In 1976, Citizen introduced the Quartz Crystron Solar Cell, a wonderfully funky design that housed what would evolve into their Eco-Drive technology. This year marks the 50th anniversary of that momentous watch, and Citizen is celebrating with a unique new pair of Photon watches constructed from the brand’s proprietary Super Titanium material. The Photon represents a new silhouette from the brand, featuring an integrated bracelet design and a soft, cushion style case shape. A layered dial presents plenty of visual intrigue, while a new Eco-Drive movement, the caliber E036, pulls duty inside, providing an entire year of power on a single charge.
The technology that allows us to convert sunlight into usable energy emerged in the 1950s, though it was nowhere near efficient enough to power consumer goods until the late 70s and 80s. Citizen was ahead of the game in 1976 in producing a commercially viable product as small as a watch using photovoltaic (PV) cells, which were proudly displayed on the dial. They weren’t the first, however, as that honor goes to the digital Synchronar 2100 released four years prior. Citizen was the first to use it within an analog watch, however, and to their credit, they continued to develop the technology to what it is today.
The Photon represents decades of know-how and efficiency gains, and it’s even found a way to incorporate the light-harnessing technology without compromising the design goals of the watch. In fact, Citizen has become rather adept at using the tech in creative ways to work with the design rather than against it. The Photon may be the most cohesive example of this to date, and the concept behind the design is equally as nerdy.
The dial consists of thin metal layers with slit structures arranged at opposing angles, creating a kaleidoscope-esque feeling thanks to the base structural color film layer, visible through the remaining gaps in the metal plates. Conceptually, the idea was inspired by the famous double-slit experiment in physics. This experiment proves that particles such as electrons and photons exhibit wave-like and particle-like behavior, which feels especially poignant here as the watch itself is using photons to generate energy which the watch uses to power itself.
While early products that used solar cells could manage a charge over the course of hours and days depending on usage, the Citizen cal. E036 represents exponential efficiency gains that mean a single charge will power the watch for a full 365 days. Obviously, this is only relevant if you’re the type that wears a lot of watches, and might not get around to exposing a watch like this to sunlight for long periods of time. The movement is also accurate to within +/- 15 seconds per month.
The Photon is a sharp design, boasting a case that measures 39.6mm in diameter, and 9.9mm in thickness. This is all incorporated into a pretty seamless integrated design with a case and bracelet made from lightweight Super Titanium (hardened titanium). The net result should be a watch that wears like a whisper on the wrist. The watch is being expressed in two color variations, each of which will be limited to 5,000 pieces. Pricing begins just under $1,000. Citizen