HomeHomeCleaningMulti-Purpose CleaningCitizen Men's BL8004-53E Eco-Drive Calibre 8700 Watch |
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75 of 77 found the following review helpful:
 My first Eco-Drive Dec 17, 2004
By Alexander E. Paulsen
"AlexP"
This review can't be completely comprehensive since I've only had this watch for two weeks now, but it sure is attractive, comfortable and easy to use.
I typically shy away from quartz watches except as cheap work knock-abouts. My best watches are all automatics. I have several Omegas, 3 Rolex's, and 2 TAG's and a Breitling. All Automatics. I also have a Luminox as my "cheap" quartz knock-about. I feel that it is silly to have an expensive watch and it be reliant on using a battery. A good watch should be self-sufficient.
Citizen has performed an amazing technological breakthrough with the Eco-Drive movement. It is powered by light through a solar cell underneath the face. The cells are so efficient that they are invisible and it is impossible to tell it is there. They seem to have overcome any limitations of face design, and they now come in a multitude of colors and configurations.
The watches are claimed to never need a battery. The solar cell keeps a capacitor charged and the watch needs amazingly little light exposure. A few minutes a day is all that is needed. Not only that but the power reserve on some Citizen models is meaured in years. I'm not sure about this one but I think it is at least 6 months. AND, the watch can go into a power save mode where the movement is disabled and still keep time. Take the watch into the light for a minute or so and the movement resets and you're back in business.
This watch has a perpetual calendar that knows the month, date and leap year status so the date calendar is always right. This is a terrific touch. There is a little dial that tells you the day of the week, as well as 24 hour dial. Mine the two tone model, gold on a black face and looks terrific.
It has an alarm that while low in db is at a frequency that seems to be able to wake anyone from a deep sleep.
Did I mention that this watch is classically beautiful and can hold it's own quality-wise with any of the high dollar competition from Switzerland. Most people when they see it think it's a Breitling.
The bracelet is heavy and is in my opinion superior the the Rolex Submariner bracelet in terms of feel, comfort and heft. Plus, the clasp has these two little tabs on either side for a nice positive lock similar to the Omegas. Both watches make the normal Rolex Sub bracelet and clasp look cheap, flimsy and unworthy of the price.
I find almost nothing to fault about this watch, but I would have liked to have luminous markers, but the hands glow well and last all night. This watch gives up nothing to a $2500 Breitling.
I am not a watch chauvenist by any means, but I have always like the autos better knowing I am not reliant on an outside thing such as a battery without which my expensive watch is nothing better than a fancy paperweight. I am satisfied with the Eco-Drive concept.
Like most watch guys I value accuracy and this watch has it. I have all my autos tuned to be within a few seconds a month when worn. Wearing an automatic watch in the different arm positions throughout the day averages out the mechanical factors that lead to inaccuracies. In reality and normal use even the best quartz watches generally cannot keep time like a well-tuned automatic.
If a quartz movement is +3 seconds it will always gain no matter if worn or in the box so the time drifts. With an automatic, it may be +3 sec up, but -2 down and +1 sideways etc. When worn a lot the averages stay at near zero variation.
Maybe I got lucky with this one, but I set it to my atomic clock 2 weeks ago. As of this writing it is to the second with the atomic. Your results may vary but I suspect that Citizen has done their homework in the QC department.
This watch is inexpensive yet looks very expensive. The quality of the watch is what I have come to expect from a watch in the $1,000 - $2,500 range. Fool your friends. This watch is a bargain at $475. At the Amazon price of $235 it a steal. I may buy another of a different color. Yes folks this is that good.
Buy one and see for yourself.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 Great Watch Dec 29, 2006
By Mike C
I agree with everyone this is a great watch. I too researched watches and decided on this one. My only complaint is the crown. The crown has a lip on the end that gets caught when I reach into my briefcase and in some instances on the inside of my pocket. The crown catches and pulls out much too easy. The watch stops when the crown is pulled out. I almost missed a flight thinking I had plenty of time but in reality the watch was stopped. Keep an eye on the crown.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Get one if you can Apr 30, 2007
By Robert Glass
This is my third Eco-Drive, and perhaps the single most beautiful watch in my collection of over 30 (including Rolexes, Breitlings, etc.). Brilliantly designed and built to Citizen's usual high standards, possessing the legendary accuracy of the Eco-Drive system, this is an essential men's watch. Two-toned, it can function beautifully as a dress or sports watch. As others have noted, it looks quite expensive and easily rivals the beauty of far more expensive models like Rolex. Even at full retail price, it's a bargain. Yet it can be found online for half that price. Its perpetual day-date calendar is an amazing convenience. Highest recommendation.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
We should call this piece a time piece - Not a watch Mar 09, 2007
By Robert R. Garcia
The top class of this timepiece will put you on the Vegas whale status line. The high rollers will think your in league with them. And for good measure, it stands on equal quality with the $2000 plus watches that look second class compared to this timepiece. Yes, call it a timepiece, not a common watch. The over priced Rolex looks cheap compared to this. It virtually set itself, when I pull out the dial and rotated to the leap year dial and the whole watch started setting itself automatically. It almost scared me as the dials and month days were moving to the correct time a date. How do they do that??? !!!!
OK let's think if I can come up with any negatives. I wish they had the watch band adjust to micro lengths instead of having the watch man take a link or two out to fit your wrist, for perfect feel. I also wish they had the button to push that would light up the whole timepiece for night viewing. I guess with all the glamour dials it wouldn't fit. I can still live with both wish lists.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Best watch - ever Jun 01, 2010
By Brandon L.
I bought this watch 5 years ago, and I have worn it every day since. I wear it to work (with a shirt and tie), I wear it to formal events (with a suit / tux), I wear it out in town (jeans and a t-shirt), I wear it while working in the garden / landscaping / doing construction work, and I wear it when I travel (it's been to every continent but Australia). I'll admit it's gotten a bit banged up over the years (the face is a bit scratched), but I still get compliments all the time, including from people who have dropped far more cash on a watch. I have never had to repair it, nor have I had any problems. This watch is fantastic, and when (if) mine ever dies, I will buy this exact same model to replace it. I have never owned any product in my life I have been happier with.
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