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What You Need to Understand About Citizen’s Series 8

The Series 8 shows what Citizen is capable of with mechanical movements at a level on par with luxury watches, while still offering the design history and pragmatism the brand is known for.

by Rob Nudds . Jun 26, 2024

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What You Need to Understand About Citizen’s Series 8

How can watch brands further excite collectors and draw in new fans? From the watch-buying public’s perspective, the best possible answer to that question would be to add real, perceptible value to product lineups. This is what Citizen seems to be conveying to its army of fans with its Series 8 collection. It showcases the Japanese brand’s watchmaking mastery in multiple ways and its commitment to continually raising the bar.

New functions, better finishing, improved materials, beefed-up power reserves… These welcome features are what driving watchmaking forward should be all about. And they show respect for the consumer, as well. But the goal of watchmaking on this level is also to achieve something that communicates with the wearer emotionally. While the head may be impressed by technical specifications, it is the reaction of the heart that Citizen is eyeballing with its impressive Series 8 collection.

The Citizen Series 8 880 GMT

A global leader in the accessible watchmaking space, Citizen also has a range of high-end models that have wowed collectors. It leverages its experience manufacturing timepieces at various levels, integrating different technologies and speaking to a wide-ranging global audience in the creation of the Series 8 collection. This is a line that expresses superior execution in every component, from the dial, case, and bracelet to the movement.

Solid technical specifications are backed up by an uncommon attention to detail shown to the external aesthetics. When you consider that Citizen has paired high-performing movements with superiorly finished cases and dials, thoughtfully implemented, as well as often overlooked elements like the bracelet and clasp — there’s no mistaking the essential value on offer.

The 9051 movement in the Citizen Series 8 831

The Citizen Series 8 880 GMT

The Series 8 itself is divided into different series: 880, 890, 870 and 831. They might differ in some case designs and sizes, as well as features and movements, but all include automatic functionality and enhanced magnetic resistance, while also offering a thinner movement profile. The watches in this collection tend to share a sporty but versatile contemporary design with steel bracelets. While not all technically incorporate the associated “integrated bracelet” concept, all feature thoughtfully executed H-link bracelets that are, more accurately, “integral” to their respective designs.

There’s also consistency among the models with case constructions that are comparatively complex, featuring multiple components and abundant facets with brushed and polished finishes. They also share involved dial textures, often with Japanese-inspired motifs — the squarish patterns on many Series 8 models echo the Tokyo skyline, while some special models reference the likes of cherry blossoms, for example.

The dial pattern of the Citizen Series 8 890 special edition reference NB6066-51W is inspired by cherry blossoms

Between the four series are three automatic movements, each in-house-developed, highly antimagnetic to 16,000 A/m — and which are genuinely high-quality and robust. The collection begins with the 831, featuring the 9051 movement with 42 hours of power reserve and a promised accuracy of -10/+20 seconds per day. The same movement is found in the 890 which serves as the Series 8’s take on the dive watch with a rotating inner bezel controlled by a crown at 2 o’clock and 200m of water resistance.

The 9054 movement is found in the 880 series of GMT watches. It adds more than simply GMT functionality, as it also boasts a 50-hour power reserve. At the top of the line is the 870. Its two-tone bezel gives it a distinctive look and inside it’s powered by the 0950 movement. Visible through a sapphire crystal caseback, automatic winding, a 50-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and accuracy of -5/+10 seconds per day, are movement specifications that make for impressive reading and equally impressive performance.

The 831 (left) and 870 both boast refined finishing

...as well as dial textures inspired by the Tokyo skyline

While we’ve established where the Series 8 fits within Citizen’s catalogue, what about its place in the wider market? Citizen isn’t trying simply to compete with the entry-level Swiss watches around its price point: the Series 8 is more on par with a considerably higher tier of watches in terms of its finishing, case and dial complexity as well as other features.

Citizen has always excelled at letting its products do the talking. There is a reason this Japanese juggernaut reputedly sells between 100–200 million watches per year. The name on the dial is trusted the world over. That allows Citizen to get creative in terms of products, and seasoned analysts have regularly lauded the brand’s proactivity when it comes to the value it offers for genuinely impressive watchmaking.

The Series 8 collection helps show more fans what one of Japan’s most recognized and respected makers is truly capable of. It leverages the group’s pool of creativity and resources to provide a tangibly elevated collection to great effect.