Customer Reviews

Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Blue Angels Skyhawk Watch #JR3090-58L

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This review is for the Citizen Skyhawk BlueAngel edition titanium watch, however, most of the comments are relevant to the entire Skyhawk series. I received this watch (Mar 2) days ago. So far I am very happy with it. I had a hard time deciding between the Blue Angel and the "regular" Skyhawk; I had an even harder time deciding between titanium and non-titanium. Below is a list of pros and cons of the watch(es) roughly in order of decreasing importance to me. However, I do want to make clear that I do love the watch, the pros WAY outweigh the cons.

Pro:
- Watch looks beautiful, though some may find it "too busy".
- Watch never needs batteries (solar charging) and even has power saving modes, which is fascinating for a techno-enviro-energy saving guy like me.
- I've always been a sucker for dual display (analog/digital) watches. As such, this watch has MANY useful functions: stopwatch (split/stop), countdown timer (1-99 minutes), many time zones (analog aligns with any time zone you want at the press of button), 3 Alarms (in any time zone), calendar (with day of week, month, and year - never need to correct for leap year, month, or daylight savings), and slide rule calculator on the outer dial, of which I have more to say in the next bullet.
- I was born after the slide rule generation, so this is my first exposure to the concept. It is intriguing! This particular configuration (or two proportional dials) allows for multiplication and division to 2 significant figures (e.g. 120/43, or 0.18*1.4). This is plenty sufficient for calculating sale price, tax, tip, unit price in stores, car/air fuel economy, etc. And it sure beats wearing around what I call a "geek watch" - a calculator watch. I used to love the functionality of a calculator watch, but people were just embarrassed to be seen with me in them! :-) This watch is for geeks with style!
- Watchband is bracelet that does not open fully so it's easier to take on an off, and won't fall off onto the street if accidentally unlatched.
- Titanium is wonderfully lightweight in comparison to the steel!
- I slightly prefer the yellow and blue pattern on the slide rule, as opposed to the gray of the Skyhawk.
- I like the hour notches on the Blue Angel, as opposed to the large while numbers on the regular Skyhawk, which is somewhat awkward due to the non standard numerical sequence: 1,3,6,9,&11 as opposed to the more standard 12,3,6,9.


Con:
- Watchband replacement: The first link is part of the main watch (circle), therefore, only very specifically sized watchbands will fit if it needs to be replaced. If the line is discontinued, this may pose a problem.
- The hands and hour dots are not coated with a phosphor film, so the watch does not glow in the dark. I understand not having a light for the digital display (uses too much power?), but the watch should at least glow in the dark.
- To access a lot of the watch functions, the crown must be turned (and pulled out) a lot. I imagine that this part will be one of the first to fail after many uses (just my guess).
- Crystal curves out (convex) so it is more likely to make contact with other surfaces and thus be more easily scratched.
- Scratches show up more easily on blue dial (blue angel) rather than silver dial (skyhawk).
- Two of the 3 internal dials serve very little function, and seem to be more for form over function. Most people will not need a UTC dial or a 24 hour dial - when the digital display could show both of these times more accurately. It would have been better to have one of the dials be power level, and/or perhaps light level(?)
- The second link of the watchband does not lay flat, therefore the watch cannot be stored flat, but must always sit on its side.

A note on Titanium and scratching.
- Other users have commented that the scratches show up more on the finish on the titanium, rather than the steel. Here the Blue Angel is different from the Skyhwak. The titanium Skyhawk has the gray finish, wheras the Blue Angel titanium band looks quite similar to the steel (somewhat less shiny). If you do not abuse the watch, I think that the weight savings is worth it. I'll reserve final judgment on this after a year or so of normal wear.

My review closely follows "toughcrowd" who wrote an excellent and detailed review.

(...)

Remember that the bezel is bi-directional in keeping with the concept of the watch. There's no ratchet/spring device to keep it from moving around which for me was aggravating.

The background UTC and 24 hour subdials are ok with me but should have been designed better to allow for larger time markers. Given the choice I'd rather have larger markers than the two subdials which are not a necessity.

The digital clock/date window is too small and has black LCD figures on a gray background. It needs to be larger and the background color more contrasting with the digits for better visibility. It's hard to read the digital time or date even in daylight. The digital clock and date are useless at night due to no background light.

The time markers and hands do have illuminous coatings. But the hands and markers are so small that they are too dim at night. My experience was that the coatings only held light for a short time-certainly not overnight.

The lack of half-hour time adjustment is unfortunate but will only affect those in Newfoundland, Suriname, Iran, India, Sri Lanka, and Central Australia. Suriname, Iran and Sri Lanka are not on my travel list so this is almost inconsequential.

The alarm volume is way too low and not adjustable.

If you have a skinny wrist and have to take a few links out the watch may become uncomfortable as it did for me.


This indeed is a nice looking watch with many functions but you have to consider its limitations as well. The numerous features and functions of the Eco-Drive are still quite impressive. Except for the Arabic numeral bit, this timepiece is loaded with amenities. It's difficult to find a quality solar-powered watch with so many functions.
I cannot find anyone or any study that shows titanium is more prone to surface damage than stainless steel. In fact it is twice as strong, a third lighter, and is extremely corrosion resistant compared to stainless. Unless you like the polished look of stainless, which is less expensive, go with titanium. I've also researched analog/digital watches solar watches and Citizen is the way to go. The 5-year warranty and the Amazon price are outstanding as well-the retail price is $575.00.

Having said all of that, I ended up returning the watch. The clincher was the uncomfortable feel when I took the links out to fit my relatively skinny wrist. I give the 51L a marginal recommendation but look forward to continued evolution in design from Citizen and others in the solar/chronograph category. The Skyhawk should rely less on the Blue Angels motif and more on functionality.

This watch is a pit bull. Not the prettiest of 'faces' perhaps, but it's tough and densely weighted with features. It shows attitude. A continual solar charge stokes a battery that will run for years. Need to know the time or date in 30 separately named locations - Dubai or Denver, Moscow or Mexico City? No problem. Just push and scroll with the button above the crown. The cities appear on a digital display in the lower left between the 7 and 8 hour positions and the time for each on a corresponding panel display on the lower right. If Karachi or Bejing is your second city of choice it will always be there to see. Switching the two time displays - the smaller, digital time to the larger, primary, analog display - is effortless, accomplished with the push of two buttons simultaneously. If your location of choice is not designated you can customize that one location (For example, I was easily able to program "SXM" and the time for St. Martin F.W.I.).

The digital window display between the 4 and 5 hour time positions is also where you will find the chronograph (viz. stop watch) and weekday, month, and date information. An alarm and count down timer add to the watch's main usable features. Navigational and "general calculation" functions are accessible through a rotating bezel and internal reference, "register ring". These are what I call its Mac Gyver features. Basically it is a tachometer and the manual provides serviceable explanations with examples.

You can get the band in different materials. I prefer the shinier, heavier, water defiant stainless steel over the leather or even the lighter, scratch resistant, gray titanium bracelet. The weight and glint of steel adds 'bark' to this beast!

I just got this watch, so I haven't had too much time to evaluate it other than that it looks great. My main reason for commenting so soon is to correct an error in Merlin's comment: you CAN in fact enter any 3 symbols for a city (letters, numbers, or dashes). The instructions can be found at: http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English/settingsresults.asp?caliber=C651

Search the "full printable" PDF at that link for "Registration of Arbitrary City and Time Difference" and you'll find the steps to enter your custom city and set the time difference from GMT. I'm in the Bay Area and didn't want to have to use "LAX" so I was able to make mine say "SFO."

This is the best watch I have ever owned. First, the look and face of this watch is an eye-attracter. Pretty much everybody around me noticed it in the first few days I got it and were asking questions about it. The numbered bezel ring, the sub-dials, the digital sub-displays, all of this makes it look as a very sophisticated and serious watch (and it is indeed).

Second, it's tough and rugged, while being still lightweight considering its size. However, I have a skinny wrist and I had to bring it to a jeweler so that 3 links were removed from the strap. Don't try to do this yourself, you might regret it.

The titanium, while being more scratch resistant than stainless steel, do get scratched with time, but since titanium does not have that glossy finish that stainless has, scratches are much less obvious. The mineral crystal is strong too, but it gets scratched if you hit it or brush it against a rough surface (the minor scratches can be buffed however with a regular car paint compound - it works well and is safe for the glass, just don't spread it over the bezel ring at the same time).

The light-powered cell and battery works perfectly OK. I never got the watch to be completely depleted, just wearing the watch during the day in a typical office is enough to keep a good level of charge continuously. If you are often outside, it will be even better since outdoor natural light is stronger than any office light.

The bezel ring is amazing, you can do multiplications, divisions, proportions, etc. with it. If you're slow in mental calculus and don't have a calculator at hand, it will help you.

I found out only 2 weakenesses: the first one is that the alarm sound is not that strong. If you are known as a deep sleeper that does not awaken easily, you might sometimes miss the alarm sound, especially when your arm is under the covers and the sound becomes muffled. Also, I found out the fluorescent paint on the hands and numbers is not bright enough for me, so reading the watch in the dark may take a bit more time because you need to concentrate to clearly identify what time is it.

But those are very minor gripes for me. Overall, I give this watch a 4.5 stars out of 5. You can't really go wrong with it if you are looking for a quality and magnificent looking chronograph.

Design

The titanium band is so lightweight that I barely know that I'm wearing such a large watch, which is a major plus to me. There's nothing worse than dragging your left hand behind you because your watch weighs more than a mid-size sedan. It is sharp looking and easy to read, except for when it is moderately dark. The phosphor coating on the hour markers and dials is relatively weak, and unless you're in pitch black conditions, it takes a few seconds to recognize the glow. The bezel is stylish, giving the watch the added flair that is expected with a pilot's watch.

I've read a lot of complaints as to the lack of use for the sub-dials and I laughed heartily at each one. For your information, this watch was designed to commemorate the Navy's elite Blue Angels flying squadron, and the Navy happens to have a great use for universal time as well as 24-hour time. I suppose an egg timer would be more useful, so I suggest purchasing a Timex with that feature. This is a pilot's watch. I don't suppose many people who own it know how to use the bezel for converting fuel lbs. and such, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it. The sub-dials give the watch an added depth in its styling, and it would look rather bare bones without them.

I also like the duplicity of having digital and analog time as part of the design. When I travel, I can switch to the digital time to the appropriate time zone while leaving the analog set to my home time zone so I know when it's safe to call the kids or if they're already tucked in. This watch isn't overly easy to use, but once you meander through the cd-rom, you should be able to figure it out. You can even program a time zone that it is missing if necessary, which is a great feature for the world traveler.

Scratching

The bezel and crystal can tend to get scratched because of the way they are shaped (domed, convex, curved... take your pick). The band also shows scratches, though I see little difference in the level of scratching between a steel watch and a titanium watch. To replace the bezel is about $30, the crystal at $15, and the band at a whopping $107.10 (plus shipping and handling cost and labor). My feeling is if you don't want to scratch your watch, leave it in the box. Life happens, and scratching a watch is part of that life. If it gets to a point of distraction, then by all means replace parts as necessary.

Eco-Drive

The Eco-Drive power system is phenomenal on this watch. I love knowing I could store this watch in a drawer for four years and it would still be able to tell the time without a problem. In one word, snazzy.

What I Would Change

My only issue with this watch is that it still has a crown, for what I do not know. It could have been easily replaced by a third mode button, but I don't design watches so I can't claim to be an expert. I also would have made the phosphor coating better by using tritium instead, so it could produce a glow independent of lighting conditions. Other than that, I am perfectly satisfied with this watch and plan to purchase more titanium Eco-Drive watches in the future.

I had an echo drive that I bought 8 years ago and have been using it. My only problem was that in Winter it stops working when we wear long sleeves and after a while the charge would run out. As a result I had to put it under a light for a few hours at night every once in a while. I bought the new Skyhawk Echodirve and noticed that they have improved the technology so much that I don't see that problem anymore. I am impressed and I really like the watch functionally.

Love having to not worry about batteries. Love the multiple time zone capability: it is easy to use. The watch is accurate, light weight, and comfortable to wear. You'll need bifocals to use the E6B-style slide rule ;-) if you have eyesight like mine. Only one thing that could be an improvement would be to add a light to the digital component. Other than that, this is a great watch.

I got this watch for Xmas and it is amazing what it can do. It is nice and big, but light on the weight. Only problem I've had is that the external dial sometimes gets stuck and it is hard to move, but if you put some preassure to it, it will move again easily. I love the function that you dont have the change the hour when changing time zones, you change the time zone and the watch will "know" the correct time. Awesome watch, truly.

OK, I am a watch tramp. I love watches and the Citizen Eco-Drive is a wonderful design. The Blue Angels watch is very lightweight, easy to use and looks great. For less than $300 you have a dressy sport watch or a sporty dress watch or just a way cool timekeeper.