Citizen AW0060-03E Eco-Drive Super Titanium
Showing non-lumed skeleton hands & deeply engraved faceted bezel
I bought my first Citizen Eco-Drive nearly 16 years ago now and although it’s had a hard life and is still going strong and as the blurb states;
“…can generate power from any light source -- artificial, natural, and even dim light -- to keep watches running without ever replacing batteries.”
The thing I’ve always hated about Quartz, was the inevitable moment when you find the battery has finally run out and you had no warning! Now I change the batteries on all my families’ and friends quartz watches at regular intervals so that isn’t an issue, but you do have to have a spare in the first place.
To me the ‘light powered’ watch made absolute sense so when I needed a robust watch quickly I bought an Eco-Drive and 16 years on I added another. Interestingly enough, I was looking at some Omega’s in the local posh watch shop, when I saw the Citizen AW0060-03E Eco-Drive Super Titanium and instantly forgot all thoughts of the Omega – this just looked stunningly different.
“…can generate power from any light source -- artificial, natural, and even dim light -- to keep watches running without ever replacing batteries.”
The thing I’ve always hated about Quartz, was the inevitable moment when you find the battery has finally run out and you had no warning! Now I change the batteries on all my families’ and friends quartz watches at regular intervals so that isn’t an issue, but you do have to have a spare in the first place.
To me the ‘light powered’ watch made absolute sense so when I needed a robust watch quickly I bought an Eco-Drive and 16 years on I added another. Interestingly enough, I was looking at some Omega’s in the local posh watch shop, when I saw the Citizen AW0060-03E Eco-Drive Super Titanium and instantly forgot all thoughts of the Omega – this just looked stunningly different.
The deeply, but rather pointlessly, engraved dodecagon (12 sided) bezel, its slim angular form, the beautiful skeletal handset, that orange second hand, the bold brushed raised applied hour markers all linked together with a sliver line running around dial on the edge of a raised chapter ring. Just so much to like, unfortunately it did have a day date window, but at least this was inboard of the three o’clock batten so the dial still looked well balanced. The only thing I wasn’t really happy with was the strap which although leather was made to look like Ostrich skin, which alongside Lizard is my least favourite finish, even when genuine. So as soon as it was home it was put on a temporary NATO, which I have to say looked great and really matched the watch – but I’m not really a fan of the NATO look, but it was OK until I found the right strap.
The watch case itself is 44mm in diameter, but wears very well with just under a 48mm length (lug-to-lug) and is a super dress watch thickness of a smidgen over 10mm and of course being Titanium is super light on the wrist. The handset makes this a great watch to see the time at a glance with the stark white hands against the black dial, though I have to say in the right light there is a hint of a sunburst to the dial and it looks like a very dark brown, in any case it is a superbly legible dial. It should be noted though that it is a completely un-lumed dial so no good at night, although if there is even a dim source of light you can read the dial. There were also four other colour ways of this watch but this one is the most legible and in my opinion the best looking of the bunch. Though I almost did think about buying one of the other versions to get a super titanium bracelet and put on this watch head! The only real element of the watch that looks a bit out of place for me is the highly polished crown, which presumably is in stainless steel and I’ve seen it featured on quite a few other Citizen’s so a cost-cutting option there.
The watch case itself is 44mm in diameter, but wears very well with just under a 48mm length (lug-to-lug) and is a super dress watch thickness of a smidgen over 10mm and of course being Titanium is super light on the wrist. The handset makes this a great watch to see the time at a glance with the stark white hands against the black dial, though I have to say in the right light there is a hint of a sunburst to the dial and it looks like a very dark brown, in any case it is a superbly legible dial. It should be noted though that it is a completely un-lumed dial so no good at night, although if there is even a dim source of light you can read the dial. There were also four other colour ways of this watch but this one is the most legible and in my opinion the best looking of the bunch. Though I almost did think about buying one of the other versions to get a super titanium bracelet and put on this watch head! The only real element of the watch that looks a bit out of place for me is the highly polished crown, which presumably is in stainless steel and I’ve seen it featured on quite a few other Citizen’s so a cost-cutting option there.
So what is this Super Titanium as generally I wouldn’t really want a titanium watch as it is a really soft material, so in my mind not really suited for a watch case, but Citizen Super Titanium is Duratect(?) coated which apparently gives it;
“…5 times the hardness of stainless steel and lightweight comfort…” of titanium, so that’s that sorted then! Indeed it does seem to be an extremely robust finish in the year that I’ve owned this watch there isn’t a single mark on the case although I have managed to scratch the crystal, so great case, could do with a sapphire crystal instead of the supplied mineral one! Looking on the Citizen website it explains the Duratect process as;
“Duratect includes four techniques used on titanium to achieve different levels of hardness, hypoallergenic properties and color variations. These technologies are ion plating (IP), cold plasma, gas hardening (MRK) and duplex coating”
So now we know ;-)
What did I end up with strap wise, well as per usual Geckota/WatchGecko (whatever they are going to settle on as a brand name as they seem to be interchangeable) came to the rescue and in their sale they had a superb brushed stainless steel Milanese bracelet with butterfly clasp which was perfect for the watch – even though it weighs more than the watch head!
Overall this is another one of my favourite watches and while others have come and gone this one is staying long term.
“…5 times the hardness of stainless steel and lightweight comfort…” of titanium, so that’s that sorted then! Indeed it does seem to be an extremely robust finish in the year that I’ve owned this watch there isn’t a single mark on the case although I have managed to scratch the crystal, so great case, could do with a sapphire crystal instead of the supplied mineral one! Looking on the Citizen website it explains the Duratect process as;
“Duratect includes four techniques used on titanium to achieve different levels of hardness, hypoallergenic properties and color variations. These technologies are ion plating (IP), cold plasma, gas hardening (MRK) and duplex coating”
So now we know ;-)
What did I end up with strap wise, well as per usual Geckota/WatchGecko (whatever they are going to settle on as a brand name as they seem to be interchangeable) came to the rescue and in their sale they had a superb brushed stainless steel Milanese bracelet with butterfly clasp which was perfect for the watch – even though it weighs more than the watch head!
Overall this is another one of my favourite watches and while others have come and gone this one is staying long term.
