Citizen Watches

CITIZEN to Support ISU Figure Skating Competitions for 34th Year Longest-running sponsor sees sport as displaying spirit of “Better Starts Now” TOKYO, Japan, December 8, 2016—CITIZEN will continue its sponsorship of figure skating this winter, supporting five International Skating Union (ISU) competitions in five countries. The supported events this season, which marks CITIZEN’s 34th year as an official ISU sponsor, begin with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2016/2017 in Marseille, France from December 8 to 11, 2016, and culminate in the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland from March 29 to April 2, 2017. Having supported international figure skating since 1982, CITIZEN is the longest-running official sponsor of the ISU, which is exclusively recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the international federation administering figure skating and speed skating events worldwide. This year’s competitions will bring together the world’s biggest names in figure skating, including Olympic champions and medalists, as well as World and European champions both at junior and senior levels. The 2017 World Championships is a pivotal event in the figure skating calendar, as it will largely determine the number of entries for each country at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Many top skaters have set their sights on a comeback in Helsinki, hoping to repeat past Olympic successes. “I am very excited about the upcoming ISU Championships and I look forward to competing in Marseille, Ostrava and Helsinki,” said Javier Fernández López, the two-time World Champion and four-time European Champion figure skater from Spain. “The 2016/2017 season is particularly important as we are only 15 months away from the next Winter Olympic Games in Korea.” “We are very pleased with our new programs. We look forward to the ISU Championships and Grand Prix Final which we will compete in during the 2016/2017 season—the last season prior to the next Winter Olympic Games in Korea,” said Maia and Alex Shibutani, the U.S. ice dance pair who this year won the U.S. Ice Dance Championships and the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and won a silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the world’s first analogue quartz light-powered watch, launched by CITIZEN in 1976. CITIZEN continues to enhance its proprietary light-powered technology Eco-Drive1 and this year launched its new flagship model Eco-Drive One, the world’s thinnest2 light-powered watch with a case just 2.98 mm thick3. The extremely thin (1.00 mm) movement from which the Eco-Drive One takes its name presented many complex technical challenges, requiring CITIZEN to specially redesign almost every component, proving its dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible through continuous improvement. Figure skating involves a similar dedication to continuous improvement and to ideals and values like those that define CITIZEN as a brand. CITIZEN’s brand statement “Better Starts Now” expresses the belief that no matter who you are or what you do, it is always possible to make something better—and the time to start doing that is now. Skaters must constantly strive for better—better execution of clean, balanced movements, linked with intricate footwork, in performances that are as athletic as they are creative in their expressive interpretations of patterns, rhythms, dynamics and tempo. Achieving such excellence in technical precision and artistic style requires continual effort, day by day and moment by moment. CITIZEN believes that its record of invention and improvement driven by discipline and determination makes it the ideal sponsor for the sport of international figure skating—which demands the same of its participants—and continues to find inspiration in the skaters’ performances each year.

CITIZEN Flagship Model for 2016 “CITIZEN Eco-Drive One” — The world’ s thinnest*1 light-powered watch with a 1.00mm movement — It has been 40 years since CITIZEN launched the world's first analog quartz watch that uses light as a power source. We called this technology Eco-Drive*2 since it uses a renewable natural resource that anyone can access to generate its own electrical energy. Eco-Drive has evolved as one of our core technologies and serves as the foundation of our corporate philosophy of “crafting timepieces loved by citizens all over the world.” For this milestone we introduce our latest flagship model, Eco-Drive One which is the world's thinnest light-powered analog quartz watch with a 2.98mm case and 1.00 mm movement. Capturing the rank of ‘world's thinnest’ required redesigning almost every part of the movement, the structure of parts by using CITIZEN's most advanced processing techniques. We also improved on our Eco-Drive technology. For example, in spite of its thinness, Eco-Drive One runs 10 months on a single full charge by successfully reducing energy consumption. To create a watch with a case thickness of 2.98mm required the use of new materials. Materials that are both thin and strong. Materials that are malleable to form a beautiful silhouette that would hug the wrist but a material that would be strong enough to resist flexing. The case of the Eco-Drive One Limited Model (AR5014-04E) and the bezel for AR5000-50E/AR5000-68A/AR5004-59H models all use a cermet*3 to achieve the mutually exclusive requirements of “beautiful thinness” and “durable hardness.” It also helps to keep the watch's beautiful finish and metallic luster. The bezel on the Limited Model (AR5014-04E) is made from a binderless cemented carbide*4 that is hard and resistant to both corrosion and oxidation. As a light-power pioneer, we will continue to break boundaries and explore new possibilities of incorporating light powered technologies to craft timepieces that inspire people everywhere.

Citizen Watch announced that it had come to an agreement with The United States Tennis Association (USTA) to extend its long-standing partnership through 2020. CITIZEN was the first corporate partner to extend its sponsorship through the completion of the strategic transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC). The new deal provided CITIZEN with expanded brand visibility throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds and an enhanced presence on US Open digital platforms, while continuing its position as the Exclusive Timekeeper for the tournament. CITIZEN also became the Official Timekeeper of the Emirates Airline US Open Series and now has a presence at all of the U.S.-based Series’ tournaments. In addition to CITIZEN’s presence within the US Open and Emirates Airline US Open Series, the brand has plans to be integrated into the USTA’s future “Home of American Tennis” in the Lake Nona region of Orlando, Florida. CITIZEN has been a sponsor of the US Open for twenty-four years and the new deal will take the relationship beyond the 50th Anniversary of the US Open which will occur in 2018. The 2014/2015 transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center yielded additional exposure for CITIZEN. In 2015, a CITIZEN clock was presented on the façade of Arthur Ashe Stadium. There was also eight new double-sided clocks throughout the Club and Promenade level of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Additionally, clock towers can be found throughout campus during the two weeks of the U.S. Tennis Open and digital match clocks on the courts.

CITIZEN to present “time is TIME,” where main plates create a spectacular space of dazzling light, at MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2016 CITIZEN will participate in MILAN DESIGN WEEK, one of the largest design festivals in the world, to be held in Milan, Italy from April 12 to 17. This will be the company’ s second participation at this event. We are honored to collaborate once again with Tsuyoshi Tane from DGT., who undertook creative direction of the highly acclaimed 2014 exhibit, “LIGHT is TIME.” CITIZEN and Mr. Tane have worked together since 2013, to pursue the fundamental theme of “time” through “watches,” and Mr. Tane continues to challenge the concept of “time” as “space.” This grand-scale “time is TIME” installation invites visitors to ponder the nature of “time.”

In June 2016, CITIZEN will showcase the CITIZEN “Eco-Drive Lounge” across nine international airports. This exhibition will be held throughout the year of 2016 which marks 40 years of Eco-Drive since we launched the world’s first analogue light-powered watch in 1976. Through the Eco-Drive Lounge, we will demonstrate Eco-Drive*1 technology, CITIZEN proprietary technology which converts any source of light into electrical energy to keep watches running and CITIZEN as a true manufacture d'horlogerie, that produces all components in its timepieces, down to the movement, to global audience. At the Eco-Drive Lounge, our flagship “Eco-Drive One” models for 2016 will be on display. Eco-Drive One is the world's thinnest*2 light-powered watch and was unveiled at Baselworld earlier this year. The Eco-Drive One, just 2.98 mm*3 thick light-powered watch with a 1.00 mm*3 thick movement, highlights CITIZEN as a pioneer of light-powered technology and a true manufacture d'horlogerie. We have invented and improved Eco-Drive technology and created series of Eco-Drive watches, such as thinner, smaller, lighter, more multifunction and more beautiful watches. The 40 years of Eco-Drive technology advancements embody our brand statement “Better Starts Now”; a simple belief that, no matter who you are or what you do, it is always possible to make something better — and now is the time to start doing it. We hope that a wider global audience will experience the allure of Eco-Drive, and feel CITIZEN brand through the “Eco-Drive Lounge.”

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. will open “CITIZEN FLAGSHIP STORE TOKYO ,“ the world’s first flagship store from the Citizen Watch Group, in the new commercial complex, “GINZA SIX” due for opening on April 20, 2017. “CITIZEN FLAGSHIP STORE TOKYO” will boast one of the world’s largest collection of CITIZEN brands along with Arnold & Son, BULOVA, CAMPANOLA, and other brands from the Citizen Watch Group which will be the first flagship store for the Group. It will be located on the ground floor of GINZA SIX due to open in Ginza with the store facing both Kojunsha-street and Mihara-street. The 300㎡space that houses an event space and a repair workshop is designed to offer the full range of products and services where customers can leisurely enjoy and experience the world of the Citizen Watch Group. The spacious “touch&try” section will offer customers a chance to see, touch, and experience the watches. The brand specialists with a wealth of knowledge will personally suggest the watch for the customers from the attractive selections, including the limited editions which will only be available at this flagship store. Customers will also be able to consult with our expert watch engineers at the repair workshop about maintenance enquiries. We will also have staff with multiple language skills to cater to our customers from across the world. With plans for regular events, we are confident that this will be a watch store our customers will truly be engaged in the joy and beauty of the watch and look forward to visiting again and again.