Citizen’s The Essence of Time was a 2024 traveling retrospective marking 100 years since the first watch bearing the CITIZEN name. Its New York stop was scheduled for July 22–25, 2024, as part of a three-city program that also visited Tokyo and Paris. Citizen described a selection of 100 watches across 12 categories, chosen after studying more than 6,000 archive pieces.
What did the 100-year anniversary mark?
The centenary referred to the first watch carrying the CITIZEN name, not to 100 years since the company was founded. In 1924, the Shokosha Watch Research Institute made a pocket watch bearing that name. Citizen’s anniversary account says Tokyo mayor Shinpei Goto suggested “Citizen,” expressing the hope that watches would become accessible to more than a small group of people. Citizen’s anniversary history recounts the origin.
When was the New York exhibition?
Citizen’s 2Q24 corporate presentation scheduled the New York stop for July 22–25, 2024. The exhibition was part of a traveling retrospective that began in Japan, continued to New York, and concluded in Paris on October 8–9, 2024, according to Citizen’s announcement of the centennial exhibition.
The published Citizen material identifies the New York dates and city but does not identify a venue or establish whether the event was open to the public. It therefore does not support claims about an address, admission, hours, or visitor access.
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#1 Best Overall
- Polished silver-tone watch featuring blue sunray dial with stick indices and day/date window
- 40 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Japanese quartz movement with analog display
- Three-link stainless steel band with fold-over clasp
- Water resistant to 30 m (99 ft): In general, withstands splashes or brief immersion in water, but not suitable for swimming
What watches and history did it feature?
Citizen said it studied more than 6,000 pieces from its archives and selected 100 watches in 12 categories for the retrospective. The figures describe the selection Citizen announced; they should not be taken as a verified inventory of every object displayed at each stop. The exhibition’s purpose was to trace the evolution of the brand’s design and history through watches from across its first century.
How was the exhibition connected to the commemorative book?
Citizen: The Essence of Time, published with Assouline and written by Jack Forster, accompanied the centennial retrospective. Citizen describes the book as highlighting a century of precision, innovation, and creativity. Forster is identified in the exhibition announcement as Editor-in-Chief of WatchBox.com and former Editor-in-Chief of Hodinkee. The book offers a way to explore the anniversary story beyond the event itself.
Rank #2
- Round silver-tone watch featuring white dial with stick indices, luminous hands, and mini date window
- 39 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Movement: Conventional Battery G111, Japanese quartz movement with analog display.
- Croco-embossed leather band with buckle closure
- Water resistant to 50 m (165 ft): In general, suitable for short periods of recreational swimming, but not diving or snorkeling
What else marked Citizen’s centenary?
Citizen also announced commemorative watches in 2024, but they were separate releases rather than the New York exhibition. A hand-wound limited-edition pocket watch paid tribute to the first Citizen-named watch; Citizen’s Hong Kong announcement describes the homage. Separately, the LAYERS of TIME collection comprised seven limited models across six Citizen sub-brands and was announced for release on May 28, 2024, in Citizen’s Japan announcement. Current availability for either release is not established by those announcements.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Quartz from Citizen features a blue dial with a stainless steel band and markers. It features 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date with water resistancy up to 100 Meters. Stainless steel bracelet has Fold Over Clasp with Push Buttons
- 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters and 5 Year Limited Warranty
Rank #4
- 3 hand basic
- Mineral crystal
- Japanese-quartz Movement.
- Case Diameter: 40mm. When the screw lock is released, the crown pops out a little and stops in the normal position
- Water resistant to 50m (165ft: in general, suitable for short periods of recreational swimming, but not diving or snorkeling
Rank #3
- Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style
- 1/5 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Spherical Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
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