A watch that aims to be an integral part of the user’s life should be an object that people are eager to use every day and never tire of looking at. That is the philosophy that inspires The CITIZEN’s attitude to aesthetics and usability. We use all the latest technologies as a matter of course, but staying flexible and open to new ideas (such as adopting traditional Japanese washi paper for dials), enables us to keep on pursuing and crafting the next ideal.

Eco-Drive is a CITIZEN proprietary technology that powers a watch using light the sole energy source. Because all Eco-Drive watches are equipped with a solar cell that sits beneath the dial, CITIZEN has conducted extensive R&D into different materials for dials. Our research finally led us to traditional Japanese washi paper. For hundreds of years, washi paper has been used as a light diffuser in paper sliding doors, floor lanterns and hanging lanterns.

We opted to use the washi paper noted for its long fibres and its combination of great thinness with great durability. At the same time as admitting the light needed to power Eco-Drive through the gaps between the fibres, the paper itself changes appearance depending on the angle at which it catches the light. To maximise the visual impact of the washi paper, we devised a double-layered structure with a transparent top plate, printing on that rather than directly on the paper itself. As well as making the product more robust, this two-layered structure enabled us to introduce a characterful sunray pattern for the whole dial, achieve excellent print quality and apply metal indexes.

We chose to use the washi paper, which weighs just 1.6 grammes per square metre and, at 0.02 millimetres, is so thin you can actually see through it. (This gossamer quality accounts for the paper’s nickname of “mayfly wings.”) The washi paper used for The CITIZEN watches is famous for its glorious whiteness and for its strength. Despite giving the impression of being handmade, it is in fact made by machines. It is widely used in the art world in the restoration of paintings, calligraphy scrolls and Buddhist statuary.

Scratch resistant. Lightweight. Gentle on the skin. Resistant to corrosion. Super Titanium™ is a CITIZEN proprietary material with all the qualities you could possibly want in a watch that sits directly up against your skin. Created by combining CITIZEN’s titanium-processing technologies with its surface-hardening technology Duratect, Super Titanium™ retains titanium’s original qualities of lightness and suitability for sensitive skin, but also looks beautiful and is more than five times as hard as stainless steel. Super Titanium™ feels and looks so good, you’ll never want to take your watch off! It’s another appealing feature to make The CITIZEN into an integral part of your life.