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Affordable Men's Style

The Best of Citizen Watches

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Citizen Canvas – $124 | Black Leather Chrono – $206 | Brown Leather Chrono – $240

Originally Published 4/14/2010

All of these watches have the Citizen trademark Eco-Drive power-source.  Everyone has seen those Citizen Eco Drive “unstoppable” commercials with Eli Manning, or Paula Creamer.  A lot of guys probably write the powered by light slogan off as a gimmick.  Sure it’ll never need a battery, but is it that big of a deal?

Y’know that: “Damn… it’s dead” feeling you get when you notice the hands on your watch haven’t moved in awhile?  Right… you’ll never feel that with one of these.  That and Citizen Watches just plain look incredible.  Here’s three of the best looking pieces from arguably the greatest affordable watch manufacturer in the world.
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Citizen Eco-Drive Military Canvas Watch – $123.75

Flight Dial inspired numerals. Just over $100.
Flight Dial inspired numerals. Just over $100.

Released not too long ago, this updated and styled up version of Citizen’s older non-chrono canvas blows all other canvas watches out of the water.  Only $123.75.

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Citizen Eco-Drive Black Leather Sport Chrono – $206.25

The Do Everything Black Chronograph.
The Do Everything Black Chronograph.

There aren’t too many watches out there that work equally well with jeans as with a suit, but citizen has a flock of them.  The black leather alligator-like strap keeps it formal, while the chorno dials add that sport look to it.  Far from a big clunky sailing watch, the face is just under 40 mm in diameter, so it’s plenty smooth for a shirt and tie.

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Citizen Eco-Drive Brown Leather Perpetual Calendar Chrono – $240.00

Thicker, but in a really good way.
Thicker, but in a really good way.

This thing on the other hand, has a bit more beef to it.  Still a reserved 43 mm in diameter, the case is relatively thick and the face styling is good and aggressive.  The dial isn’t black, but instead a very dark navy.  Nice detail.

I’ve owned a few watches over the last ten years, and far and away my all time favorite is a Black leather band Citizen Eco Drive Chronograph. One that’s very similar to the Black Leather Chronograph up above.  $200+ might seem like a lot when you first make the buy, but you won’t feel the need to buy anything remotely similar (or any watch batteries either) for a very long time.

Is Citizen really the best Sub $300 watch maker in existence?  Got a better brand?  Comment below.