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- Verified Buyer
I bought this watch in March of 2015 (off of Amazon) and I'm writing this review on July 2022. I just wanted to say that the watch is a good watch and that it has never stopped working. Best of all - no batteries to replace! I did go through a number of watch bands though - I'm on my second replacement watch band - but, this is over a 7 year period. As many have reported the glass scratches and my watch is no different. My watch has a lot of scratches. I have a tendency to orient the watch on my inner wrist which causes the face of the watch to come in contact with tables. For example as I type on a computer keyboard the watch is facing toward the table and touching the table. So, I've probably added more scratches because of this. The scratches just don't bother me though. I've snapped a few pictures (and hopefully I can upload to this review). In the last photo I pointed to watch to reflect the ceiling light - to make the scratches more visible. I'm old and need reading glasses so, for me, it's difficult to see the date without my glasses. Overall, and all things considered, I'd buy this watch again.Fue un regalo y quede súper bienThis is my first Citizen Eco-Drive and I am very pleased with the watch. . The watch face is a replica from a famous Bell&Ross watches. The watch has no fancy bells, whistles or alarms but the elegance of a simple easy to read face and not having to worry about battery dying, replacements, etc is a wonderful thing.The watch hands and numbers have a gentle luminosity that is easy to read but is not overly bright as many others do. Contrary to the description, my watch has genuine leather (at least on the back side).This is the perfect weekend watch!Adding some pictures with different straps / bands.Update 5-17-15For those Spanish speaking; the watch also features the day of the week in Spanish and English. Sunday is red with DOM. =)Update 7-02-16Uploading some new pictures and conducted LUM Test. Many claim that this piece does not have a LUM. Well, the hands, the numbers and the hours markers do have a LUM. However, within less than 2 hours you could barely see them on a dark room; so they don't hold the charge for a long time. However if you are coming from the outside to a dark room, you can easily see all 3; the hands being the brightest.Added a picture with a different leather strap. The watch comes alive with a better strap. I am enjoying the watch a lot more with a lighter distressed brown leather strap.I've had this time piece for over a year now with frequent domestic wear and I cannot find anything wrong with what this piece from Citizen offers. Looks really good as a casual watch, I've change the leather band once just to give it a bit different look; it also looks really handsome with a Nato/Zulu Strap. (sorry for the pictures sideways it is an Amazon thing, pictures display correctly on my PC).2nd year update: 08/17/2017After 2 years from original purchase, this watch continues to look as good as it did when I bought it new. The Black Ionized finish is intact and scratch free. The dial is also scratch free. The watch keeps great time with the only minor hiccup that if I charge it directly on sunlight, it usually speeds up a bit before settling down to a gain of about .02 secs per day. This piece is part of my regular rotation specially for weekend wear. I replaced the leather strap with a strap from Clockwork Synergy. The OEM strap was not bad but totally recommend upgrading the leather; it raises the feel and comfort of the watch 100%. The price of this watch is a bargain, no batteries to be replaced.It's a citizenLove the appearance, quality, and wear - light and comfortable. Important to follow instruction and fully charge the internal battery with lots of bright light before trying to wear: if you don’t, it will stop working! I’m looking forward to not having to change battery every 3-6 months like other watches.It's a Citizen Eco-Drive and it does everything it's supposed to. I've had a couple in the past and they have been reliable, reasonably accurate and are still so after many years of use. Have not had to replace the lithium rechargeable battery yet in any and my oldest is probably over 20 years.The large, easy to read orange markings look great against the satin black on this model. The case is not exactly slim however, if that's important to you. The description says otherwise, but the strap on the copy I received is "genuine leather", which of course is inferior to full grain, but it appears to be thick and durable and is to be expected at this price point.Advice to those new to this kind of watch: if the second hand jumps at two second intervals that is the indicator that it is not fully charged. It will almost certainly need to be charged when you receive it or after storing it in a dark place. Leave it in the light for the full period of time recommended by Citizen and it will return to normal one second intervals and provide maximum run time if it is properly functioning.This one has English and Spanish days of the week. If it's not the language you want simply change it with the crown adjustment.A manual for this watch which has the Citizen E101 caliber movement (and for instructions for all other Citizen movements), is available online, like most products nowadays.Great watch for this price. Classic aviation style. The hands, especially, numbers and 5 min markers are luminous in the dark.Lighter in weight and slimmer than I thought. But that is a plus point for me.It has a black hard anodised case and mineral glass face, so it should be very robust and pretty scratch resistant.Some people have reviewed and mentioned the strap is of poor quality? All I can say is it looks to be pretty robust, quite thick, well made and very good quality. I don't know if these people are showering or swimming with their watch on! But leather straps are not designed for that. That is why they don't make leather wellys. Leather will quickly loose natural oils and degrade if subject to too much water.As an every day watch, it is ideal, easy to read and looks superb.If you register the 5 year warranty on-line with Citizen you get another 1 year bonus. 6 year warranty.All good.David.Despite people answering a question about the watch being luminous, I must advise that it is not. That said, it is relatively easy to read in dull light but not in the dark.There has been some criticism of the strap; It must have been upgraded as my strap is very well made, solid and is wearing well. It is quite stiff and I find it difficult to release the strap from the first loop; it is perhaps too close to the buckle but I'm sure that will improve with use.I love the quirky design/colour, the slim profile and the 41mm size.I had another solar powered Citizen watch that was impossible to read in daylight so, this watch's clarity is most welcome. I love it.So far so good , its a good looking watch except for the strap. I had to change it . I have just started using this watch , its light and even lighter once I changed the strap . I bought it solely for the eco-drive as am fed up of watch batteries. They cost a fortune. The color of the watch is a bit different to the one displayed. Can’t say much as its still new.I had to get a refund and returned this watch as it stopped working . Not happy with it it was hardly a month old.Perfect, better than expected. Having read some of the other comments "difficult to read" and "the strap being flimsy" then I don't know what these people expect, on the difficult to read I have to wear reading glasses but I can read the time and date without them and on the subject of the strap any heavier it would be a horse collar.No I selected this watch on its design and colour, I wanted something different and it is and I am happy with my purchase.I have quite a few watches and have had this one for about 3 years now. I've returned to wearing this watch full time. It has a beauty in it's simple outlay and colour which people have remarked upon. I place it under a lamp, usually twice a week while I'm in the bath and it has never run out of power. I wear a FitBit on the other arm.
