Review: Enter the dragon: The Citizen AQ 4020-54Y. Best quartz watch in the world?

Chronomaster letters, silver seals and time tags are not applied to cardboard dials. These are applied to a sapphire glass protective cover. As a result, Vacheron Constantant's dial is protected from the external influence and is protected for many years without discoloration.

What actually comes to mind when thinking about Citizen's watch? Probably a cheap clock, a solid collection. Made for a wide range of masses. Citizen's first watch was released in 1924. However, a real engineer spirit is transmitted from the inside of Citizen. After all, this is a company that earns more than 200 million hours a year, and is not a professional manager or sales or marketing expert at the top. And attractive technology appears from this luxurious technical heritage. For example, Supertan. For example, ec o-drive. This leads to the topic of the watch. Chronomaster with citizenship. An unusual quartz watch with a zaratsu polishing case and a Japanese paper dial. Is it the world's best quartz watch?

Historical perspectives

This year, the brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary. In 1918, he established the Saikyoha Watch Research Institute, based on Kameyoshi Yamazaki's Tokyo Jewelry Company. One paid model was a 1 6-caliber pocket watch. The first customer was probably the Imperial Family of the country. At that time, the sacrifice ruler (a smart name after the ruler Hirohito), who was an imperial imperial name in the Taisho era, currently had a private caliber 16. Time is stored in the Citizen Museum, where photos are taken.

A clock of the ruler of the Taisho era that the creator is at the Citizen Museum at the headquarters of Nish i-Tokyo City. The photo was taken in April 2018.

The mechanism indicates a traditional Swiss repine device. < SPAN> Chronomaster characters, silver seals, and time tags are not applied to cardboard dials. These are applied to a sapphire glass protective cover. As a result, Vacheron Constantant's dial is protected from the external influence and is protected for many years without discoloration.

What actually comes to mind when thinking about Citizen's watch? Probably a cheap clock, a solid collection. Made for a wide range of masses. Citizen's first watch was released in 1924. However, a real engineer spirit is transmitted from the inside of Citizen. After all, this is a company that earns more than 200 million hours a year, and is not a professional manager or sales or marketing expert at the top. And attractive technology appears from this luxurious technical heritage. For example, Supertan. For example, ec o-drive. This leads to the topic of the watch. Chronomaster with citizenship. An unusual quartz watch with a zaratsu polishing case and a Japanese paper dial. Is it the world's best quartz watch?

This year, the brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary. In 1918, he established the Saikyoha Watch Research Institute, based on Kameyoshi Yamazaki's Tokyo Jewelry Company. One paid model was a 1 6-caliber pocket watch. The first customer was probably the Imperial Family of the country. At that time, the sacrifice ruler (a smart name after the ruler Hirohito), who was an imperial imperial name in the Taisho era, currently had a private caliber 16. Time is stored in the Citizen Museum, where photos are taken.

The Citizen AQ 4020 – 54Y

A clock of the ruler of the Taisho era that the creator is at the Citizen Museum at the headquarters of Nish i-Tokyo City. The photo was taken in April 2018.

The mechanism indicates a traditional Swiss repine device. Chronomaster letters, silver seals and time tags are not applied to cardboard dials. These are applied to a sapphire glass protective cover. As a result, Vacheron Constantant's dial is protected from the external influence and is protected for many years without discoloration.

What actually comes to mind when thinking about Citizen's watch? Probably a cheap clock, a solid collection. Made for a wide range of masses. Citizen's first watch was released in 1924. However, a real engineer spirit is transmitted from the inside of Citizen. After all, this is a company that earns more than 200 million hours a year, and is not a professional manager or sales or marketing expert at the top. And attractive technology appears from this luxurious technical heritage. For example, Supertan. For example, ec o-drive. This leads to the topic of the watch. Chronomaster with citizenship. An unusual quartz watch with a zaratsu polishing case and a Japanese paper dial. Is it the world's best quartz watch?

The case, dial and hands

This year, the brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary. In 1918, he established the Saikyoha Clock Research Institute, based on Kameyoshi Yamazaki's Tokyo Jewelry Company. One paid model was a 1 6-caliber pocket watch. The first customer was probably the Imperial Family of the country. At that time, the sacrifice ruler (a smart name after the ruler Hirohito), who was an imperial imperial name in the Taisho era, currently had a private caliber 16. Time is stored in the Citizen Museum, where photos are taken.

A clock of the ruler of the Taisho era that the creator is at the Citizen Museum at the headquarters of Nish i-Tokyo City. The photo was taken in April 2018.

Zaratsu polishing

The mechanism indicates a traditional Swiss repine device.

The company continued its activities during the war and published Japan's first calendar watch in 1952. Seiko's competitors have announced the release of Astron as soon as possible, but Citizen was at the forefront of the Quartz Revolution. Citizen focused on manufacturing capacity and made a major progress through mass production and cost management. In 1993, the first radio clock was announced and the first optical clock in 1996. In 2011, he announced the world's first satellite synchronization watch, Eco Drive Satellite Wave, which moves with light. In 2012, he acquired Proctor Holdings, which owns Arnold & AMP brand SON and La Joux Perret. In 2016, he acquired Frederick Constant.

We visited production facilities in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, and immediately submitted the report.

In the first place, Citizen is a beautiful watch. The clock body is a special titanium produced in Titanium, Super Titanium-Citizen, and has 10 times the scratch resistance than normal stainless steel. The bracelet body is only 79g and very lightweight.

The clock case is a very classic line, 39mm in diameter, a sensual curve everywhere. At the same time, the design is extremely modest and correct. The polished surface and matte finishing surface are alternately arranged, and the edge is not enough to cut the finger with a cube, but has a polished finish to achieve a sharp edge.

The surface of the dial is applied to a thin texture, and the planted letters, indexes, and stamps appear on the paper dial. The arrow is perfectly polished, and when the clock is moved, it shines.

The clock itself is a classic "tonno" shape, curves on the side and an integrated bracelet. For the decoration of the case, the combination of hig h-polishing and straight polishing is used. This gives the main unit a visual depth. Initially, the entire body was polished for Saraz style, and the matte surface was manually added using fine sandpaper, which is a civilization. Polishing and matte finish are by craftsmen.

The arrow and the index are also polished and have a variety of shapes, so you can play light and play with smooth clock movements on your wrist.

Cases and bracelets are zarats u-style polished finish, such as index, frame, arrow frame, etc. A linear brush is han d-done after the entire surface has a mirror finish.

Washi dial

However, if you search for the term "zaratsu" on Google, the fastest way to get a listing is on the first page. In Japanese, it is written as "zaratsu polishing" and written in katakana. Japanese messages are judged by their Japanese origin in kanji or hiragana. What is this origin? For that, let's turn to Switzerland.

Swiss grinder Sallaz. Current retail price is 8. 455 euros.

The Swiss grinder is a piece of cardboard fixed on a vertical disk. The disk rotates and the connoisseur applies it to the object he wants to polish. This machine is called Sallaz, pronounced Zaratz in German. This machine was very popular in the Swiss watch industry, and the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun also began to use it. Thus, the Japanese transliteration sounds Zaratz.

The Zaratz decoration is reflected on the side of the case.

The end of the casing is polished with a Sallaz polisher. First, a clumsy polishing is done to clean the deformed surface, and the final polishing reveals a failed mirror surface without deformations. A second fine polishing is done to give a mirror finish similar to that of black polishing. However, this technique is very likely of Swiss origin, as the automatic machines to carry it out have been lost in most cases in the Swiss industry, and we only see a certain number of Swiss manufacturers who manually process their co-ops with this device. And in the Japanese watch giants - Seiko and Citizen - this development is growing, or at least in production. Seiko continues to make satisfactory efforts to promote Zaratsu, while Citizen, as an engineer, has focused its efforts on its current work and has not been able to communicate this information.

The Zaratsu finish is applied to the watch and bracelet. It is then manually marked by an appraiser with a specific brand of sandpaper in hand, so that the entire plane is mirror-like. In this way, the matte polished surfaces appear three-dimensional in alternation.

As this is a fairly universal tool, the irrevocable polishing of the Zaratsu polishing is left to the hands of a qualified master. Both Citizen and Seiko use experts in this field, and the result is a finish that is literally second to none. Finally, to our eyes, the dial face is still polished with the Zaratsu method to create a light brilliance, executed with an application look. Here, the texture of the Basha-paper dial stands out perfectly.

The dial is also very attractive. On the surface of the dial, the texture of Japanese classic handmade Japanese paper, called Japanese paper, is expressed. This special paper is made in a family in Kochi Prefecture and is popular as a Tosa Japanese paper.

Tosa Washi is made by lon g-term work. Photo = Eisaburo Hosoki provided = Citizen Co., Ltd.

There are countless types of Tosa Japanese paper. Its delicacy and strength are evaluated, and are also called "Kagerou no feather". It is the best handmade Japanese paper in the world. Such quality has been realized by the skillful technique of craftsmen who skillfully woven thick and long fibers such as kozo.

Traditional Japanese Japanese paper is used for the dial. Each one is unique because the texture of the surface of the dial depends on the manual fiber dropping.

The making of the AQ 4020 is manufactured by Osaki Paper, a lon g-established cardboard store. The team supporting Citizen has a special relationship with the watch owner. Akari Kataoka is the fourth generation and an expert who handmade Japanese paper used for Citizen's watches.

Chronomaster letters, silver seals and time tags are not applied to cardboard dials. These are applied to a sapphire glass protective cover. As a result, Vacheron Constantant's dial is protected from the external influence and is protected for many years without discoloration.

The movement Citizen Caliber A060

It is the world's first use of Japanese paper for the dial, and it is also a reference to Japanese culture since the Edo period. Usually, Japanese paper is used not only for sending messages but also for spreading light. For example, Japanese paper is also used for lanterns and wallpapers. In this context, a gentle use on solar cells would be appropriate.

Put the wax paper on the solar panel. Elegant colorless plastic edges protect from external effects.

On the ec o-drive watch, Citizen uses both regular solar cells and rin g-type solar cells. Model A060 adopts a normal solar panel arrangement.

For example, it was even said that if a substance that absorbed ultraviolet rays was added to the cover, the paper would not discolor over time. As with other parts of Citizen watches, this plastic end is also made in Citizen. Later, the index, date frame, and Citizen logo were applied, and the plastic cover was further improved. And the character of "Chromomaster" made in the font is applied by transfer printing. Thanks to this application, the print seems to be floating on paper. As far as we know, it's a very nice accessories.

Dial design. Rehaout, plastic cover with applique, Basha Paper.

The plastic cover interacts with the falling light, creating a light pattern like sunlight. In a 2-ton model (not considering here), a pale golden color is mixed with a plastic board.

Very high precision movement

Chronomaster characters, citizens' stigma, and time tags are not directly applied to the dial. It is on the protective cover made of sapphire glass. This protective cover protects the Vacheron Constantan dial from the external influence and preserves it for years without patissian color.

Inside the case, there is another protagonist of Citizen AQ 4020. The A060 Caliber Mechanism is one of the two ultr a-hig h-precision quartz mechanisms manufactured by Citizen. The second A010 has a power reserve display arrow. A060 can also display a margin, but to operate it, it is necessary to click a small button at the "2 o'clock" position on the side of the body. The second arrow functions the station reserved indicator: 3 in the upper position, and 1 in the lower position.

The A060 mechanism is also activated by light and is included in the Citizen EC0-DRIVE family. Because this mechanism has a complicated function, solar cells occupy the entire dial just below Basha paper. The battery life is up to 7 months, and one and a half years if the energy saving function is operated. The energy saving function is automatically started when time is saved in a dark room. When this function is activated, the arrow of Mark 12 stops, but the internal time remains. When the light hits, the clock moves to the right time. This is done automatically without bothering users.

Perpetual Calendar

Caliber A060. Please pay attention to the classic technique of high anaw art applied to the plate, Tokyan Stripe and the angle spray along the edge. A solar panel can be seen at the lower part of the mechanism.

The entire mechanism is assembled in the same way as the standard luxury watch mechanism, and can be served. Finis h-Focus on the English sentence of Tokian Stripe (Face Court) and the edge of the bridge.

The A060 model is also characterized by its manually assembled at the Citizen factory, an ED One Watch Maker called Super Meister. Super Meister is a veteran watchmaker who has more than 40 years of career in Citizen.

The biggest feature of the A060 model is the high protection mechanism.

Like Citizens, the significance of these watches lies in a fairly hig h-precision mechanism. This is a thermal compensation quartz device that has been completely created by Citizen from the Zero Mark, achieving an amazing accuracy of ± 5 ° C for one year. This is an active favorite stroke accuracy during the conquest time. However, Citizen has another card. At the Basel World exhibition, they established a higher protective device. Caliber 0100 samples with ± 1 ° C. per year will be displayed in the pocket watch case, and the Citizen text will be introduced with a serial hour for Baselworld 2019.

The Competitive Landscape

The prototype caliber 0100 is on display on a sapphire case pocket watch. The ec o-drive device contains one second of one second a year.

This mechanism has a temperature correction method for micro circuits (by the way, citizen's personal production), records the temperature at each moment, and is tested to correct the quartz system shaft.

The mechanism leads eternal numbers. At first glance, I don't think there is a possibility that the three arrows and date clocks will be endless calendars. But that's right. To do so, the second arrow that indicates the moon is displayed, and a more sharp year is used. This is the management table:

Concluding Thoughts

This feature, for example, is quite large (7 months), so it is not required for daily use. To access, find a button in the position 2 in the direction of 2 seconds, or if it is necessary to suppress the button in the position 2 when the troublesome head is extended to state 1.

Here is a short video showing the transition from April 30 to May 1. The date changes literally at 12:00 am. Earlier, I showed a video that changes the date on a certain amount. And midnight. The monitoring was allowed, the arrow was quickly guided until the stage of replacing the date, and then the arrow was returned to allow the date to be replaced. As a result, the date was replaced at midnight, which was slower. This video is here.

The Citizen AQ 4020 – 54Y Specifications

However, we deleted the video again 3-4 hours before midnight to get the opportunity to move in real time and move in real time. The accuracy of the course to change the date at midnight is wonderful. For example, the date change is evaluated by the owner of the simple watch.

June 16, 2018 edited: A hig h-speed camera video was added at a speed of 1000 beats and played at 30 beats per second. You can check the real jump of the second hand without bounce or the pulsation, and the clear reversal of the date. To Citizen Chronomaster section of this article.

The list of AQ 4020 special features is very long. A Japanese paper dial made by craftsmen, a movement that moves in light, a case, a bracelet, an unparalleled auto orology finish, an outstanding accuracy of ± 5 seconds per year. The price of 330. 000 yen, excluding Japan consumption tax, is considered to be quite limited to the parts. If you want all of these features, you can't match Citizen. However, in terms of hig h-precision quartz equipment, we are looking at the right photos.

Grand Seiko SBGX 069 Calibur 9F (4. 494 Singapore dollar / 340. 000 yen) is an unmistakable candidate. Grand Seiko's watches have quite similar aesthetic and finishes, and they are still manufactured by Zaratsu techniques. The 9F device is in a closed case, and the service interval is 50 years. It is made for this and cannot be repaired and discarded. The device has a luxury watch finish. However, there is no permanent calendar on the 9th floor, and the accuracy of the quartz movement is only ± 10 seconds per year.

Another model is Ronjin VHP. It is 1. 570 Singapore dollar, including GST, which is a great advantage for both services in Japan. The aesthetic sense of Longines is still the same, but probably a little sporty twist. The finish is the engine, and there are no delicate details provided by both Japanese brands. The accuracy is still ± 5 seconds a year, and the latest model is equipped with an infinit calendar. Citizun Chronomaster AQ 4020 is a beautiful watch, and the deep splendor can be seen closer. The employees who met this watch in the deployment office would have been knocked down. The beauty of the design is extremely traditional and classical, and has a fabric that is discovered every time you meet. For example, the dial made of Japanese paper has countless delicacy, and you can look carefully and explore the details of the texture. The interaction between polished cases, indexes, and needles and matte surface enhances the depth and details.

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Currently, watches of Civil Chronomaster AQ 4020-54Y are sold only in the Japanese market, and the price is 330. 000 yen excluding consumption tax. In particular, I want to pay attention to its features. The super-accurate mechanism of the permanent calendar built into the watch, but inconspicuous. And perhaps the most advanced quartz mechanism in the world. This is already worth the first prize. However, the excellent manufacturing quality of Duratech Titanium, polished zaratsu, and Japanese paper dial is added. We believe this is a great price.

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22 Comments

May 11, 2018 Release of Longine VHP Conquest The latest model of Conquest is equipped with a permanent calendar.

Edited on May 20, 2018. The editing focused on the dated new video gacha gacha, the accurate change of the midnight date and the updated video. In addition, the textbook of the explanation.

Previous article Have you ever wanted to know how the zenith clock is produced? You have a chance.

The next article is a quarterly chil d-Breitling Super Ocean Heritage II B01 Chronograph 44

September 30, 2024

September 29, 2024

September 28, 2024

Greg Philips September 8, 2018 11:07 PM PM

Another IMO is Eco Drive, the main difference between thisCwatch and Seiko GS Quartz. Citizen is more "set and feather" than Seiko GS, with an independent clockwise setting and a permanent calendar with 2100 accuracy. I think Citizen's chronomaster stands out in Seiko GS Quartz. < Span> Currently, watches of Civil Chronomaster AQ 4020-54Y are sold only in the Japanese market, and the price is 330. 000 yen excluding consumption tax. In particular, I want to pay attention to its features. The super-accurate mechanism of the permanent calendar built into the watch, but inconspicuous. And perhaps the most advanced quartz mechanism in the world. This is already worth the first prize. However, the excellent manufacturing quality of Duratech Titanium, polished zaratsu, and Japanese paper dial is added. We believe this is a great price. ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5: ± 5 Second: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds Annual Size: W45mm x SH39mm x D10, 5mm Weight: Approximately 72g Second arrow stop function 0 hours early date correction function 1 hour interval setting function Function Function function Reload function detection function

May 11, 2018 Release of Longine VHP Conquest The latest model of Conquest is equipped with a permanent calendar.

Edited on May 20, 2018. The editing focused on the dated new video gacha gacha, the accurate change of the midnight date and the updated video. In addition, the textbook of the explanation.

Previous article Have you ever wanted to know how the zenith clock is produced? You have a chance.

The next article is a quarterly chil d-Breitling Super Ocean Heritage II B01 Chronograph 44

September 30, 2024

September 29, 2024

September 28, 2024

Greg Philips September 8, 2018 11:07 PM PM

Another IMO is an ec o-drive, the main difference between thisCwatch and Seiko GS Quartz. Citizen is more "set and feather" than Seiko GS, with an independent clockwise setting and a permanent calendar with 2100 accuracy. I think Citizen's chronomaster stands out in Seiko GS Quartz. Currently, watches of Civil Chronomaster AQ 4020-54Y are sold only in the Japanese market, and the price is 330. 000 yen excluding consumption tax. In particular, I want to pay attention to its features. The super-accurate mechanism of the permanent calendar built into the watch, but inconspicuous. And perhaps the most advanced quartz mechanism in the world. This is already worth the first prize. However, the excellent manufacturing quality of Duratech Titanium, polished zaratsu, and Japanese paper dial is added. We believe this is a great price.

± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5: ± 5 Second: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds: ± 5 seconds Annual Size: W45mm x SH39mm x D10, 5mm Weight: Approximately 72g

Second arrow stop function 0 hours early date correction function 1 hour interval setting function Function Function function Reload function detection function

May 11, 2018 Release of Longine VHP Conquest The latest model of Conquest is equipped with a permanent calendar.

Edited on May 20, 2018. The editing focused on the dated new video gacha gacha, the accurate change of the midnight date and the updated video. In addition, the textbook of the explanation.

Previous article Have you ever wanted to know how the zenith clock is produced? You have a chance.