CitizenMen's Eco-Drive Weekender Brycen Chronograph Watch Stainless Steel Case

I've been waiting for this since prime day and I'm not in the least bit disappointed.A couple weeks ago I was thinking of ideas for a gift to myself to celebrate surviving the hard times I've been going through. I grew up poor, in a town where the only opportunity is aerospace.By some strange miracle, I ended up working for one of the big companies, as a contractor doing maintenance on automated equipment. A few years later I got an offer to move out of my home town and work with an even bigger name, in house. I accepted because it was the only way I'd ever have a chance at climbing the ladder.A year and a half later I was fired because I refused to compromise quality for shareholder value.A couple months later I now work for an entirely different huge name and I could not be happier.This particular watch is a reflection of my values. It's not huge, but not small either. The strap is really well made as is the case. So far it seems to be moving smoothly and accurately, including the chronograph. Once you download the instructions it's easy to set and use for every day.And the green around the face is my favorite color.This watch is now the nicest thing I own because I've never really had anything nice to begin with but also because the craftsmanship and quality that Citizen have imbued it with perfectly represent who I am, who I want to be as a person.It's not gawdy and it's not flashy. It's reliable and well made while being affordable for those of us coming up in the world.It's a testament to excellence.

This "Brycen" chronograph by Citizen was a steal when on closeout sale. I have had a gift Citizen for 35 years now - but got tired of short battery life. (Gold tone Diver's with quartz movement powered by button cell) No complaints even with that antique, but battery changes and yearly service got tiresome. This Eco-Drive movement is completely self sustaining in even mere ambient light to keep it's hybrid Titanium lithium Ion battery up and running. This is an excellent movement in a very stylish stainless steel motif with polished highlights. It blends in with all of my wardrobe, dressy, to casual, it's a stunner.Now the good bits:All as mentioned above - battery is powered by a hidden solar cell under the face of the watch. It needs only 9 minutes of direct sunlight/day for all the energy it needs for up to 24 hours of running.When fully charged, it can keep moving up to about 6 months in the dark. But don't store *any* Eco-drive model away like this. Take it out and wear it for a day or two and let it charge up. A full charge from dead flat usually takes a day and a half of sunlight to bounce back to full charge.The lume on the face is powerful and a brilliant aqua-blue. Alas, it doesn't last quite as long as you'd want it to in complete darkness. Most of the glow is gone at the end of 10 minutes.The face Is clearly marked with sharp looking ticks, the hands hit on those ticks perfectly. (in mine anyway)Beautiful tachymeter ring in navy blue w/sharp, legible numbering. The aluminum ring is of a high polish that compliments the looks of this chronometer.Decent bracelet of alternating contrasts of brushed and polished steel is attractive to just look at. Once adjusted, it's secure and slip free.This is a bare basics chronometer, with subset dials to indicate Minutes, GMT 24-hr clock and running time seconds dial with all 60 ticks there. The large, orange sweep hand moves only when using the chronometer function and is accurate to 1/5th of a second.+-15 seconds accuracy in one month is pretty sharp for a quartz movement of this design and price point.Drawbacks: This is a short list -Inset day for the calendar is deep set into the watch face. So you do have to angle it about to see what the numerical day/date is.The bracelet strap has *NO* micro-adjustment w/spring clips. You have to drive links out of the bracelet to remove either a full link, or one of 4 "half" links to get it right. It took me three tries in the images attached to find "my fit". I have skinny arms, so this was vexing until I got it done. The pins drive out and in through a specific direction, the pins are split - so they have to be oriented and driven in the right directions so that they expand and click in deep, locking the links back together. You may need a jewelry store or a watchmaker's to get it right if this frustrates you.There is no lume on the watch dial or the ticks, only on the hour and minute hands. This makes full readability in the dark challenging. If it was a true "Dive" watch as Citizen sells then there would be full face and dial lume. This is a sports watch. Water resistant - not watertight. Snorkeling and swimming is a-OK. Don't press your luck with a case rated to 100meter/10 Bar.As it is a sports watch, (not a diver) the Tachymeter ring is FIXED. It's not ratcheting at all so therefore useless as a dive timer.Mild criticism: This watch would benefit from a hardened Sapphire crystal dome glass. You only get Mineral glass domes in this price range and style of watch. Jumping up to the Super Titanium Brycen, you get 200meter/20Bar water resistance and the sapphire crystal. Please bring Sapphires to the entire Brycen line.For the money I spent though, and as a first, self-purchased Citizen - I am very satisfied. The unit I received was factory new, in box, sealed - all anti-scuff plastics in place! No refurb or resold unit here. I hope it gives me the same reliability and timekeeping of my older Citizen. The Eco-Drive movement is allegedly good for 10 years of use, but Citizen reports service life upwards of 20 years under ideal conditions. A third party evaluator has reported that through simulated environments, charge/discharge cycles - an estimated 30+ years of service *could be achieved*. Citizen does recommend that the watch go in for service every 3 years, at least to replace the case seals and clean/lube as required. Electronically register your watch on Citizen's web page to start your 5 year warranty. If you use their app, they'll extend the warranty out to 6 years, gratis.I'd definitely pick up this watch as an economical entry into the Eco-Drive family with Citizen. This watch proves you neither have to break the bank or sell a kidney for fantastic looks, style, reliability and spot-on precision that's more than adequate for every day at work, or leisure-cruising around on the weekends.

Very durability, beautiful, very nice and accurate

I was interested in this watch a few years ago when it was a lot less pricey but I didn't get it. Wish I did. Even at the sale price I picked it for it's still costs a lot more.I wanted a eco-drive watch because I'm a huge fan of the Casio solar watches. This watch looks better then most Casios of this style. The face is simple with stamped numbers and pins. Easy to read the cream dial although in low light the white hands can be difficult to read. The hands are the only part that glows. Buttons seem to be of good quality. The band was instantly removed and I installed a Barton silicone band (black with orange trim). The leather band did not have quick release pins so it was in a pain getting off. The Barton is WAY more comfortable.Good size stainless steel case. Not huge by any standard but not small like many dress watches. Keeps good time although not atomic.Outer rim is a tachymeter which is easy to use since the large second hand belongs to the stopwatch. Of course it requires math so if you're unaware of how it works there are tutorials online.Comes is a decent gift box.Highly recommended if you can get on sale.

Negatives: small & very, very dark date numberThe hours are not numbered but weirdly 2 o’clock = #10, 8 o’clock = #40, etc.The hands don’t hold luminescence - even when blasted by a smartphone flashlight for 30sec - longer than 15-20 minutes, & neither the face nor hands can be illumined by pressing a button.Positives: smart looking, nice pkg, doesnt require any battery, keeps excellent time. Allows synchronization, on the hour, to a known exact time source, sturdy & attractive leather wristband w ventilation holes.

Smart looking watch and looks great on. Watch band is a little stiff and date a little hard to see, but overall, very happy with purchase.

No complaints so far !!! ....nice and elegant wrist watch..

I do love the looks of the watch. I have had it more than a year. The band looks awesome, but it will fade. The first one they sent started turning green within a month. Citizen did replace it, but the dark brown faded away until now it looks like lighter, worn leather. It isn't a bad look. Just know what you are getting.