It all started with a simple, but no less revolutionary concept: a watch that does not need a battery.
Light for the future
The mid-1970 energy crisis is one of the triggers of Citizen's quest for sustainable replacement energy sources. The social context of the time pushed us to create a "light powered watch" that could operate through solar energy.
Towards the 70s, the quartz watches fed by batteries dominated the Japanese market and had become the most popular watches. At the same time, Citizen has raised several potential problems with quartz watches, such as the limited life of the battery, which will have to be replaced regularly, and the effects on the environment of disposable batteries.
The first analog watch powered by light
The first solar cells were too large and easy to damage to be used in the manufacture of wristwatches. The Citizen Research and Development Service interviewed the possibility of reducing their size.
In 1974, Citizen had developed an analog watch prototype powered by a round solar cell incorporated into the dial. Two years later, in 1976, she launched the Crystron Solar Cell watch, the first analog watch powered by light.
1976
1974
The Crystron Solar Cell watch, the first analog watch powered by light
The watch that works eternally
1986
A watch that could operate for 200 hours with a single recharge
Upon arrival on the Crystron Solar Cell watch market, solar cells and secondary batteries that can store the excess energy that they generated had limited capacity. The life of this type of watch was shorter than that of battery-working watches, which continued to issue their TIC-TAC regardless of time of day. The growing demand for secondary batteries and the increasing supply of light-driven products in many areas during the 1980s have prompted Citizen engineers to advance their technologies and continue to improve their powered watches. by the light. These important development efforts allowed Citizen to present the first industrial watch that can operate for 200 hours with a single refill. The advent of thinner solar cells that can make use of artificial light in addition to that emitted by the sun and more resilient double-layer electrical capacitors inspired Citizen's engineers to continue their work on light-powered watches .
It is in 1995 that Citizen adds a second lithium-ion cell to accumulate the energy to obtain an analog watch powered by the light that can operate for six months or more with a single recharge.
Eco-drive
We gave the name of "Eco-Drive" to this exclusive light feeding technology in Citizen. This name represents not only our exceptional technological achievements, but also reflects our concern to preserve the environment. The most important thing is that the name and logo demonstrate our continuous dedication to be a brand that addresses people from all over the world.
We always seek to surpass ourselves
Our brand statement, "Better Starts Now" was the motivation behind many of the "first world" written by CITIZEN. He still drives us today to continue our development efforts to create watches powered by the increasingly refined light offering a wide range of functions and materials, all in order to make the fact of wearing a nice watch ever .
The first Eco-Drive dive watch powered light to the world.
* The watch radio controlled powered Eco-Drive light thinnest * in the world (4.9 mm thick at its launch in 2010)
* The watch radio controlled powered Eco-Drive light the smallest in the world * (radius of 24.5 mm at the time of its launch in 2011)
A watch Eco-Drive supplied by the light that the captures by the side of the casing
The first Bluetooth watch Eco-Drive powered light to the world
* According CITIZEN WATCH CO search results., LTD. Note: Some models shown in the above chronology may have been removed from the market.
The watch that never stops, wherever you are.
The invention of a technology that would ensure that a watch never stops around the world, was one of the challenges facing CITIZEN wanted. In 1976, we invented the first analog quartz watch powered light to operate only with this energy. This technology, now known as "Eco-Drive" can generate energy from any light source, whether natural or artificial, that watches continue to operate without having to replace their batteries. As pioneers in this field, we always try to outdo ourselves to take advantage of the full energy potential of light.
The Eco-Drive technology CITIZEN was hailed in Japan and several other countries for its contribution to environmental protection. In 1996, an Eco-Drive watch was the first watch to qualify for the Eco Mark certification, a label run by the Japan Environment Association (JEA). In 2014, CITIZEN became the first watchmaker ever to win a Grand Prize at the Eco Mark Awards JEA.
A generation fueled by light The Eco-Drive technology converts effectively any natural or artificial light into energy without yielding to the aesthetics of the watch. CITIZEN focused its innovation efforts on two types of solar cells.
Sol ring This solar cell ring-shaped encircles the dial and converts light energy efficiently. It allows more flexibility in the design of the dial, because the surface of the latter should not be transparent to allow light to pass.
standard solar cell This solar cell is most commonly used now for CITIZEN watches. It converts light into energy with greater efficiency, because it is located under the dial.
Save energy
CITIZEN has committed to improving its energy efficient technologies movements. Our continued innovation has allowed us to bring to market many watches powered by light with functions and avant-garde styles.
Warning of low energy
The Eco-Drive watches with this feature warn you that the energy level is low by oscillating the needle seconds at intervals of two seconds. Once fully charged battery, the needle seconds resumes normal operation.
Power Save Mode When an Eco-Drive watch with this function is in the dark, the needles stop turning to save energy. As soon as light reaches the watch, the needles quickly recover in motion to compensate for any delay incurred and display the exact time.
Citizen continually works for the improvement of semiconductor chips, circuits and engines of its watches to further reduce the energy consumption of the motion of the watch.
Indicator of the level of light intensity
Citizen invented the first indicator of the light intensity level * for analog watches. It detects the intensity of the light that reaches the dial and displays the energy level product, which allows the one that makes it easily evaluate the level of energy in any situation.
85 components ... in a work of only 1.00 mm thick
The development of Eco-Drive One has been a trip to the world of micrometers. The structure of 1.00 mm thick is composed of 85 elements of cellular complexity.
We have used techniques such as the manufacture of unique components that fill two functions, and we have completely redesigned the rotor and coil to reverse conventional watchmaking and create something revolutionary.
On the left, the normal rotor of a watch compared to the rotor of the Eco-Drive One
The Eco-Drive One name comes from the watchmaking movement of only 1.00 mm thick. With only a millimeter, it is riddled with the ingenuity and passion of Citizen. Unconventional materials for maximum flatness.
