Around four years ago, watch enthusiasts around the globe started noticing a new, highly attractively priced mechanical watch series from Citizen with an integrated bracelet. In 2022, the first pieces of the sporty-chic watch collection showed up officially in Europe, and since the end of May 2023, the “Tsuyosa” has finally found its way to the US Patrik-Philipp Huber, who runs one of the oldest watch stores in Basel, Switzerland, remembers the arrival well: “We sold the first watch to a customer just 10 minutes after we had put it in the window.“ Interestingly, it was the NJ0150-56Z with a yellow dial with sunray finish that appears to be one of the more popular colour options. Or perhaps it inspires a less traditional buying pattern, thanks to its list price of $450 (`38,000 approx.). Eric Horowitz, Managing Director for the Citizen brand in the US confirms this. “The demand for colour in watches is undeniable. The ‘Tsuyosa’ first launched internationally late last year, and the reaction was incredible. We knew we needed to bring this highly coveted timepiece to the US market.”

At this point, Citizen Watch Company of America offers the NJ015 in a lineup of five different dial colours: Black (Ref. NJ0150-56E), blue (Ref. NJ0150-56L), yellow (Ref. NJ0150-56Z), green (Ref. NJ0150-56X), and light blue or turquoise (Ref. NJ0151-53M), all with a sunray finish on their surfaces that perfectly matches the model’s slightly ’70s-inspired design (a bit like an Oysterquartz with a crown at 4). The baton-style indexes, two of them are applied to the 12 and 6 o’clock locations, and the hour and minute hand are all covered with white lume. 

The 40mm case is chamfered and finished with brushing and polishing. With a thickness of 11.7mm and compact angular lug design, the proportions should allow a majority of people to wear the watch comfortably. In addition, the crown is located at the 4 o’clock position and provides a slimmer appearance to the watch when pushed in. On the downside, it is a bit difficult to operate. The flat sapphire crystal on the Tsuyosa includes a date magnifying loupe for the date aperture at 3 o’clock, the display caseback is equipped with a mineral crystal, and water resistance is 50 meters, qualifying it for “still water swimming”.

The movement behind it is the Caliber 8210, an entry-level workhorse movement sourced from the company’s own movement supplier Miyota. The origins of Miyota date back to 1959, the year Citizen built a movement factory in the town of Miyota in Nagano in central Japan; the Miyota brand itself was launched in 1980 and used to supply movements to brands around the world since then. According to the manufacturer, the 8000 series has become “one of the most widespread mechanical movements in the world” in the decades since its introduction. The 8210 here measures 25.6mm in diameter, has 21 jewels, and beats at 21,600 vph (3Hz). It features a unidirectional winding system, is regulated to an accuracy of -20 to -20 seconds per day, and offers a power reserve of at least 40 hours when fully wound. It does allow hand winding and for the two watches we tested, also hacking. Here, as it can be seen through the exhibition caseback, it has a gold-coloured finish but is otherwise largely undecorated.

Fitted to the angular semi-integrated lugs is a solid three-link metal bracelet with brushed sides and polished centre links. The stamped folding clasp works with a double push-button release and offers three holes of micro-adjustment for the placement of the springbar. The end link measures only 9.1mm, so expect a little bit of play, adding to the overall casual feeling when wearing the watch. Interestingly, the bracelet almost didn’t need to be shortened here, which might be because of the crystal on the caseback (holding the watch in place), the well-balanced weight between bracelet and head, or simply because it didn’t come with too many excess bracelet links.