BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Citizen’s first ever product was a watch, surprising? Well not really, the Shokosha Watch Research Institute which was the precursor of Citizen Watch Co as we know it, launched its own pocket watch back in 1924, named “CITIZEN” by then Tokyo Mayor, Shinpei Goto. This year marked the centenary, the 100th anniversary of the launch and from the vast array of Citizen’s rich line of watches, they selected the Series 8 880 Mechanical GMT as a special release to commemorate the monumental occasion. This limited edition watch is designed around a two-tone colour scheme of grey and blue.
As for the watch itself, it’s encased in a barrel-shaped stainless steel case measuring 41mm x 13.5mm. It retains the look of integrated bracelet Series 8 collection with sharp corners and angles along with the dash of alternating brushed and polished sections. The watch case is mostly charcoal grey, but the sides and the middle links of the bracelet are a deep blue. Up top, is a bidirectional bezel with a sleek, glossy insert that is split into two sections; one black, one blue; and with a 24-hour scale. Water resistant down to 100 meters.
The dial has a blue mother-of-pearl substrate exhibiting high-quality dispersion, that shimmers and shines, casting a rainbow glow across the watch face. The dial’s surface is adorned with tapering, faceted indices and a printed white minute scale. The hour and minute hands assume a dauphine shape, while the GMT hand features a heat-blued treatment, imparting a distinctive arrow-shaped tip. A date window can be found at 3 o’clock, with a white date wheel inside.
This Series 8 GMT is a flyer GMT watch with independent hour hand adjustment. The In-house Calibre 9054 automatic GMT movement makes it possible, beating at 28,800vph and providing a 50-hour power reserve.
Citizen Series 8 Mechanical GMT Limited Edition comes on an integrated three-link stainless steel bracelet with a dark grey and blue coating, polished and brushed for contrast. Limited to 2,200 pieces worldwide, it’s priced at EUR 1,295 or USD 1,995.
