While they might be famed for their hyper-accurate quartz watches, Citizen saw this as an opportunity to push the boat and create their own high standard of accuracy for mechanical timepieces. As such, in 2021 they collaborated with La Joux-Perret, the Swiss movement manufacturer who they acquired in 2012, in a bid to combine the best of their design and assembly expertise with the best of the Swiss maker's movement manufacturing and finishing expertise. As a result, The Citizen that we have here was created, the ref. NC0200-90E, along with two other references. Powered by the automatic cal. 0200, which was Citizen’s first mechanical movement in 11 years at the time, with an accuracy of -3/+5 seconds per day, the ref. NC0200-90E is a high-end Japanese mechanical sports watch that rivals the craftsmanship and quality of other Japanese brands like Grand Seiko. Boasting a textured black dial that was the result of the electroforming technique used to create the dial, the timepiece’s display immediately differentiates itself from other, more accessible watches from Citizen. With sharp dauphine hands and faceted applied indices, the ref. NC0200-90E’s display echoes the same design language used throughout its angular tonneau-shaped 40mm stainless steel case that creates quite a unique wearing experience indeed.

Showcasing the very best of Citizen's craftsmanship, references such as the NC0200-90E highlight just how much Japanese brands can impress with their craftsmanship and horological expertise when they decide to throw down the gauntlet.