Anyone have experience with these? I've been looking for an atomic watch but can't find one I like. Casio won't do. Some of the Citizen Eco-Drive watches can get very expensive but I've found found a few around the $200.00 mark. $250.00 is my max.

Edit: Prefer one with a digital calendar

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Have you already searched the many threads in the Seiko-Citizen section of watchuseek.com?

No Bob. I wanted some opinions from this forum.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

My wife bought me a Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium Saphire model for Christmas. I think this one was closer to $100. I like it OK.

Citizen Eco-drive is all I wear. I have owned three and I find them to be quality time pieces. I got my first one in 2007 I think. I would say try one on and see what you think. Get one of last years models and save some money.

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It's harder if you're stupid

I have a Nighthawk Eco-drive. It is my second Eco-drive, my son lusted after the first one and because of my "senior vision", I could no longer read it!

Great watches and never have to replace batteries. Highly recommended.

Bill

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"What does this button do..."

I've had my titanium eco-drive for over 8 years & it's still going strong. Only mistake was buying a watch rated to be waterproof to 100 meters. In order to use it for scuba diving, it needs to be rated for 200 meters, even though the deepest I have gone is 40 meters.

What's the power source on these? I hate changing batteries in quartz watches.

One jeweller I know does check the seals and replace them if needed and examines the rest of the works. He charges $75, but I trust him more than a typical battery change shop in the mall.

Power source is light. There is some sort of solar, or incandescent or whatever, charged battery in there. I assume it will wear out someday, but not for years. Owner does not need to do a thing.

I have two. I think they are a great value. Accurate to within seconds per month.

They have a replaceable capacitor, sometimes called the secondary battery, that will eventually wear out, in the range of a few years to a lifetime. Don't let the watch battery kiosk in the mall try to change it if it does fail, it a bit more complicated that a simple cell change, and if you intend it to have a rough life, you'll want new seals whenever it is opened. I think Casio changes quite a bit for a capacitor change service.

The capacitor will last a lot longer if the watch is kept changed, so months at a time in a dark sock drawer is not good.

My wife's first Eco Drive lasted 12 years. Well worth no winding and changing batteries. She's on her second now. Also bought one for my daughter as well as myself. Very pleased.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I have a five year old Citizen Eco Drive that hasn't missed a tick. Very good value in a time piece IMHO.

I have two and have had one of them at least twelve or thirteen years. Replaced a scratched crystal, and that's it. Every bit as good a watch as the Omega I inherited from my grandfather, and nowhere NEAR the price. However, there is still an automatic Tissot that I've been lusting after for MONTHS........

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MARK

I've had one similar to this for several years and I wear it daily. Love the big dial and it is really bright at night. Mine is the same WR200 watch but with a stainless band.

Amazon.com: Citizen Men's BM6400-00E "Eco-Drive" Stainless Steel and Canvas Watch: 180: Watches@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41o5C%2BbwUHL.@@AMEPARAM@@41o5C%2BbwUHL

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I've had a Citizen Eco-Drive now several years, cost was around $125.00 if I recall correctly. No problems.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Ron--

I LOVE mine! My wife got one for me a couple years ago. I must have somehow whacked it on something hard at work and cracked the crystal. Felt bad and figured it would cost too much to get it repaired. On a whim I searched eBay for the same model and immediately found an immaculate one for $55 shipped. Had it 2 days later, immaculate and apparently never worn. The original one cost around $175, as I recall. So, it might pay to check sources other than mall jewelry stores.

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*Either step up or step back*

I have had my Citizen Eco Drive for over 10 years. I never take it off except to sleep. It goes in salt water , chlorine water past 20 feet under. Work with it on (physical stuff, dirt whatever)Dropped many times. Dead nuts accurate never adjust it. Never had to do a thing to it. All stainless, Great watch for less than $200 when I bought it.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Wife has 2 eco-watches won't wear anything else, loves them. I don't wear a watch.

I'm "into" watches like others (and me included) are into Smith & Wesson's. I have several watches that cost four figures. That being said, my $200 eco-drive finds its way to my wrist several times a week, while the high dollar ones are left in the winder. I think its a great watch and the one I recommend to people wanting a quality timepiece without the outrageous price.

I've had my titanium eco drive for several years. I like it, but since I don't wear it often I have to keep it out to maintain a charge. It will run for months though with a good charging. I think I paid 150 or so at Costco.

My wife has had hers since 2003.
No problems at all.
She loves it!
JLK

I've had the skyhawk version for several yrs and like it a lot. It has more functions than you can use like chronometer, stop watch, calander, two alarms, tells time in two different zones, etc. The only down side is that the window for all these functions is small and I need my cheaters to see it well. Make sure you keep the instruction manual. I'm also tough on watches but it has taken everything I've dished out and continued to work perfectly.

I have three watches that I wear on a regular basis, a Suunto and 2 Citizen Eco-drives. They're all great, I wear the Suunto on duty and the Citizens for general use and going out. I'm very happy with them, they're extremely accurate and pretty rugged. I love that you never have to wind them or mess with a battery. Even if I leave one in a drawer for a coupe of months and it stops running, it starts up again within seconds of being exposed to light. I'll probably buy another one in the near future, I like a little variety.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I have a Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk that I've owned for at least 10 years. In fact, it's the only watch I've ever owned that has lasted that long. There's a few scratches on the band and crystal, but it's never failed and keeps excellent time. If this one ever fails, I certainly will buy another.

I Purchased a Citizen "Quartz" in 1977... I had it cleaned twice, put in a dozen or so batteries..It finally went belly up last year (That's 35 years worn just about every day)...I got me a WR-200 and am really pleased...Maybe I'll get 35 years out of this one..
JIM.......................

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SWCA # L-1911

I purchased a drivers watch about 5 years ago; it has lead a hard life and still keeping time.

In 2007 I bought a used first generation titanium Skyhawk. I paid $238 for it shipped to my house.

Some purchases give you buyer's remorse. Some purchases serve their purpose and you are merely satisfied. And a very few purchased make you happy, over and over and over again. My Skyhawk is one of my all-time favorite purchases. I only take it off to shower, so it's on my wrist 23 hours and 45 minutes per day. I love its look, its light weight, its ruggedness, its features, and it over-the-top accuracy. So far it's around +/- two (2) minutes PER YEAR. That's far more accurate than its specification and rivals the higher end quartz watches.

In 2011 I purchased a mechanical watch. (Orient Submariner. http://www.orientalwatchsite.com/ori...-a-brand-duel/) I was sure it was going to be my everyday watch. Well, I've probably worn it all of two weeks in the two years I've owned it. For some reason, it was unable to push the Skyhawk off my wrist. I guess I'm a one-watch man, and that watch is my Citizen Eco-drive. Eventually the capacitor in it is going to quit and then I'll have to decide what to do. I may very well send it in for service: new capacitor, new seals, lubrication of the E6B flight computer bezel, and a sapphire crystal instead of the mineral crystal it presently has. Sure, it will cost as much as a newer watch, but I'm not sure I want a newer watch.

There are a few other models in the Citizen line I like as well, especially Calibre 2100.

I have a citizen, I love it. they can get pricey but they are still cheaper than alot of nice watches. And you never have to buy a battery. Good quality and craftsmanship. Good looking too. (most of them anyway) IMO you cant go wrong with a Citizen Eco-Drive.

Got one and its going great. No problems, unlike the Timexs I had in the past.

Thanks Guys, I'm convinced. I just ordered one of the stainless steel models with black ion coating. Looking forward to getting it.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I have several EcoDrive chronographs that cost betwen three and four hundred dollars each. Beautiful watches and with their perpetual calendar, the only times I have to adjust it are the spring and fall time changes. Some are six or seven years old and no problems thus far.

Ed

I've had one for around four years. Wife bought it at JCP for a bit over $200, IIRC. I wear a watch 24/7. Lake, pool, shower, hot tub, etc. Never take it off. Never a problem. Has one of the best crystals of any watch I've ever owned, and that includes some pricey Seiko's I've had.

Only a couple gripes, one is it's a bit of a pain to set it. The stem has a two position in/out, that I find difficult to locate the date change position. And that is my other gripe, the date doesn't adjust for months less than 31 days. Personally, I wish it didn't even have the day/date feature. It's too small for my old eyes to read anyway. Just looked at it, and it says FRI 5. So it's been a while since I adjusted the date.....

2 watches I would recommend 1st a Seiko DIVE WATCH big heavy but tough and water proof! The one I have was bought in 80-81 and given too me by my brother for graduation. Worn daily till aprox 2003 when i almost lost it (on a call) due to wear in the area by the pins and band, batteries last about 2-3 years always back to Seiko for battery, clean and pressure test
2nd a citizen Eco-drive ten years old and still running this 1 does not accompany me when turnout gear is put on. keeps great time

OP
you can not go wrong with an eco drive, saw one on sale at the exchange
for presidents day Plain simple clean looking watch about 125.00 this one was a no frills just time function.

I have a Seiko kinetic that I have had for 10+years. Have had to replace some pins occasionally but otherwise still going strong. great watch though.

Hack, get one with the perpetual calendar feature. It knows which months have what number of days - even knows when February has 29 days if you set leap year correctly. Like I said above, the only time I have to reset mine is when the time changes like this weekend.

Ed

I'm "into" watches, like someone else posted above, with the 4 figure models that stay home all the time. About the only exception is an Omega Speedmaster 4-date that gets worn fairly often.

The most common daily wear watch is a Seiko Monster on a brushed stainless Watchadoo "lumpy" bracelet. It's an automatic (self winder) but I don't sit still long enough for that to be a problem.

I did move last May, and *somewhere* around here there is a zip-lock with more than a couple pre-Tag Heuer chronographs (no-dash Heuers?) in their cushy wrappings, that should be in the safe, and isn't !