Citizen

According to SJX via WWDJapan, Citizen will introduce a tourbillon June 2017, as to celebrate the 300th anniversary of department store chains Daimaru, which dates back to 1717. The tourbillon wristwatch will be available in a 42 mm diameter white gold case, with a white enamel dial, powered by a hand-wound movement with vertical striping on the bridges and chamfered edges akin to the decoration found on high-end Swiss watch caliber. Except it is made in Japan. With that said, it is important to note that Citizen watch group owns Swiss watch specialists La Joux-Perret, Arnold & Son, and the Frederique Constant Group, so I think it is safe to say they had some help from Switzerland. The retail price will be approximately $90,000 when it goes on sale next month.

Today, in Tokyo, Japan, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Frederique Constant Holding SA. The Frederique Constant Group consists of Frederique Constant, Alpina, and DeMonaco – which maybe most importantly has over a dozen manufacture calibers available to use at these three brands, and now, presumably to use within the Citizen group of brands, which includes Swiss brands La Joux-Perret (manufacture), Arnold & Son, and Angelus. Although we had not heard anything about this in advance, it is not that much of a surprise, as it has become common practice for acquisitions to occur during the industry down times (and right now the industry as a whole is down in terms of sales). And so, we expect more acquisitions to follow. Moreover, the Frederique Constant group, with a large Swiss-based production infrastructure

At Baselworld I had a chance to photograph three of Citizen's Eco-Drive concept watches, all part of the CITIZEN Basel Project 2009. The Eco-Drive RING is designed to receive light from a solar cell situated around the edge of the case. The Eco-Drive DOME features the new Cal.H610 movement, a dome-shaped dial and a unique case. The Eco-Drive VITRO features an invisible solar cell that is spread throughout the glass and a skeleton-type dial that is integrated with the case. Eco-Drive VITRO Eco-Drive DOME Eco-Drive DOME Eco-Drive RING Eco-Drive RING

Citizen introduces the Eco-Drive Super Chronograph 1000 Calibre U700/U70, which can measure 1/1000th second. Not the first company to do it, TAG Heuer was the first, but still very impressive. As well as split time, lap time and speed, the watch also displays average speed if the distance to be covered is input in advance.

Citizen said it will buy all shares of Bulova Corp. from Loews Corp. for $246 million in January. Citizen wants to strengthen its wristwatch presence in the $200-$600 price range. A representative from Bulova Corp. said that this will help them expand in the U.S., which is the world's biggest market for watches. Bulova owns brand names Accutron, Caravelle and Wittnauer.