CITIZEN Men's Eco-Drive Classic 44mm Stainless Steel BU2070-12L

My wife got me this watch for Father's Day (at "Father's" specific request ... lol). It's now my third Citizen "Eco-drive" watch, and it may end up being my favorite. The gleaming finish, stainless steel case is a flawless beauty. The size (44mm diameter) is just right for me ... not too big, not too small, and not too thick. The face is a kind of slate-blue, micro-grid pattern when you're looking at it straight on, but it flashes a much deeper, brighter, iridescent blue as you move it around in the light. The iridescent blue color is what you're mainly seeing in the listing photos ... probably why a few reviewers complained about the accuracy of the photos. That color is definitely there, but it isn't as dominant as the photos might suggest. Citizen has equipped this watch with a "sapphire" crystal, which enhances the blue tones of the watch face when you view it at an angle. Perfect choice. It's water resistant to 10 ATM (i.e., 100 meters, 333 feet) making it fine for swimming, showering & snorkeling, and I actually trust Citizen's water resistance ratings on their products, unlike the hordes of other, cheaper competitors out there. The stainless steel hands are imprinted with a strip of light-blue lume that glows VERY brightly when the watch is first brought out of light, then fades a bit, but remains visible in complete darkness. The movement of the second hand is very precisely aligned with the second markers on the outer ring of the face. The watch has three, chrome-ringed subdials: day of week, day of month (same size), and 24-hour dial (a little smaller than the other two). The letter/number characters on the dials are too tiny for most people to easily read, but once you've taken a close look at them and know how the dials are set up, it becomes easier to see/know what the hands are pointing at, whether you can make out the characters or not. For me, the overall look/feel of this watch is WELL worth a little minor inconvenience in the size of the markings on the subdials. The crown is 3-position: 1) closed; 2) turn counterclockwise to advance calendar day subdial; 3) turn clockwise (or reverse for hour/minute hands) to adjust time and advance day-of-week and 24-hour subdials. All very easy to "feel" and do. The band is beautiful, nicely finished leather, and it even comfortably fits my 8-inch wrist, with adjustment holes to spare, but I've already got several watches with essentially the same chocolate brown, croc-pattern band, so I opted to replace the factory band with a brown leather/navy blue "NATO" style band, as shown in the photos. I think the band makes the watch look even better. The EXACT lug width of the watch/factory band is 23mm (I measured both the lug width and band with a caliper, so trust me, not any contrary listing details). 23mm is an odd size that's difficult to find replacements for, but I was able to fit a 24mm replacement band in there with very little trouble (you'll need to transfer the spring bars from the original band), and as you can see, it looks fine. I expect accuracy to be as good as the movements in my other Citizen watches, which are generally rated at (+/-) 20 seconds a month, and Citizen's "Eco-drive" power system is a marvel. Once fully charged (Citizen recommends exposing the watch to direct sunlight for 11 hours before starting to wear it regularly ... much more than that for other kinds of light), the power cell will thereafter stay charged on much shorter exposures to light, and can keep running for up to 6 months in total darkness. In sum, this watch is a well-designed, multi-use workhorse that's beautiful, functional, and can easily go from workout/swimming, etc., to a night on the town or casual business meeting, etc. I love it. Only wish Father's Day came more than once a year ...

Because this watch is an Eco-Drive, I don't have to worry about winding it like an automatic watch or replacing a battery like a quartz watch. The Blue dial is slightly darker than the pictured watch, but in bright light it stands out. I wish it were a bit brighter. The watch has a sapphire crystal, which is a plus at this price point, and will help prevent future scratches. The watch has three dials, one for the Day of the Week, one for the date, and one 24-hour dial for AM/PM. It's easier to set the date one day behind, then advance the time to move the date forward to the correct date. NOTE: to avoid damaging the delicate internal gears that automatically advance the date at midnight, a period often called the "danger zone" (roughly 9 PM to 3 AM), I would change the time to 6:30, change the time/date, then set the correct time. The band is leather with an alligator print and a silver buckle, which fits nicely on my 7.5" wrist. I also like that the band comes with two keepers, which help keep it in place if you have a smaller wrist. I like that it is 100 meters/330 feet water-resistant, so I don't have to worry about being around water. Note that the band is 22.5 mm, so if you order a replacement band, you will need the 23 mm band, which will fit (I ordered one from Bartons on Amazon, and it fit perfectly). The 23 mm don't have as many options as 22 or 24 mm, so keep that in mind if you decide to replace the band. This is a 12 mm-thick watch with a 44 mm case diameter. This watch fits well on my wrist and transitions easily from dress to casual. Overall, this is an excellent-looking watch that looks even better in brighter light, accentuating the blue dial. So far the time has been spot on.

Quality/Price superb

Can’t go wrong with a Citizen.

I bought this watch because I wanted a real, everyday watch to rotate with my Apple Watch. Something I could throw on without thinking about charging, apps, or notifications; just a simple, dependable timepiece that looks good in most situations. I’ve been wearing it regularly for about a month now: workdays, casual outings, errands, and even a couple of semi-dressy events. Right away, the lightweight feel stood out. For a stainless steel watch, it doesn’t feel bulky or top-heavy on the wrist, which makes it easy to forget you’re wearing it after a while. The blue dial is honestly gorgeous, subtle indoors, but it really pops in natural light without looking flashy. It’s the kind of detail you notice when you glance at the time and think, “Yeah, that looks nice.” I noticed the watch sits flat and doesn’t snag on shirt cuffs, which I’ve had issues with on chunkier watches. Also, not worrying about battery changes thanks to Eco-Drive is genuinely convenient over time. That said, the leather strap is my biggest letdown. It’s comfortable enough, but it doesn’t look as classy or eye-catching as I hoped. It feels a bit plain and slightly lowers the overall premium vibe of the watch. I’m already considering swapping it out for a different strap, which says a lot. Overall, this watch is great if you want a reliable, everyday watch that works for almost any occasion without drawing too much attention. If you’re very picky about straps or want something bold and luxurious out of the box, you might want to look elsewhere or budget for a strap upgrade.

Such an attractive watch. Looks even better in person. I am pleased to give this watch as a graduation gift.

I liked this watch

Excelente reloj

Excelente calidad!!! Muy buen reloj por el precio !!!

Excelente muito bonito e preciso.

Muito mais bonito ao vivo. Muito preciso e bem acabado

Relógio muito bonito e elegante