Citizen eco drive
01 August 2009, 04:46 PM
#1
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Citizen eco drive
Sorry for another watch question but at least this one is about affordable watches. I'm not into expensive watches and looking for a replacement for my Sekonda that whilst works faultlessly is looking aged. I enquired about a new bezel but as it is over 10 years old chances are I wont get one and even if I do Sekonda would want to service the watch etc and would be looking at £80 to £100 which is ridiculous when all I wanted was the markings on the bezel re done.
Not having 4 figures to spend on a rolex/tag/omega etc i'm looking at Citizen, Accurist or Sekonda.
I like the look of a couple of eco drives but are they are any good or just all hype?
Not having 4 figures to spend on a rolex/tag/omega etc i'm looking at Citizen, Accurist or Sekonda.
I like the look of a couple of eco drives but are they are any good or just all hype?
01 August 2009, 04:51 PM
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I've got a Citizen Eco Drive. Bought it about 7-8 years ago. Never had any maintenance. It recently stopped working, so I sent it back for a service, cost £50, they replace all the parts inside and guarantee it for a few years. Working perfectly now.
01 August 2009, 04:52 PM
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I've got one that I've had for a couple of years now, and have no complaints, keeps perfect time and never had a problem with it.
If anything, I'd say its a bit over complicated as it does have loads of features I've never used on it, but it looks nice ( gold with white face ) and is fine to use as a reliable everyday watch that you arent paranoid about losing or damaging.
If anything, I'd say its a bit over complicated as it does have loads of features I've never used on it, but it looks nice ( gold with white face ) and is fine to use as a reliable everyday watch that you arent paranoid about losing or damaging.
01 August 2009, 05:13 PM
#4
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I got one of these and keeps good timing pritty chunky too and quite weighty.The hands/dials glow ok in low light nothing compared to my Nite watch lol ohhhh baby 
,but good enough.
,but good enough.
01 August 2009, 05:23 PM
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Thanks for the replies. The one above (or almost identical as top left dial has first quarter in red) i've seen for £149 which is allegedly a lot lower than the rrp. Might go back and have a closer look at it.
Also a question on black ion plated watches, do they discolour or chip easily and so get scruffy very quickly?
Also a question on black ion plated watches, do they discolour or chip easily and so get scruffy very quickly?
01 August 2009, 05:48 PM
#6
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Thanks for the replies. The one above (or almost identical as top left dial has first quarter in red) i've seen for £149 which is allegedly a lot lower than the rrp. Might go back and have a closer look at it.
Also a question on black ion plated watches, do they discolour or chip easily and so get scruffy very quickly?
Also a question on black ion plated watches, do they discolour or chip easily and so get scruffy very quickly?
01 August 2009, 06:42 PM
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Yeah just a different name for a different market.
Seiko are one of the worlds top watch makers. The only one other than Rolex who make all their own parts. Their top range watches have the best, most efficient, most advanced and accurate mechanical movement there is. The whole brand is quality, you can't go wrong with Seiko
Seiko are one of the worlds top watch makers. The only one other than Rolex who make all their own parts. Their top range watches have the best, most efficient, most advanced and accurate mechanical movement there is. The whole brand is quality, you can't go wrong with Seiko
01 August 2009, 07:00 PM
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Yep, nowt wrong with Seiko.
For £100-£150 budget, I would recommend an auto Monster or Atlas-Gadget DAY/DATE both bomb proof.
I have both, look good, function good, keep GOOD time, as good if not better than some of my more expensive watches.
Whatever you do, dont listen to a word Nat says about SPRINGDRIVE.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEIKO-GADGET-A...lenotsupported
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Seiko-Blac...lenotsupported
For £100-£150 budget, I would recommend an auto Monster or Atlas-Gadget DAY/DATE both bomb proof.
I have both, look good, function good, keep GOOD time, as good if not better than some of my more expensive watches.
Whatever you do, dont listen to a word Nat says about SPRINGDRIVE.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEIKO-GADGET-A...lenotsupported
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Seiko-Blac...lenotsupported
Last edited by yoza; 01 August 2009 at 07:10 PM.
01 August 2009, 07:16 PM
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Cheers for the advice. I really like the Atlas-Gadget i've just looked up on Ebay so that's two watches I want now with that black one above 
Here is the ebay ad does it look kosha?
SEIKO GADGET AUTOMATIC DIVER WATCH 200M SKZ209 SKZ209K1 on eBay (end time 03-Aug-09 12:30:37 BST)
Here is the ebay ad does it look kosha?
SEIKO GADGET AUTOMATIC DIVER WATCH 200M SKZ209 SKZ209K1 on eBay (end time 03-Aug-09 12:30:37 BST)
01 August 2009, 07:27 PM
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B2Z
Yes thats a real one, but £30 over priced.
They do them in white face/black and ink blue.
The large button is to turn the inner chapter ring with the compass on it, it has no function whatsoever hence Gadget.
Its nice and chunky, and the lume is only seconded by Tritium.
It has a smooth second hand sweep at 28,800 BPH, in English thats about 9 increments per second.
The fact that it is DAY/DATE is excellent.
If you order from HK they dont come with a box, but import duty is wavered and P&P is cheap, you should get one for £100-£120 delivered.
The black one you are looking at in Argos is rubbish, the bracelet is extremely poor, and the clasp is worse, if you feel it before you buy you will see exactly what I mean.
Yes thats a real one, but £30 over priced.
They do them in white face/black and ink blue.
The large button is to turn the inner chapter ring with the compass on it, it has no function whatsoever hence Gadget.
Its nice and chunky, and the lume is only seconded by Tritium.
It has a smooth second hand sweep at 28,800 BPH, in English thats about 9 increments per second.
The fact that it is DAY/DATE is excellent.
If you order from HK they dont come with a box, but import duty is wavered and P&P is cheap, you should get one for £100-£120 delivered.
The black one you are looking at in Argos is rubbish, the bracelet is extremely poor, and the clasp is worse, if you feel it before you buy you will see exactly what I mean.
Last edited by yoza; 01 August 2009 at 07:31 PM.
01 August 2009, 07:41 PM
#13
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Yep, nowt wrong with Seiko.
For £100-£150 budget, I would recommend an auto Monster or Atlas-Gadget DAY/DATE both bomb proof.
I have both, look good, function good, keep GOOD time, as good if not better than some of my more expensive watches.
Whatever you do, dont listen to a word Nat says about SPRINGDRIVE.
SEIKO GADGET AUTOMATIC DIVER ATLAS WATCH 200M SKZ209 on eBay (end time 10-Aug-09 19:16:46 BST)
New Seiko Black Monster 200M Automatic Diver on eBay (end time 01-Aug-09 20:01:30 BST)
For £100-£150 budget, I would recommend an auto Monster or Atlas-Gadget DAY/DATE both bomb proof.
I have both, look good, function good, keep GOOD time, as good if not better than some of my more expensive watches.
Whatever you do, dont listen to a word Nat says about SPRINGDRIVE.
SEIKO GADGET AUTOMATIC DIVER ATLAS WATCH 200M SKZ209 on eBay (end time 10-Aug-09 19:16:46 BST)
New Seiko Black Monster 200M Automatic Diver on eBay (end time 01-Aug-09 20:01:30 BST)
Did someone mention springdrive
01 August 2009, 07:46 PM
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***Drools***
I was offered one of the limted 300 series Springdrive Chronos in Dec. Only one in the UK. Declined as they wanted 30% deposit (non returnable) just to get it to the store to have a look at it.
Obv regretted not getting it pretty shortly after
I was offered one of the limted 300 series Springdrive Chronos in Dec. Only one in the UK. Declined as they wanted 30% deposit (non returnable) just to get it to the store to have a look at it.
Obv regretted not getting it pretty shortly after
01 August 2009, 07:48 PM
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Thanks i'm glad you've said that as saves me a trip to a shop I hate and also means the Mrs wont give me grief over wanting 2 new watches instead of one
Can you recommend somewhere to buy the Atlas-Gadget in the same colour as above because if I choose a HK seller i'm likely to pick the fake one with my luck rather than a real one?
Also just found my current watch model on ebay, went for a tenner
Can you recommend somewhere to buy the Atlas-Gadget in the same colour as above because if I choose a HK seller i'm likely to pick the fake one with my luck rather than a real one?
Also just found my current watch model on ebay, went for a tenner
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 01 August 2009 at 07:49 PM.
01 August 2009, 07:48 PM
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01 August 2009, 08:01 PM
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So far as I know they dont do a replica Atlas so dont worry.
The link you have used looks good, just a bit overpriced, its in this country and you have some comeback.
Just check location of dealer and feedback, also see what else they sell.
The link you have used looks good, just a bit overpriced, its in this country and you have some comeback.
Just check location of dealer and feedback, also see what else they sell.
01 August 2009, 08:08 PM
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I have a Citizen Eco Drive too GN-4-S (if that means anything to watch afficionados)
Its a good watch, cost me a fiver from a car boot sale, complete with instructions and original receipt (samuels, 250 quid) but the guy thought it was broke, and didnt realise the sub dial was pushed to CAL instead of TIME, I did that and its never skipped a beat in the 6 years ive worn it
The only problem I have with it now is that I managed to get a small deep scratch on it, you cant always see it, but it is noticeable so am on the look out for another watch
Its a good watch, cost me a fiver from a car boot sale, complete with instructions and original receipt (samuels, 250 quid) but the guy thought it was broke, and didnt realise the sub dial was pushed to CAL instead of TIME, I did that and its never skipped a beat in the 6 years ive worn it
The only problem I have with it now is that I managed to get a small deep scratch on it, you cant always see it, but it is noticeable so am on the look out for another watch
01 August 2009, 08:36 PM
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OK thanks, I just don't trust HK sellers as I thought everything gets cloned over there. Will continue looking on ebay as another link to ebay on google had them cheaper.
02 August 2009, 07:34 AM
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Hi Everybody!
About 6 months ago I got a Citizen Ecodrive Skyhawk Atomic - the titanium variant.
IMO it is the ultimate low maintenance watch and looks great too. Its very gadgety so unlike most ecodrives there is a meter showing the charge level. I also consider this the "do I need a holiday meter". It only stays on the maximum chage setting for a couple of months if you dont see enough sunshine ;-). If it drops below max I need a holiday.
So you never need to change the battery or wind it up.
Also, whilst its not atomic powered, this part of the name indicates it can pick up the European timesignal broadcast from Germany. It checks in every day at 2am to resync. It is always absolutely dead on acurate - perfectly synchronised with the pips all the time! It also changes when summer time ends starts.
So you never need to reset the time.
It also has an alarm (two actually) which I like and use.
Then all the other stuff you would expect for a gadgety watch plus a built in silde rule.
The titanium version is not heavy and the strap seems unscratchable. My only gripe it is a bit bigger than I would like but I guess that makes it all the more manly!
Sorry I cant post a photo.
Cheers
About 6 months ago I got a Citizen Ecodrive Skyhawk Atomic - the titanium variant.
IMO it is the ultimate low maintenance watch and looks great too. Its very gadgety so unlike most ecodrives there is a meter showing the charge level. I also consider this the "do I need a holiday meter". It only stays on the maximum chage setting for a couple of months if you dont see enough sunshine ;-). If it drops below max I need a holiday.
So you never need to change the battery or wind it up.
Also, whilst its not atomic powered, this part of the name indicates it can pick up the European timesignal broadcast from Germany. It checks in every day at 2am to resync. It is always absolutely dead on acurate - perfectly synchronised with the pips all the time! It also changes when summer time ends starts.
So you never need to reset the time.
It also has an alarm (two actually) which I like and use.
Then all the other stuff you would expect for a gadgety watch plus a built in silde rule.
The titanium version is not heavy and the strap seems unscratchable. My only gripe it is a bit bigger than I would like but I guess that makes it all the more manly!
Sorry I cant post a photo.
Cheers
02 August 2009, 11:10 AM
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Bob i bought one of these last year... im well pleased with it.
i think it was from the military watch co. from memory !!! (120-150 squid)
i think it was from the military watch co. from memory !!! (120-150 squid)
02 August 2009, 04:44 PM
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Thanks again for the replies. That Skyhawk is the one i'd seen that I liked with the orange text on the face but more than I wanted to spend out. I looked at that Pulsar today and it was bloody horrible in the flesh. I need to find somewhere I can look at both the Skyhawk and the Seiko and compare them but not sure that's going to be possible as your high street jewellers don't stock/sell both of these do they?
03 August 2009, 08:47 AM
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If you want to save some dosh on the Skyhawk and have a friend who travels in the USA they are quite a bit cheaper there.
Also, BA had a special offer on the Skyhawk Titanium variant a while back for travellers flying beyond the EU. That is how I got mine. Its still there though quite a bit more than I paid. Still a good saving.
I also noticed on BAs website that there is now an atomic solar powered Casio if that was your reason for wanting this watch. Not that I have lusted after a Casio since I was 14 ;-)
Also, BA had a special offer on the Skyhawk Titanium variant a while back for travellers flying beyond the EU. That is how I got mine. Its still there though quite a bit more than I paid. Still a good saving.
I also noticed on BAs website that there is now an atomic solar powered Casio if that was your reason for wanting this watch. Not that I have lusted after a Casio since I was 14 ;-)
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