My last watch has been with me for more than 10 years. It has been reliable until the past couple of years. It started mis-behaving, require constant battery changes, (a sure sign that the watch is dying), and frequently stopping whenever I fly.
So last Christmas, I decided to buy myself an eco-driven citizen watch. An eco-drive watch uses light energy to run itself. The light source can be sun (solar) or an incandescent lamp (such as in an office environment). The watch uses a solar panel, in this case, its the face dial, to convert light into electrical energy which is stored in a special energy cell. This allows the watch to last a long time without seeing
any light, suitable for those of us who hibernate (Ha!); for those of us with very long winters and constantly wearing long sleeve clothes or just forgetting to charge it up.
According to my manual, under direct sunlight on a sunny summer day, my watch requires 3 minutes to charge for a 1-day usage, 26 minutes to charge from stop state to the one second movement (I'll explain what this is later), and 11 hours to charge from empty to full. In an office environment, it will take 2 hours to charge for a 1-day usage, 41 hours from stop state to the one second movement and 460 hours to charge from empty to full. This may seem a lot but in a fully charged state, the watch can run for at least 45 days without seeing any light source! I am sure that by sitting next to a computer in a lighted room, I am constantly charging it. Should my watch stop due to insufficient exposure to light, it could mean I need to get out more often or a sunny vacation!
[Amendment] How do I know that the watch is hungry and needs exposure to light? Well, the second hand starts ticking to a two second interval movement. After reading the manual at first, I thought that meant that instead of moving at one second interval between two second indicators, it moves at a two second interval.
How wrong was I? Today, my watch finally stopped and indicated that light was required for its survival! The second hand was ticking over two second intervals every 2-seconds(meaning, every 2sec, it moves across two second indicators). Seems about right, if it was to save energy. So, instead of ticking to 1-second, it was ticking to 2-seconds! (I guess its time to say ... I need a VACATION!!!) After a few days of this, the watch will eventually stop if it is not charged. I do not know what will happen for watches without the second hand, but I was told that the watch will give an audible ticking or the minute will start hitching. So, to explain the phrase 'from stop state to the one second movement' means that the second hand is moving at one second interval between second indicators!
Price wise, it is the most expensive watch I have ever bought. Come to think of it, it has been the only watch I have ever bought! It was priced at $425 (Australian dollars) which comes up to about 155 pounds or 234 Euros or $250 (US dollars). Since it was Christmas and was on discount, I got it for (wait for it), $300 (Australian dollars), which is 109 pounds or 165 Euros or $178 (US dollars). My model was the EP8094-53P. A recent froogle search (see my previous op on froogle), showed that the cheapest online sale for this particular one is $210 (US dollars). Bargain for me!
I have had the watch for more than a month now and it has not stopped yet (actually, it just did today), nor has it mis-behaved on any of my recent travels. I highly recommend this, should you be in the market for a watch. Just think of this, no batteries required ... just light! I know its a bit pricey, but if it last more than 10 years, its worth the investment. What could be better?
[Updated info] I have finally managed to starve my watch of food! Putting it next to my computer did not improve its condition. I had to put it next to the window, facing the sunlight in order to get it ticking to 1-second interval. Hopefully by afternoon, it will be less hungry!
For more info, try www.citizenwatch.com For an interesting story on the eco drive watch, try http://www.citizenwatch.co.jp/bsl_2002/eco-drive_book/index_e.html
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) Arguably the best looking mens watch ever. Large clear display, Solar powered,Enough functions to keep you informed/amused forever. (-) Not G-Shock nor Atomic clock (via radio signal) contolled. You certainly need instuctions here as well.
Very interesting – thanks… though I have to think I’d be less happy than you were about its sunlight requirement. I wonder if the ones touting a 300 day reserve would be easier to keep fed? It’s interesting that you talk about price in foreign currencies – this is one of the most infuriating things I’ve noticed about Citizen – they don’t sell their full range in the UK. The USA and Japan seems to get the best selection – Australia the second best and the unwanted dregs turn up for the UK market. I’ve been looking for a slim, plain, perpetual calendar watch in silver/black forever… the eco-drive range seems to come closest – but then only with US models… It feels as if Citizen doesn’t want to sell me one!
gard 19.02.2004 09:59
Hi. Nice review...but I have to disagree a bit. The title says "environment friendly watch". As you write in the review some of the energy is stored in the watch itself...the may not call it a battery but it is still something that stores the energy and that will require maintenance sooner or later (read replacement :-) The only true environment friendly watch is a mechanical watch which gets its energy from the movement of your arm. The only problem is that they can be rather pricey.
confusion 22.10.2003 10:27
excellent op. Recharging sounds a bit of a pain. The Seiko ones that recharge from movement seems more convenient but then you have to actually wear it - what a pain! Cheers.
Champagne dial. Gold plated stainless steel bracelet and case with protected crown. Fold ... more
over clasp with push button. Date. Luminous hands and hour markers. Eco drive - powered by light. Water resistant to 50 metres. Gift boxed. Manufacturer's 5 year g...
Postage & Packaging: £3.95 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
(CITIZEN) Ladies Eco-Drive Watch (EW8364-57H)Regular exposure to light, Eco-Drive ... more
continuously recharges itself for a lifetime of use. Eco-Drive's revolutionary lithium-ion rechargeable battery stores enough energy to power the watch for an astonishing...
Postage & Packaging: £3.95 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
(CITIZEN) Ladies Eco-Drive Bangle Watch (EW9222-56DW)Regular exposure to light the ... more
Eco-Drive will continuously recharge itself for a lifetime of use. Eco-Drive's revolutionary lithium-ion rechargeable battery stores enough energy to power the watch for...
Postage & Packaging: £4.87 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Arguably the best looking mens watch ever. Large clear display, Solar powered,Enough functions to keep you informed/amused forever. Disadvantages: Not G-Shock nor Atomic clock (via radio signal) contolled. You certainly need instuctions here as well.
Advantages: Quality, reputation, solid, diving potential, the tests they go through. Disadvantages: Automatics are a nightmare, too expensive, can do a lot better, you wonder if yours was ever tested.
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