Citizen Ace

[epiphany]

This just arrived - a Citizen Ace 23j. Serial number dates it to January 1962. There are some light scratches on the crystal but the dial is in very good condition. The case measures 37mm (rough measurement using a ruler) but wears larger because of the large dial. Looks like it still has the original gold plating (it says 20 microns C.G.P. on the caseback). I love these late 50s-early 60s handwinders! I generally don't like gold watches (this is the first one for me) but I'm liking this one.

Sorry for the poor cellphone pic under harsh lighting:


Thanks for looking.

[Thomas]

I think that looks very nice Epi,


I also "hated" gold and gold-tone watches, in fact all golden jewelry, always preferring silver colors. (Platinum was okay too! :-D ).


But then this NOS Seikomatic-R 8301-8001 cane up for sale, and I jumped on it. I never even thought about the fact that is was gold colored, it was just such a beautiful specimen, I had to have it.

Click for Big Image

And then I went looking for a dressy version of my beloved Seiko SARB033 and SARB035. I dismissed many models until I stumbled onto the rose-gold SARB072

Click for Big Image

Absolutely love at first sight!



So, I don't know how it happened but I don't mind gold colored watches any more!


- Thomas

[Deleted]

Very nice

I think the ACE is the equivalent of the Seiko Gold Feather. Both are very elegant watches from the period.
They harken back to a time when Seiko and Citizen took pride in making superior hand winding models.

[sweephand]

Nice Ace    I began to like gold plated watches from this era once I bought one or two - it does seem to me to wear better than later plating. And gold does look good imho on a dress watch. The gold filled pieces are nicer still, with a thicker coating, they look 'richer'.

Pete - the Diamond Flake was the competitor to the Gold Feather, these were the ultra thin watches of their day. The Ace was a development of Citizen's very successful Deluxe. Maybe they were pitched against the likes of the Seiko Crown? 

Stephen


 

[epiphany]

Thanks, all! 


Thomas, those gold watches are lovely. I haven't been wearing non-vintage watches lately, but that SARB looks classic.


Sweephand, most of what I know about Citizen watches, I learned from your blog. Thanks!

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2014 16:41:19 GMT -8 sweephand said:

Nice Ace    I began to like gold plated watches from this era once I bought one or two - it does seem to me to wear better than later plating. And gold does look good imho on a dress watch. The gold filled pieces are nicer still, with a thicker coating, they look 'richer'.

Pete - the Diamond Flake was the competitor to the Gold Feather, these were the ultra thin watches of their day. The Ace was a development of Citizen's very successful Deluxe. Maybe they were pitched against the likes of the Seiko Crown? 

Stephen


 

Thanks Stephen. I'm always happy to have my education furthered 7dfe79adc2f0

[sweephand]

Dec 18, 2014 9:16:13 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

Thanks Stephen. I'm always happy to have my education furthered 7dfe79adc2f0

  

Stephen

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 13:31:17 GMT -8 sweephand said:

Dec 18, 2014 9:16:13 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

Thanks Stephen. I'm always happy to have my education furthered 7dfe79adc2f0

  

Stephen

No need for embarrassment. I'm not that up on the older vintage Seiko and Citizen watches. My comparison was simply a cursory evaluation of two similar looking watches. Both having the dials that extend from bezel edge to bezel edge.
Now that I know; I will try not to make such broad brush strokes with my descriptions or comparisons.

[epiphany]

I couldn't resist. I popped open the case back (mercifully, without scratching anything) and fiddled a bit with the regulation bar.

Here's a shot of the movement: