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Japan is known for many things, and one is its watchmaking excellence, thanks to brands like Seiko and Citizen. There’s a reason Citizen watches are so often gifted as tokens of special moments. Whether given as a graduation gift or worn as a wedding day watch, Citizen timepieces are woven into our cultural fabric, and for good reason. The company has spent more than a century perfecting its craft, and it shows. Citizen’s attention to detail and commitment to quality are two of the biggest reasons why its watches are so beloved and cherished.
A publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 1949, Citizen continues to make its shareholders happy by making watch fans happy as well. As a buyer, you can feel confident that this is a brand with heritage, and it’s not likely to go away anytime soon. While this impressive history may make it a tempting prospect to become a shareholder in a company with such a storied past, it may be more prudent to start by investing in one of its watches first. The best way to get to know a company is through its products.
What makes a luxury watch special?
Luxury is a term that can mean different things to different people. This is influenced by your prior experiences, your personal relationship to money, and what you place value on, among other things. As an avid (and perpetually overspent) watch collector myself, I see luxury in watches as a function of beauty and quality. I want my watch to look and feel like a lot of care was put into its design and manufacture, and I need it to be accurate. That’s why one of my very first luxury watches was a Citizen. That was quite a few years ago, and since then, the brand has truly jumped into the deep end of the luxury timepiece pool and never looked back.
Maybe one of the best examples of this approach can be seen in the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic Sport Luxury Watch. While the integrated-bracelet luxury sports watch trend has exploded in the past decade, prices for models like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Vacheron Constantin Overseas have also exploded. Whether it’s due to tariffs, inflation, or just increased demand, these watches have become virtually unattainable for most people. Enter, the Tsuoyosa. This watch offers all the style and swagger of its aforementioned Swiss contemporaries, but without the restrictive price.
Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic Sport Luxury Watch
On paper, there’s very little difference between this watch and its counterparts that cost tens of thousands of dollars. What’s more, there’s no waiting list or required spend history to get in. Just like any other luxury mechanical watch in this space, it has an automatic movement, clear caseback, and 316L stainless steel case and bracelet. With a case diameter of 40 millimeters, it’s the ideal fit for almost any wrist size, and it straddles the line between sports watch and dress watch beautifully.
Not only is this watch a wonderful piece to have on your wrist, but it’s a great way to start a larger watch-collecting journey. Unlike some other collecting hobbies, watch collecting is more than simply hoarding things you like. It’s a curation process that takes time and careful consideration. It’s a hobby that prides itself on value retention. Buying watches isn’t simply a wasteful exercise in wanton spending. It’s an investment. Most luxury watches will retain a fair amount of their original value if you choose them wisely. Many will actually increase in value over the years, depending on the popularity of the piece, its rarity, condition, and production run. Yes, it’s a hobby that will cost you money, but it can also offer a financial insurance policy of sorts, giving you quick access to liquid cash if you’re willing to part with your watches in a hurry by offering them at a good price.
That’s not to say that you should necessarily look at your watch collection as an overall investment strategy, but luxury mechanical watches tend to suffer less depreciation than many other collectibles. It’s a good way to enjoy something you purchase without feeling that it instantly loses its value the second you take it out of the original packaging. The Citizen Tsuoyosa is a great choice for your first foray into luxury watch collecting, and it won’t require you to take out a second mortgage to buy one. It also comes in five beautiful colorways, so you can even have one for every day of the work week.
No matter what stage you’re in of your watch-collecting journey, the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic Sport Luxury Watch will fit right in. It allows you to participate in the integrated-bracelet sports watch craze without sacrificing your financial stability to do so. If luxury to you is about owning something special that you don’t necessarily see lots of others around you owning, then this watch fits perfectly into that category. You’re sure to love it for years to come.
Options to consider
While the above Citizen model is one of my top picks for a first Japanese luxury watch, it’s far from the only option in this category. In addition to multiple Citizen watches, there are also a few from Seiko that are worth considering. As someone who currently owns multiple pieces from both brands, I can personally attest to their quality, beauty, and finishing.
More Japanese luxury watches
Citizen Eco-Drive Zenshin Three-Hand Watch
Seiko Essentials Chronograph Watch
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