Tsuyosa Two-Tone Grey Automatic Ref. NJ0154-80H

Many of us know Citizen for their innovative and extremely precise solar-powered quartz movements prominently found across various collections. However, when it comes to traditional watchmaking, Citizen delivers mechanical counterparts that are equally as impressive, producing timepieces boasting an incredibly high level of quality craftsmanship, mechanical performance and design excellence. 

This time, it looks like Citizen has crafted a watch that seemingly has it all, a splendid new release that could very well be a cult-favorite. Citizen gave birth to a real gem in the universe of Japanese domestic model (JDM) watches, in terms of specifications and overall appearance, the comparison to the legendary Seiko SARB and SARX line up is inevitable. Striking a perfect balance between being a dress watch and a sporty everyday piece, the dimensions, design and execution here is seriously impressive. 

Citizen Tsuyosa Two-Tone Grey Automatic Ref. NJ0154-80H

In 2022, Citizen branched out to create accessible collections that play on the trend for integrated designs and sporty-chic look - one is the Series 8, and the other is the Tsuyosa collection. Focusing on the latter, today the Japanese brings us with a refreshing retro two-tone design that continues to celebrate this series, we welcome the Citizen Tsuyosa Two-Tone Grey Automatic Ref. NJ0154-80H.

Housed in a 316L stainless steel case, the Citizen Tsuyosa presents itself with marvellous dimensions many would greatly appreciate, especially those with small to medium sized wrists. Measuring with a case diameter of 40mm, a slim case height of only 11.7mm, and lug to lug distance of 46mm. The elegant size plus the integrated design allow for an extremely comfortable fit on the wrist. While not exactly being the most dressiest watch in the world, the 40mm size, along with the integrated curves of the case, portrays an identity of a modern sporty-chic watch that looks fantastic with a suit yet flaunting a sporty ethos when accompanied with its two-tone stainless steel bracelet. The multi-polished bracelet feels substantially well-made with its case, where the middle links are done if yellow gold hue, and a Citizen-signed push button deployant clasp.

Multi-finished case

The case finishes on the Citizen executed to a remarkably high level of quality with fine brushing at the top of the lugs and the side of the case,  separated by mirror-finished bevelings. Citizen’s first-class Japanese craftsmanship is certainly displayed here. The mirror-like polishing done on the yellow gold bezel and the glorious chamfered edge is where the case really shines, brilliantly gleaming under the light. Citizen placed the slightly recessed  gold crown nicely at the 4’o clock of the case, resulting in a thorough integrated look.

Underneath the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with magnifying cyclops (treated with anti-reflective coating), the sober grey dial of the Citizen finds beauty in a simple, minimalist design that looks exceedingly refined with its tastefully applied YG hour indices and Citizen logo. The matching baton hands are well-proportioned, with the minute hand reaching all the way out to the printed minute track. Overall, the dial maintains good symmetry with the date window situated at the 3 o’clock position. Despite being a piece of dressier nature, Citizen’s proprietary luminous compound is treated generously on the hands and hour indices for a strong glow in the dark.


Citizen’s proprietary luminous glow in the dark

Flipping it over, the Citizen driven by the in-house Citizen caliber 8210 automatic movement, a performance-driven 21 jewel caliber developed by Citizen that runs at a 3 Hz rate of 21,600 beats per hour (BPH) and features a healthy 40 hours of power reserve. Revealed through the screw-in exhibition display case back, it is truly delightful to see the movement, in all its glory, beautifully decorated with a gold rotor and plates. While the watch does not sport a screw-down crown, it is equipped with a capable 50m meters of water resistance, handling accidental splashes without a problem.

In recent years, we have seen numerous promising releases from Citizen that showcased their impeccable watchmaking proficiency with the development of new calibers and posh high-end offerings that definitely impressed the world. The introduction of the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic is a refreshing game changer for the brand, filling a void between the lower and higher end of their spectrum of their catalogue as a watch that is decked out with all the right bells and whistles. Of course, value is the word that undeniably comes to mind for most audiences when Citizen is mentioned, this latest introduction offers great value as an all-rounder package with capable specifications with some 80s vibe, stunning finishing, seemingly perfect dimensions and a mighty in-house movement to top it all off.

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