19mm straps are not that hard to find anymore. Holden's has plenty to choose from. $407 is a steal for this watch. Classic OP style that you can wear in almost any situation. Citizen has some great watches but doesn't get the respect it deserves.
I have the black dial version and I must say, hands down one of the best watches money can buy. Despite giving him a rough life, no scratches so far, the protective coating is quite good. The design is elegant, sporty and essential. If it had a Swiss name on the dial it would probably retail for triple the price and people would still claim it was a bargain.
I got this watch from Sakura just a few days ago. The white dial is just outstanding. It's white with a silverish tone. I immediately changed the bracelet to a dark brown leather strap. The movement has been off by -2 seconds in the three days I've been wearing this watch non-stop. This watch is a beauty and no Seiko is a match in this pricepoint and specs.
I have one. I dig it. The prices have dropped about a hundred bucks since I got mine around a year ago. I’m into autos under a grand. Solid and tough. A win. MIJ.
I grabbed a SARX 075 ( White textured dial) 6R movement (70hr PR) which is considerably more expensive and this is just as nice, the dial, 9 series and case are beauty on a budget. Everything I’ve bought from Citizen starting with the Promaster Fugu diver as well and the Eco Drive World Time GMT is built well, takes it licks, accurate, reliable and looks good at a bargain.
I bought a watch from Sakura watches last year. The import taxes to the U.K was £70 (which I was fine with)so be careful people people and do your homework before the taking the plunge.
Have both the Sarb and this Citizen. Love how the polished inner bezel sets off the dial and indices. The Citizen is overall the better watch…smoother highbeat movement, sapphire crystal, better case finishing, better bracelet, lower price to USA. Very handsome watch. And the sunburst blue dial version Seiko has no answer for.
@@expertreviews1112I have the blue one and in sunlight it does look cheap. Indoors and especially in overcast weather it looks really good as the blue stays darker and graduates into black. Not something I purposely wear on sunny days.
You're right Rob, it does wear significantly larger than the Sarb033/035 as it has a longer lug-to-lug distance, a slightly larger case and a larger case/dial ratio. The bracelet tho is pretty much the same as the one's, Seiko used on their Sarb models back then. 19mm lug spacing is a pity, too.
It can be bought for ¥45000 at camera stores here in Tokyo, that is about USD$300. As at March 2024. The cheaper price in USD is because of the weak yen.
Love this watch, I have the white version, $383 from Sakura. Bracelet is about the same quality as the SARB…what I’d expect for around $400 if you shop around. There is room for a third tighter pair of micro adjustment holes, which a local jeweler added for me, fixed the issue of being a little too loose for my wrist. I think it’s a tossup between this and the SARB, but this one wins for white since the Sarb isn’t a true white, more of a cream.
Yet another example of a great size for the smaller wrist being ruined by male end links. Yes you can change the bracelet but we are paying for the bracelet as part of the package.
Very nice Rob. I would love to see this watch side by side with the SARB 035 creme dial to validate your comment about this being more beautiful because to my eye, I am not sure that's the case. But, you have great aesthetic sense because this is what you do and if you say this watch is more beautiful than the iconic Seiko 035, I am going to have to take your word on it.
I have the 035 and the blue dial version of this Citizen. I would say the Citizen has zaratsu like polishing of the indices that truly is stunning and more impressive than the SARB. Both watches are great. I'd say the watches are quite comparable.
I’ve previously owned both the SARB033 and SARB035. This blows them out of the water. Photos and video don’t do the dial justice. The dial has a cool reflective shinny pattern and the mix of brushed and policed indices shimmer in all lighting. The case finishing, bracelet and movement are leagues ahead of the SARB033/35. Citizen delivered on the perfect dressy piece I had been waiting for. Trust me you’d sell your Seiko SARB once you handle this Citizen in person.
I’d choose this silver dial color over the cream SARB035 (which I had) and the 38.5mm size over the larger Seiko Presage models. It looks like a nice middle-of-the-road GADA. I had this on my radar but chose the dressier white dial Raymond Weil Maestro as my dress watch, plus the RW has standard 20mm lugs
This machine looks neat, pure and ultraconservative superficially when it comes to an abstract observation. On the other hand this is a sculpture of proportional madness that is hard to make without extreme meanness and persistence in reaility. In this respect the machine has a same danger as Janus but fortunately this can be alerted by a complex see-through back at the rear compared to extremely simple front. It would be surprising if many people recognize radical concept of this machine however fortunately I don't think it is easy to notice.
I’d rather have it with a 5 second/year thermocompensated quartz movement. But I’m a freak. Some of the Seiko Dolce watches have those, usually no date function.
naw SARB is still king (if you can find one nowadays): Signed crown, better looking handset, classier looking overall, compact lugs for smaller wrists, comfortable bracelet, 20mm lug width strap monster. The Citizen looks more plain IMO, however lume is better, thinner case, and the 9011 movement is better at 28.8k bph. I have a love/hate relationship with Seiko's 6R movement but I'll still choose the SARB hands down.
Anyone watching go for the Islander Linen over this, better value and design, especially lug to lug. There is an Islander oyster bracelet available for $60 “upgrade”. I’m not knocking the Citizen, but the Islander wins.
It really, REALLY doesn't,as good as Marc's watches are,and they are very good,they're a microbrand,a wannabe,this is from a proper watch makers with a true heritage and history.
