Citizen

What’s in a name? Three hundred years after The Bard of Avon famously put those lines to stage, that very question was pondered by the innovators at the Shokosha Watch Research Institute. 

At the dawn of the 20th century in Japan, most of the watches sold were pocket watches imported from overseas. With the goal of creating wholly Japanese-made rival products in mind, the Shokosha Watch Research Institute launched its own pocket watch in 1924. This first product was a success, but needed a name. Then Tokyo Mayor Count Shinpei Goto, friend of the company’s founder, Kamekichi Yamazaki, suggested the name CITIZEN, in hopes that as many people, ie. citizens, as possible, would use and enjoy the watch for the years to come. Soon, in 1930, the company adopted the name Citizen Watch Company with the brand ethos of creating watches that are integral to their owners’ lives. 

It is with this philosophy in mind, that CITIZEN continues to marry technological with material know-how to create watches that have superior levels of accuracy and that are simple and practical in design, and with 2024 marking the company’s Centennial, Sotheby’s and CITIZEN are delighted to present the very first 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Pocket Watch for auction as a true testament to the CITIZEN philosophy. 

Inspired by the original 1924 CITIZEN pocket watch, the dial maintains the same layout with Breguet numerals and small seconds at 6 o’clock, but also looks towards the future. The unique dial pattern is a beautiful new addition that is created by electroforming, clear coating, and polishing. The pattern mimics the accumulation of snow after a snowfall symbolizing the passage of time. The sapphire display back showcases the in-house manually wound cal. 0270, which, like the movement in the original 1924 pocket watch, is decorated with diamond beveled edges and Côtes de Genève finish. As technically impressive as it is visually, the calibre delivers accuracy of -3 to +5 seconds a day by way of its free spring balance wheel which far surpasses the standards of what defines a chronometer.

Cased in titanium and ergonomically designed, the light, round-edge case fits snugly in the palm, and the bow pivots smoothly for ease of use. The case is secured by a cord that is made exclusively by Domyo, a historically distinguished Tokyo-based company that has been manufacturing kumihimo braided cords since 1652. Dyed a beautiful indigo color, the cord is handcrafted from pure Japanese silk, as not only a nod to its centuries old forbearer, but the Japanese culture for which CITIZEN remains a global ambassador of.

Accompanying this very first watch, for which almost all have already been spoken for, is an equally impressive and handcrafted book by the artisans at Assouline titled Citizen: The Essence of Time. Authored by Jack Forster, the editorial director at the 1916 Company and former Editor-in-Chief of HODINKEE, this tome chronicles CITIZEN’s remarkable journey over the past century. Featuring iconic timepieces, innovative advancements, and the company’s commitment to sustainability, this beautifully designed volume offers a glimpse into CITIZEN’s history, celebrating its role in shaping the future of horology. The book is unique to the present watch and is stamped to match the No. 1 nature of this exact timepiece.

So, what is in a name? In the case of this CITIZEN watch, over a century’s worth of innovation, and boundless optimism for a better tomorrow. We are thrilled to celebrate CITIZEN’s Centennial, and the mission of 1% for the planet as a fitting tribute to the hopes and dreams set out by the Shokosha Watch Research Institute 100 years ago.