Some watch brands chase trends. Citizen builds on a foundation. More than a century after it started making watches in Tokyo, the company is quietly moving its top-tier collection toward something more refined: richer dials, more thoughtful materials and a deeper connection to Japanese craft. Its two newest releases, The CITIZEN Tosa Washi Limited Editions, are a clear example of that direction.
Citizen's story begins in 1918 with the Shokosha Watch Research Institute in Tokyo. In 1924 it produced its first pocket watch, named "CITIZEN" by then-Tokyo mayor Shinpei Goto, who hoped the watch would become something everyday people could own and rely on. That idea of a watch for every citizen became the company's name and its philosophy.
Over the following decades, Citizen became one of the world's largest watch manufacturers, making its own movements, cases and components in-house. In 1976 it introduced the world's first light-powered analog quartz watch, the technology later known as Eco-Drive. Today Citizen's group also includes respected brands such as Bulova, Frédérique Constant, Alpina and Arnold & Son.
For many people, Citizen still means a dependable everyday watch. That reputation is earned, but it only tells part of the story. Over recent years, the brand has been steadily raising its ambitions at the top of its range, and nowhere is that clearer than in The CITIZEN, the premium collection first launched in 1995.
The CITIZEN focuses on three things: exceptional accuracy, refined titanium cases and dials rooted in traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Since 2017, that has meant dials made from Tosa washi, a handmade paper produced by artisans in Kochi Prefecture using methods passed down for generations. Washi has long been used in Japanese paper screens to soften and spread natural light, which makes it a natural fit for a light-powered watch. Light passes through the paper to reach the Eco-Drive solar cell beneath the dial.
This is not about chasing another brand. It is about Citizen adding its own chapter to the rich heritage of Japanese watchmaking, where precision engineering and traditional artistry work side by side.
Announced in September 2026, the two new models share the same 38.3mm Super Titanium case and high-accuracy movement, but each uses a different kind of washi paper to create a completely different personality.
The red-dial model uses Tengujoshi, the thinnest and most delicate type of Tosa washi. Because the paper is too fragile to dye, Citizen sets a translucent crimson layer over it. The result is a deep, warm red that still reveals the natural fibre texture underneath. It is paired with a Duratect Platinum-coated titanium case and matching titanium bracelet for a crisp, modern contrast.
The white-dial model uses Unryushi paper, made by working long fibres into the sheet during the papermaking process. Here those fibres are pale gold, creating cloud-like swirls across the dial, with a gold sweep near the bottom that recalls the Japanese art of kintsugi. Because the fibre pattern forms by hand, no two dials are exactly the same. The case is finished in a warm Duratect Sakura Pink, paired with a brown crocodile leather strap.
These releases arrive in 2026, the 50th anniversary of Citizen's light-powered watch technology. They show a company that is confident in its engineering and increasingly focused on beauty, texture and detail. The dials feel alive under changing light, the titanium cases are light and comfortable, and the accuracy puts them among the most precise watches you can wear.
For collectors, they represent something special: authentic Japanese craft, a meaningful anniversary year and a small production run. For Citizen, they are another step in a long journey from dependable everyday watches to true expressions of Japanese watchmaking culture.
Citizen traces its origins to 1918 in Tokyo and produced its first CITIZEN-branded pocket watch in 1924, giving it more than 100 years of watchmaking history.
Tosa washi is a traditional Japanese paper handmade in Kochi Prefecture. Citizen uses it on The CITIZEN dials because it adds natural texture while letting light through to power the Eco-Drive movement.
Both models use the Eco-Drive Caliber A060, rated to ±5 seconds per year, far more accurate than standard quartz watches.
Each reference is limited to 350 pieces worldwide.
In the US, the AQ4100-65X is $2,995 and the AQ4106-00B is $3,095.
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