Monochrome Watches
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In-Depth

How Good The Citizen Caliber 0200 Really Is?

Could this be Citizen's take on the luxury sports watch? Let's find out.

| By Frank Geelen | 12 min read |
The Citizen Caliber 0200

When you think about Citizen, you’ll probably think of a well-built and affordable watch. There is however a side that Citizen doesn’t show too often, but with some recently introduced models, the Japanese brand shows it has far more up its sleeve! Citizen is responsible for many innovations, for instance, they were the first brand to use titanium to make (commercially available) wristwatches. The brand is also known for its research on accuracy, especially with the Eco-Drive technology. In this field, Citizen even upped their own already impressive game by presenting the Eco-Drive Caliber 0100, which is the most precise wristwatch on the market. And this year, the Japanese manufacturer enters yet again a different segment of the market, that of the luxury mechanical watch. And to do so, the brand has put everything it has at its disposal, internally and throughout its portfolio of subsidiaries, to create ‘The Citizen’ Caliber 0200. The introduction itself created quite a bit of discussions, but now that I have the watch with me, it is time to talk about how it is on the wrist! 

The Citizen Caliber 0200

The Citizen ‘The Citizen Caliber 0200’ was presented in March this year and immediately drew a lot of attention, but also raised some questions. There is no doubt about Citizen’s capacity to create a mechanical movement. The brand is, after all, one of the largest watches producers in the world, with several million watches produced a year. But with this new ‘The Citizen’ the brand is moving in a different direction, in a market and price segment dominated by Swiss powerhouses. And to achieve that, the brand brings everything to the table, including reviving the ‘The Citizen’ collection. And then there’s the Caliber 0200, a brand new, far more superior engine (compared to the usual 82xx calibres), that has been created in collaboration with renowned Swiss movement maker La Joux-Perret, which is owned by the Japanese group.

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The Citizen Caliber 0200

Having said that, I can tell you that my level of expectations was high. The Citizen Caliber 0200 was one of the watches that really caught my attention and I was very curious to get some hands-on time with it. From the first press pictures, the watch already made a strong impression, not even mentioning the fact that there is an undeniable ‘luxury sports watch’ feel to this new model; something that I really like. So here we are in July 2021 and I have the ‘The Citizen’ on the wrist, and before going into the details, let me clearly say that I’m not disappointed. On the contrary!

A refined, ultra-sharp case & bracelet

Let’s start talking about the overall design of the watch. As said earlier, there’s is a clear luxury sports watch feel to The Citizen Caliber 0200, with its barrel-shaped case, its round and raised bezel, its combination of brushed surfaces and polished accents and the all-important presence of an integrated steel bracelet. The overall design is restrained and on the safe side, and at the same time, it doesn’t try to replicate emblematic models of the category. It does have its own personality, which mostly sits in its sharpness and edginess. The watch is easily categorized in the luxury/casual/smart segment, being typically a piece that you can wear in most circumstances, whether with a formal attire or a more casual look.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

Regarding the question of whether it is a proper luxury sports watch, I’d tend to say yes. Once you strap this watch on the wrist, apart from a case that is slightly thicker than a Royal Oak or a Nautilus, you have that same feeling of a consistent object, a one-piece watch where everything feels coherent and designed as a whole. Case and bracelet are seamlessly integrated and the watch exudes this specific combination of luxury and robustness that have made the success of the 1970s icons.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

Even more than the design itself, what truly impressed me is the overall quality of the case and its bracelet. The case, which feels relatively simple from a distance, is actually full of details, facets and alternating finishings that add to the beauty of the watch. All surfaces are superbly finished, whether the vertically brushed surfaces that are found on all flat areas of the case and bracelet, or the polished accents on the edges. The brushing is crisp and very detailed, and the separation lines between the different executions of the case are extremely neat and precise. And looking closely, the case reveals small details, such as the triangular polished facet at the tip of the lugs, which are simply handsome. If there’s one thing to retain from this watch it will be this design that isn’t based on shapes but on volumes and how the finishing techniques actually form the watch. It simply is one of the most impressive cases, especially in this price range!

The Citizen Caliber 0200

Apart from that, there’s something about The Citizen Caliber 0200 that can’t be shown in the images and it is the tactile feel. Touching the case and bracelet, or simply wearing the watch left me with a hard-to-describe feeling of superb quality, something that is inherent to true luxury objects. The watch isn’t only a joy to wear because of its comfort, but also because of the sensation it provides on the wrist.

As for the proportions, The Citizen is a fairly well-proportioned watch, with a diameter of 40mm, a height of 10.9mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of about 47mm. In addition, the way the bracelet is attached to the case, below the lugs, makes for a watch that feels more compact than what the numbers suggest. There’s also a pleasant heft and weight to this case, which once again reinforces the feeling of quality. The depth rating of 50m is not impressive, however, it is acceptable and sufficient for everyday use.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

The bracelet is just as nicely designed and finished as the case, meaning very good. Its H-shaped links, brushed on the flat surfaces and highlighted by polished accents, are thin and rather supple. Overall, the bracelet has a nice shine and plays with the ambient light. Its proportions are very pleasant and even if it is not as seamless integrated as the one found on a Royal Oak, it remains close enough so the entire watch feels designed like a whole. The bracelet is closed by a well-executed folding clasp with pushbuttons, which would have been even better with a fine-adjustment system.

Last but not least, the watch is topped by one of the best sapphire crystals I’ve seen recently, with a very good anti-reflective coating. In some conditions, it feels like there’s simply no crystal over the dial and as if you could touch the hands and dive into the dial.

A crisp, beautifully detailed dial

In contrast with its rather demonstrative case, The Citizen Caliber 0200 feels more conservative at first when looking at its dial. But that is before looking at it closely. This restrained feeling is reinforced by the presence of a small seconds, not so common in the luxury sports watch field but also rather well integrated into this context.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

What feels at first like a matte grained surface is actually a dial with great attention to detail. The so-called sand-ripple pattern, which feels to me like an “asphalte-like” texture is the result of a process named electroforming, using electrodeposition of metal on a base dial. When under close inspection, the dial reveals a refined and extremely detailed texture that surprisingly manages to play with the ambient light, with a certain shimmer, and at the same time to avoid reflections. It also contrasts well with the smooth finishing – actually a very, very fine concentric pattern – of the small seconds sub-counter, bringing depth to this dial.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

The same level of refinement can be seen on the hands and markers. Classic in the design, being reminiscent of the brand’s 1960s production and in line with other watches in The Citizen collection, they are once again made with far more attention than everything else from the brand. The Dauphine hands are large and razor-sharp. The top surface has a very fine matte texture while the edges are polished with a diamond tool, resulting in a great level of precision and shine.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

This combination of texture also means that these hands are extremely legible in most conditions, with the top surface often appearing milky white, while the bevels have typical metallic reflections, ranging from silvery-white to black, depending on the angle. This allows the hands to perfectly detach from the black textured background and to make The Citizen Caliber 0200 a very legible watch.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

The same level of execution is found on the markers, which are faceted and diamond-polished on the edges, while the top surface has a fine striped pattern. The fact that the 3 and 9 o’clock markers are wider, and that there’s a double marker at 12 o’clock also brings a nice balance to the dial. And even though there’s no luminescent material on this dial, the execution of the hands and markers makes legibility excellent in all conditions (except at pitch-black night.)

The Citizen Caliber 0200

Finally, there are two metallic applied logos at 12 o’clock, the brand’s name and an Eagle. This eagle symbol was also used in the past, mainly on some chronometer-rated watches. The Eagle is the emblem of ‘The Citizen’ collection.

The star of the show, Caliber 0200

You obviously can’t make a luxury watch without the movement that matches its status. The mechanical beauty of a timepiece is certainly as important as the way it’s dressed up, and here Citizen has decided to bring the best it has internally when creating this new Caliber 0200.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

As said in the introduction, Citizen is no stranger to mechanical movements, being one of the world’s largest producers. There is however a major difference between manufacturing a simple yet robust automatic movement for a sub-500 euros watch, and creating a movement that is powerful, precise and refined enough to complement the habillage we’ve seen above. Citizen, however, owns multiple Swiss companies, such as Frederique Constant, Alpina, Arnold & Son, but also one that is far more relevant in today’s context; a manufacture of Haute Horlogerie in Switzerland named La Joux-Perret S.A.

By collaborating with this renowned Swiss movement maker, Citizen was able to develop a new automatic movement with a focus on reliability, precision, high accuracy and more appealing decoration. Despite being produced by Citizen in Japan, this Caliber 0200 is conceived with traditional high-end methods in mind, thanks to a close collaboration and technical exchange between the Japanese powerhouse and its subsidiary LJP.

To be clear, this movement has simply nothing in common with the reliable yet entry-level automatic movements produced by Citizen for their accessible watches, for instance, the Promaster and its caliber 8203. The Caliber 0200 is a typical high-end automatic engine that has been designed to meet chronometric standards over an extended power range (4Hz frequency and 60h power reserve), and that has been decorated to please the eyes of seasoned watch enthusiasts. Strong watchmaking credentials and traditional, yet modern looking finishing techniques…

2021 Citizen Mechanical Model Calibre 0200 - NC0200-90E

Despite being a classic time-only, small seconds automatic movement, Citizen’s Caliber 0200 comes with several refinements. It is equipped with a free-sprung balance wheel, making it highly shock resistant as well as resistant to wear over time – with a better ability to maintain its stability of rate over time. The regulating organ has been created thanks to a new manufacturing process to ensure the necessary precision. Also, to achieve superior precision, the escapement is executed with LIGA fabrication process (a technology using photolithography and electro-casting, suitable for manufacturing of ultra-precise parts and microstructure parts). As such, the Caliber 0200 can achieve an average daily accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds, thus surpassing chronometric standards. Additionally, once the movement is encased, the fully-assembled watch heads are tested for 17 days to ensure superior performance – testing at six positions and three temperature levels – and a Certificate of Compliance is included with each watch to certify the results.

2021 Citizen Mechanical Model Calibre 0200 - NC0200-90E

Also, the decoration was an important factor in the development process, which has been created together with the expertise of La Joux-Perret. The movement features bridges decorated with satinage – a multitude of hairlines to create a matte finish – and polished bevels on the edges for great contrast. In the same vein, the gear train, the oscillating weight and the main plate are decorated with various techniques, playing with matte surfaces and recessed areas. Overall, the movement is not only technically advanced but also coherent with the entire watch, whether for the style of decoration chosen, but also the level of details on all visible parts.

Thoughts

Overall, I’ve been impressed by The Citizen Caliber 0200, on multiple levels. First of all, the design is balanced, demonstrative enough for such a watch but it also has a nice dosage of refinement, which mostly comes from the details to be found all around the case, bracelet, dial and hands. Then, there’s the overall impressive quality of the watch, which feels on par with some of the most revered mainstream manufacturers of Switzerland. Everywhere you’ll look, The Citizen Caliber 0200 is refined, detailed, consistent. If this is what the luxury branch of Citizen is capable of, I’m really looking forward to the future. The movement, co-developed with LJP is also a fairly important element of this watch and, once again, it does elevate The Citizen collection to unprecedented levels. It is overall a watch that deserves attention.

The Citizen Caliber 0200

And on a more personal note, I love its looks and how this watch feels like the Japanese take on the luxury sports watch, how it manages to rely on existing codes of the category without copying them. It’s a watch with great personality. And the price, at approximately USD 6,000 is entirely justified.

Availability & Price

The Citizen Caliber 0200 (ref. NC0200-90E) will be available from selected retailers in August 2021 and priced at JPY 605,000 or USD 6,000.

For more details, please visit www.citizenwatch-global.com.

https://monochrome-watches.com/the-citizen-mechanical-caliber-0200-review-price/

23 responses

  1. I like it. A few folk are saying they’d rather have a Grand Seiko for the price, which brings up the issue of Brand (maybe could’ve made it the first in a new line of ‘Citizen’ with ‘Joux-Perret’ in smaller font underneath instead of that eagle crest – I dunno, Toyota/Lexus etc), but they’re not paying attention to that movement. They’d need to spend another $3K+ to get the technical equivalent with free-sprung balance from GS.
    It deserves to do well y’know, but branding…it’s all about that perception.

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  2. Thanks for the excellent and detailed review, sounds like a very positive experience. I grew up in the ’80s and have a soft spot for Citizen. Currently wearing a 2020 JDM sports chronograph with H800 movement, it’s brilliant, wear it far more than my albino speedy. Good to see citizen offer something that can compete with Grand Seiko and similar, whether enough folks are convinced remains to be seen, but positive trusted reviews certainly help.

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  3. Excellent, in depth review. I just don’t like the sandpaper texture of the dial.Still better than shiny sunburst though.

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  4. I would think they will add more models over time, maybe even something a bit more sporty with a date and increased water resistance. The one thing I struggle to understand is hoe do you design a brand new integrated bracelet watch and skip the microadjustment, don’t people wear these in hot and cold weather?

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  5. I agree with Gav. Its an impressive watch in so many ways, i actually love the dial too but brand perseption is a big hurdle for the watch and as rightly pointed out Toyota had to invent Lexus to compete in the luxury car market as Seiko came up with Grand Seiko. That said pound for pound in terms of what it offers a 4Hz movement by LJP its a great watch and i hope it does well.

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  6. I have a jaundiced view of this watch for several reasons. First the movement, with such large bridges it leans toward the Germans 3/4 plate design instead of revealing more of its internal structure. Second as mentioned before lack of at least 100 meters water resistance as in all of Rolexes products. They are in Rolexes price arena and have a Swiss pedigree. Thirdly a less than stellar accuracy. I know they have a better than COSC accuracy but if you want to compete at such a high level let’s do a Rolex 2 and 2. Give me something spectacular if you want my $6000. That is getting into the high style and the high mech areas. I grant they have approached but not attained their goal. Great in-depth review which should inform any interested buyer. They have the resources financial, technical and design so wow me with a new a new design, not a “me too” presentation.

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  7. Great look at what appears to be a great watch fairly priced. There is already a fetching blue dial version in Japan (‘natch). Citizen is the real deal and a huge watch company. Don’t let lack of knowledge of that (in the West) get in your way. Brand name snobs forget things like Patek makes watches with crappy, non-special, quartz movements and that Hublot exists.

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  8. Agree with the overall sentiment in the comments. Seiko and Citizen (and most of Japan industry) are too attached to their names, and sadly, their names, for the most part, aren’t associated with luxury. There’s a reason why Lexus is successful and well regarded – it’s because they don’t call themselves Grand Toyota.

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  9. I’m sorry, for a watch that is courting the sports market in this price range to have a 50m water resistance? Absurd!
    How much more difficult/money would it take to go to 100m? 200m?
    I have had Citizen watches in the past that needed servicing while overseas. They would not ship it back to my home from the service center!

    Hard pass at that price range.

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  10. The price will kill it. They used to produce watches for the entire population. Stick to the eco drive watch.

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  11. Lo de los 50 metros no es problema. La mayoria suiza tienen 50 y a veces 30 metros. Me parece un gran paso dado por Citizen.

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  12. I read this whole article thinking “yea, that’s a nice job for a $400 watch” – getting to the end I laughed audibly at the price while glancing down at the much better decorated and finished Zenith Defy I picked up for $5k out the door.

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  13. I like the dial and overall design. I don’t like the 50M water resistance, especially at this price. And the movement, while perhaps technically advanced, isn’t as finished as I’d expect at this price level.
    Unfortunately, the watch will lose 1/2 it’s value once purchased. Watch collectors don’t buy watches for resale value, but this one isn’t special enough to keep it’s value.
    Excellent review, I leant a lot. Thx

  14. Bunch of pathetic poor and rich wannabes lamenting watch with cars comparisons, you buffoon imbeciles just because dial says it is citizen does not make it less worthy and quit it with seiko toyota analogy bums, toyota resale value is better than german cars so take that to the bank. For the record i own alot of swiss and also seiko grand seiko watches and some of seikos are million times better.

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  15. From the photos shown I am underwhelmed but maybe thats the point. For the dollars I would opt Grand Seiko spring drive every time.
    Don’t get me wrong I would own one if it was 42mm and a minimum of 100M WR and the price was right.

  16. Very nice watch,o.k.it is not cheap, but looks better than every Rolex for 20000 Euros.
    Why has a watch to be in size over 40mm?
    I cannot understand.

  17. Citizen has barged into a crowded high horology wannabe market where there are brands like the GP Lauretto, Chopard Alpine Eagle, IWC Ingeniuer, Rolex Air King, Explorer, Omega Constellation, Grand Seiko already out there. The established brands have their own legend, history, aura that helps justify why someone one spends $$ for one of these watches. Every limited edition Citizen I’ve seen to date after just a few short years just disappears into dust with few watch enthusiasts feeling any nostalgia. Citizen reminds me of Nissan’s Infiniti brand of car. They just keep pumping out cars that few really covet.

  18. Unless you have put one on your wrist, it’s incredibly easy (understandably so) to underestimate how beautifully made and visually coherent this watch really is.

    It wears like a 38mm diameter, is moderately thin, and is far less blocky in real life than close up photos due to its well thought through proportions. It feels exceptionally comfortable on the wrist and the overall execution is to a very high level, closer to Nautilus levels than Rolex, and in comparison makes Zenith Defys feel positively crude.

    It’s a more dynamic watch to wear than most of the above due in part to how the light catches the various polished surfaces and the fineness of the batons. I have 2 GSs and the Citizen is considerably more refined than either (including the pretty little limited edition 62 GS Sbgr095).

    Though 10ATM is always desirable, I think wishing this watch to be waterproof misses the point a little. It’s not an out-and-out sports watch like a Tudor (also crudely finished in comparison but a workhorse) or an Explorer. Rather, it’s in a sporty genre akin to Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak or Chopard’s Alpine Eagle. The Citizen’s not embarrassed by either of those series, though a fraction of their price given it’s lowly brand equity.

    And that’s part of the attraction. Citizen’s brand image doesn’t (yet?) stretch to this end of the quality spectrum and that works for me, since I get to own a watch finished to, or very close to, haute horlogerie levels that in any Swiss guise would surely command at least 3x the price, whilst being visually distinctive and refined. I’m absolutely delighted that it’s destined to be overlooked, even laughed at, by the majority of the watch-buying world…

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