen Tsuno Chrono Racer is a modern Promaster chronograph with a distinctive bullhead layout: its crown sits at 12 o’clock, between the chronograph pushers. The blue-dial AV0070-57L is one specific version, with a 45 mm steel case, light-powered E210 movement, sapphire crystal and 200 m water resistance. Citizen’s US listing showed this reference as sold out when checked, so availability should be confirmed with the seller.

What the Tsuno Chrono Racer is—and what it is not

“Tsuno” refers to the watch’s horn-like control arrangement: the crown is at 12 o’clock, with chronograph pushers on either side. It is a modern Citizen Promaster bullhead-style chronograph, not simply a literal reissue of the original. Citizen Design describes the 2018 model as “Not a reissue, but an evolution” of a line whose first model appeared in 1973. The official design record names Toshinori Okazaki as designer and AV0071-03A as the recorded product code; Citizen says the design won the 2018 Chicago Good Design Award. Citizen Design’s Tsuno Chrono record

Citizen’s Promaster listing presents AV0070-57L as a tribute to its 1973 Bullhead model. Its global Tsuno Chrono page also ties the family’s design language to the 1973 Chronograph Challenge Timer and describes dashboard and classic-car influences for an anniversary model. These are Citizen’s stated heritage connections, not evidence of uninterrupted production since 1973. Citizen US: AV0070-57L Citizen Global: Tsuno Chrono

AV0070-57L specifications

The AV0070-57L is the blue-dial, steel-bracelet example discussed here. Citizen lists an E210 Eco-Drive movement, a 45 mm silver-tone stainless-steel case, an anti-reflective spherical sapphire crystal and 200 m (20 bar/666 ft) water resistance. Its bracelet has a fold-over clasp with hidden push buttons. The listed functions include luminous hands and markers, a power-reserve indicator, alarm, date and a 1/5-second chronograph that measures up to 12 hours. Citizen says Eco-Drive is powered by light and does not require a battery replacement. The US listing specifies a five-year limited warranty. Citizen US: AV0070-57L specifications and listing

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Those details should not be assumed to apply to every Tsuno. For example, Citizen’s global anniversary-model page describes AV0104-06W with a 60-minute totalizer, while the AV0070-57L listing specifies measurement up to 12 hours. Case material, finish, dial, attachment and edition status also vary among references. Check the exact model code and its regional listing before comparing functions or buying.

How the watch wears and operates

Size and wrist fit

In his November 7, 2018 hands-on review, Jack Forster measured the watch he handled at about 45 mm in diameter, 16 mm thick and 48 mm lug-to-lug, using his office calipers. He wrote that “the watch doesn’t wear quite that big”: the upper case sits in a curved lower carrier that hugs the wrist, which he felt made it sit closer than the diameter alone might suggest. These are Forster’s measurements and impression of that watch, not a fit guarantee for every wrist or Tsuno variant. Jack Forster, Hodinkee: “Hands-On: The Citizen Tsuno Eco-Drive Chronograph Racer”

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Controls and chronograph feel

Forster found the top-mounted controls easier to reach for starting, stopping and resetting than the controls on a conventional chronograph, while noting that the watch is substantial. He described the subdials as large and readable, the start/stop button as needing a firm press, and stop and restart as smooth. In his account, the chronograph hand advances five times per second while the running-seconds hand moves in one-second jumps; the totalizers snap to zero on reset. These are his observations, not universal ergonomic or performance claims.

Forster also described the alarm as a two-pitch chirp that was not especially loud. If a prominent audible alarm is important to you, that is a practical point to weigh rather than assuming the feature will be easy to hear in every setting.

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What “flyback” means on the E210

Citizen describes the E210 as a 1/5-second flyback chronograph and says its hands can reset to zero and restart instantly. Forster cautions that “flyback” here does not mean the conventional operation in which pressing reset while the chronograph is running makes it reset and immediately resume timing. In his explanation, the word refers to the E210’s rapid, snapping reset behavior, enabled by its mechanical start/stop/reset mechanism. The movement remains a light-powered quartz hybrid; the term should not be read as a claim that it performs a conventional running flyback. Citizen US: AV0070-57L Jack Forster, Hodinkee

Which Tsuno reference to choose

Start with the model code, then compare the features that actually vary across references. Citizen’s pages identify steel and titanium cases, different dials and strap or bracelet configurations, and different edition and regional availability. Do not infer a movement function or water-resistance rating from a family resemblance.

  • Case and finish: Confirm whether the reference uses steel or titanium and check the specific finish.
  • Bracelet or strap: Verify what is included and how it attaches. Forster notes that the integrated bracelet or strap attachment can make swapping bands difficult; nominal lug width alone is not enough to confirm that a generic replacement will fit.
  • Dial and legibility: Choose the color and layout you can read comfortably, and check the reference-specific images and specifications.
  • Chronograph and water resistance: Compare the stated totalizer range and water-resistance rating for the exact reference rather than borrowing AV0070-57L’s specifications.
  • Edition and availability: Check the relevant regional Citizen page and seller listing. The AV0070-57L US listing showed sold out when checked; that single listing does not establish general marketplace availability.

For a buyer deciding between a bullhead and a conventional chronograph, the Tsuno’s appeal is its unusual top-mounted control layout and bold case shape. Forster found the control position convenient, but his assessment is personal; the watch’s substantial dimensions and integrated attachment may be more decisive for a particular wrist or strap preference.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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