How to Set Citizen Eco-Drive Watch: A Comprehensive Guide

Citizen Eco-Drive watches stand out for their innovative blend of style, functionality, and sustainability. Powered by light, these watches epitomize cutting-edge technology, offering a hassle-free experience without frequent battery replacements. But before putting it on, you need to know how to set a Citizen Eco-Drive watch for the first time.

Mastering the art of setting a Citizen watch ensures that you stay punctual and harness its full potential. In this comprehensive guide, we unravel the steps to effortlessly set your Citizen Eco-Drive timepiece.

Understanding Your Watch

Before diving into the setting process, acquaint yourself with the components of your Citizen Eco-Drive watch. Typically, these watches feature a crown (the small knob on the side), buttons for mode selection and adjustments, and a display that showcases various functions. Let’s take a look at the picture below to help you understand:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

Name of Components:

1. Hour hand.
2. 24-hour hand.
3. Alarm ON/OFF.
4. Second hand.
5. Mode hand.
6. Button (B).
7. Date.
8. Crown (normal position).
9. Minute hand.
10. Button (A).
11. Function hand.

How to Set Citizen Eco-Drive Watch

Ensure your watch is adequately charged before initiating the setting procedure. Expose it to natural or artificial light for optimal charging. Ensuring your watch is fully charged guarantees that your timepiece operates seamlessly, reflecting Citizen's commitment to sustainable timekeeping.

After that, you can continue to set the time and calendar as well as explore other features of your Citizen Eco-Drive watch. Below are the steps for every setting. 

Switching the Mode

Most Citizen Eco-Drive watches come with 4 different modes which are the time/calendar, chronograph, alarm, and local time. You can check the current mode by looking at the mode hand as pictured below:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

Each mode is indicated as below:

• TME → Time/calendar mode.
• CHR → Chronograph mode.
• L-TM → Local time mode.
• ALM → Alarm mode. 

Read also: How to Set a Time on a Watch: Tips for Mechanical Timepiece

Setting the Time

Adjusting the time is the utmost important thing to learn about wearing a watch. To change the time, you need to learn about the crown’s position and which position allows you to adjust the time. Here’s the tutorial:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

1. Rotate the crown to switch the mode to time/calendar mode.
2. Pull out the crown to position 2 (time-setting position). After that, the second hand will advance to the 0-second position and stop.
3. Adjust the time by rotating the crown to right (clockwise) or left (counterclockwise).
4. After adjusting the time according to a reliable time source, return the crown to a normal position (closed).

Setting the Calendar (If Applicable) 

The next step of how to set the Citizen Eco-Drive watch includes setting the calendar. Here are the steps to follow:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

1. Enter the time/calendar mode to adjust the date for the first time.
2. Pull out the crown to position 1 (calendar adjustment position). After that, the second hand will move rapidly to the month position set in memory and stop. Meanwhile, the function hand will move to the year position (number of years elapsed since leap year) set in memory and stop. 
3. Rotate the crown to the left to adjust the date. 
4. Press the upper right button (A) to set the year to the correct one. 
5. Press the lower right button (B) to correct the month. 
6. After everything is set, return the crown to a normal position. 
7. It’s worth noting that after the calendar is set, it will work as a perpetual calendar that automatically changes the date, month, and year according to the leap years. 

Using the Chronograph

Some Citizen Eco-Drive watches feature a chronograph that works as a stopwatch. It can measure times up to 59 minutes and 59.95 seconds in units of 1/20 (0.05 second). After that, the chronograph will reset to 0. Here’s how to set the chronograph:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

1. Switch the watch’s mode to the chronograph function.
2. Use the upper right button (A) to start and stop the chronograph.
3. Press and hold the upper right button (A) while the chronograph is stopped to reset the measurement to 0. 

Operating the Local (Secondary) Time

If you are a frequent traveler, wearing a Citizen Eco-Drive watch with a local time feature would be helpful. It allows you to track different time zones in one watch only. Here's the tutorial:

Source: Citizen Watch Global

1. Rotate the crown to enter the local time mode.
2. Pull out the crown to position 2 (local time adjustment).
3. Rotate the crown to the right (clockwise) or left (counterclockwise) to adjust the time difference.

Read also: How to Charge Citizen Eco-Drive Watch – All You Need to Know

Things to Pay Attention 

Other than knowing how to set a Citizen Eco-Drive watch, paying attention to some important elements is also important to ensure your watch works flawlessly. Below are several things you need to pay attention to:

Expose the Watch to Light Periodically

Utilizing a rechargeable cell, the Citizen Eco-Drive watch stores electrical energy in an eco-friendly manner, devoid of any hazardous elements like mercury. Once fully charged, the watch operates autonomously for around 9 to 24 months without requiring further light exposure.

Charging Time

Most people discover that their Citizen watch receives enough light to sustain its charge throughout their typical daily activities. Under normal circumstances, just 10 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight outdoors or 4 hours of indoor illumination can provide the necessary charge for a full day's operation. 

To ensure optimal functionality and prevent the watch from halting due to insufficient charge, it is advisable to expose it to direct sunlight for 5 to 6 hours once a month if it isn't regularly exposed to light.

Ensuring Optimal Operation 

It is essential to consistently position the watch in a well-lit area when it is not being worn. Place it where the watch face can be exposed to light, such as a windowsill where sunlight can directly reach it. 

Moreover, be mindful that wearing long-sleeved clothing may hinder adequate light exposure to the watch face, potentially leading to insufficient charging. In such instances, it is advisable to adhere to the basic charging guide of regularly placing the watch under direct sunlight for several hours once a month to ensure optimal charging.

Conclusion

Understanding how to set Citizen Eco-Drive watch might be difficult for first-timers. But, you’ll master it in no time. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly configure your timepiece to suit your preferences and lifestyle. Remember to expose the watch to natural or artificial light to keep it charged.

Whether it's adjusting the time and date or exploring additional features, the versatility of your Citizen Eco-Drive watch empowers you to tailor your timekeeping experience with ease. 

Read also: Tissot vs Citizen: Comparing the Two Leading Brands