Best Citizen Watches For Men in 2022
Citizen is a name we are all familiar with; when it comes to quality, affordable watches then they are one of the main go-to brands. Not only do they design rather smart timepieces that have enough spec and functionality to turn us from our smartphone clocks, they also look damn fine on the wrist.
But what we at Gear Hungry really like about Citizen is their innovative Eco-Drive technology. Their watches now need just light – artificial or natural –, not batteries to keep powered and on time. Feeling enlightened, we’ve put together what we think are the best Eco-Drive Citizen watches for men out there, so you can make light work of choosing your new favorite timepiece.
The Best Citizen Watch
1Avion Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch Citizen Watch
The stylish looks of the Avion Eco-Drive add some old school glamor as it channels the golden age of travel. With its design deliberately reminiscent of 1950s aviator style, you’ll love the vintage vibe. There’s not too many bells and whistles we think it is all the better for it.
It has a lux leather strap with contrast stitching as well as luminous markers and classic day/date function, contained in a large round stainless steel case with charcoal grey dial.
With the super-performing Eco-Drive , you get well-priced watch with a classic feel that will look as good with jeans as it will with your best business suit. For more classic looking watches, check out our front pocket watches guide.
45mm stainless steel case with mineral window
Stationary bezel and classic day/date function
Comes with Citizen’s five-year warranty
- BrandCitizen
- ModelAW1361-10H
- Weight3.04 ounces
2AR Eco-Drive Citizen Watch with Pinstripe Dial
The AR is a big, bold, black watch with a modern appeal designed to keep time with a new generation of Citizen wearers. Citizen has aimed to make the AR more than a hardwearing timepiece – it’s a lovely looking accessory with an edgy feel at a not so edgy price.
With Citizen’s signature eco-drive technology, which uses light rather than battery power to keep it ticking, the AR offers the right amount of tech-spec to make a tough younger crowd happy. The matt black chroma finish has been produced with techniques to make a car body-sprayer proud, with the color layered to produce a hard wearing and vibrant finish. Water-resistant to 330ft, this is a watch that will travel in style. Our handy guide to the best Stuhrling watches features more great products like this.
Stainless steel case/Polyurethane band
Textured black dial and date window
Japanese quartz movement
- BrandCitizen
- ModelAW1150-07E
3Promaster Diver Citizen Watch
Citizen has resurfaced an old classic diving watch with the Eco-Drive Promaster, taking the original released in the 90s and bringing it to bang up-to-date for the 21st Century.
Adding the Eco Drive technology, the Promaster Diver just needs light to recharge and is water resistant to 660ft. Light and comfortable, with a molded polyurethane band and buckle closure, the Eco-Drive Promaster is a tough, functional watch that won’t let you down. Whether you are about town or diving under the surface, the easy to read display and luminous hands will ensure you keep to time. This is a good-looking revamp of the old Promaster, destined to become a classic of its own.
48 mm stainless steel case with mineral window
Unidirectional bezel and luminous hands
Water resistant to 660ft and ISO compliant
- BrandCitizen
- ModelBN0151-09L
- Weight15.20 ounces
4Men’s Chandler Eco-Drive Citizen Watch
When it comes to Citizen watches for men, the Chandler Eco-Drive is one of the most practical, with rugged good looks at a great price. This stainless steel military-inspired watch comes with a tough green canvas band to keep you on time, whether out about town or out in the field.
Making the most of Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, the outdoor life will keep this timepiece continually ticking. We also like the simplicity of how it alerts you if it is losing its charge, with the second hand in the chronograph dial jumping in two-second increments. Water resistant to 330ft, a tough mineral crystal window, and bright luminous hands, the Chandler is a great value, hardworking watch you’ll be happy to wear every day.
Three chronograph dials
Japanese quartz movement
Canvas strap with stainless steel buckle
- BrandCitizen
- ModelAT0200-05E
- Weight2.4 ounces
5Eco-Drive Blue Angels Citizen Watch
The Blue Angels is a big, bold ‘look at me’ watch that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Powered by Citizen’s signature Eco-Drive, it comes in at just under $400 and is an easy-to-use investment piece that pays homage to the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels elite flight squadron.
Billed as one of the most accurate timepieces in the world, the Blue Angels has to be one of the best Citizen watches for men out there. And its tech is super impressive: a radio-controlled perpetual calendar, chronograph, and world timer with atomic timekeeping in five time zones (North America, the UK, Europe, Japan, and China) and automatic time in 26 world cities. This handsome timepiece comes in stainless steel with blue ion plated bezel and an intricate blue and yellow dial with a non-reflective sapphire crystal window. Very smart. For more similar timepieces check out our top Invicta watches review.
Atomic timekeeping in five time zones
Slide-rule bezel, chronograph and date window
43mm stainless steel case: water resistant to 660ft
- BrandCitizen
- ModelAT8020-03L
- Weight3.04 ounces
6Ion-Plated Axiom Citizen Watch
Step over to the dark side with this sleek, moody-looking, and stunning minimalist watch.
In a matt black with a linked-leather wristband, the Ion-plated Axiom can elevate any outfit without trying too hard. Equipped with just a date window and two super-slim hands, this is a seriously cool watch that demands attention. Stylish touches including stainless steel accents and flat edge-to-edge glass on the dial set this well-priced watch apart. Featuring Citizen’s Eco-Drive, the Axiom is also powered by light, so you can just keep going after dark.
40 mm stainless steel case with mineral window
Smooth Japanese quartz movement
Black dial, date window and slim hands
- BrandCitizen
- ModelAU1065-07E
- Weight9.6 ounces
7Promaster Navihawk A-T Citizen Watch
Now here’s a men’s watch that totally means business, with a bucket load of technical functions packed into one awesome timepiece. At 48mm, it’s one of the largest in our best Citizen’s watches for men review and is designed to be noticed. The Navihawk virtually holds court on your wrist and defies you to need any other way of telling the time.
This Eco-Drive powered super watch has atomic clock synchronization for superior accuracy, a world clock to display the time in 43 cities, a 99-minute countdown timer, two alarms, and a coordinated universal time display. All of this time technology is presented in a stainless steel case with black ion plating, with a deep embossed black polyurethane strap and a black, luminous dial. The face of this watch can be a little overwhelming but if you make the effort to use its functionality rather than leaving it as eye candy you get a seriously impressive timepiece for your money. If you love a watch with an interesting design, make sure to check out our review of the best skeleton watches on the market.
Multi-function chronographs
Anti-reflective crystal window
Water resistant to 660ft
- BrandCitizen
- ModelJY8035-04E
- Weight4 ounces
8Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Citizen Watch
Perpetual Calendar is a sporty-looking watch that combines bold silver-toned styling with a host of ‘functions that is sure to garner some envious looks, whether you’re at the bar or in the boardroom.
A super-sized 47mm stainless steel casing and dial houses all the time functions and once you get used to the layout, you can get what you need at a quick glance. And with a 1/20 second chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes, perpetual calendar, second-time zone option, and alarm, this is also a great watch to accompany you on your travels. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, also check out our cool compass watches guide.
Eco-Drive E820 movement with analog display
Protective mineral crystal dial window
Water-resistant to 330ft
- BrandCitizen
- ModelBL5400-52A
- Weight2.56 ounces
9Men’s BU2055-08X Eco-Drive Citizen Watch
If the trail is your spiritual home, then this tough Cordura strapped timepiece is your perfect wrist companion.
BU2055-08X’s large open face in an off-khaki hue is easy to look at, and with clear black numerals and bright luminous hands, you will be timed to perfection, even after the sun goes down. Eco-Drive powered, this watch is no stranger to endurance and is water-resistant to 330ft. It’s also got three chronograph sub-dials, a date window, and a stationary bezel as well as a super-tough mineral dial cover.
It is a little on the heavy side but sits reassuringly well, although the strap takes a little breaking in to get it molded to your wrist. Our handy guide to the amazing altimeter watches features more great products like this.
Three-hand analog display
Stainless steel case with Cordura strap
Japanese-quartz movement
- BrandCitizen
- ModelBU2055-08X
- Weight16 ounces
10Men’s Stainless Steel Corso Citizen Watch
If gold-tone styling isn’t your thing, then check out the silver version of the rather lovely Citizen Corso.
At a price that gives more expensive stainless steel bracelet watches a run for their money, the Corso oozes simplicity and class. Like its gold-toned stablemate, the Corso is powered by Citizen’s Eco-Drive and comes with a tough mineral dial window, push-button safety catch, and a casing that’s water-resistant to 330 feet.
This is a very business-like watch that can lift any outfit without lifting too many bucks out of your wallet. If you are a businessman, our Rado watches review offers more nice options for you.
41mm stainless steel case
Luminous accents on dial
Japanese quartz movement
- BrandCitizen
- ModelBM7251-53L
11Avion Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Citizen Watch
We return to the stylish Avion but this time it has been teamed with a lux chocolate leather strap and a black dial face for a strong-looking timepiece we really like.
With the Avion, you can channel your inner 1950s aviator dude with this large faced watch that sits naturally on the wrist for a comfortable, retro-cool fit. Simple, effective functions and Eco-Drive powering makes this a fuss-free watch you’ll want to wear again and again. And with its reasonable price tag, it’ll make a great addition to any watch collection. Find more great products like this by checking out Pilot watches guide.
45mm stainless steel case with mineral window
Stationary bezel and classic day/date function
Comes with Citizen’s five-year warranty
- BrandCitizen
- ModelCA4210-24E
- Weight12 ounces
12Nighthawk Citizen Watch
Go undercover with this stunning blackout chronograph which takes a stealth approach to watch design. There’s something secret military about this chunky watch that would add a mysterious vibe to your wardrobe. But there is nothing blank about the Nighthawk as it’s packed with essential features to make any Top Gun take notice.
Black ion-plated, the Nighthawk is one cool Citizen men’s watch, with a black-and-charcoal dial, date window, tachymeter outer dial, and three chronograph function sub-dials to keep you punctual, whatever the day – or night – may throw at you.
At over $300, the Nighthawk is not cheap but it’s the dark horse of our best Citizen watches for men review. More stunning watches can be found in our Diesel watches guide.
43 mm stainless steel case/mineral window
Eco-Drive – powered by light
Water resistant to 660ft
- BrandCitizen
- ModelCA0295-58E
- Weight6.08 ounces
13Chandler Eco-Drive Citizen Watch
The last Chandler Eco-Drive to make our Best Citizen Watches for Men Top 20, this version of the popular everyday watch comes with a quality chocolate brown leather strap and contrasting stitch detail.
The black face of this handsome watch pops against the brown, making it a stylish timepiece to wear, night or day. Clear white numerals and glow in the dark hands and a small day/date window give you the basics you need for a reliable watch that looks more expensive than its $130-ish price tag. For all stylish gents out there, we have reviewed Daniel Wellington watches so check them out.
42mm stainless steel case
Mineral dial window to repel scratches
Water resistant to 330ft
- BrandCitizen
- ModelBM8478-01L
- Weight2.4 ounces
Citizen – About The Brand
Renowned for precision and quality, Citizen is an East meets West enterprise that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The company was created in 1930 by Japanese and Swiss investors, who took over a watchmaking plant, set up 18 years earlier, in Yokohama by Swiss watchmaker Rodolphe Schmid.
Since 1930, Citizen has produced more than two hundred million watches and when it comes to watchmaking innovation, are consistently ahead of the game. The company claim to have pioneered the first shock proof watch and atomic timekeeping as well as the development of waterproof watches, designed specifically for scuba diving. One of their newer innovations is the Eco-Drive technology, which powers their watches purely on light. Impressive stuff that totally taps into the renewable energy agenda and is now a mainstay of their core range.
However, Citizen’s main driver has always been to use precision engineering to provide quality, reliable watches at an affordable price. So, while it has recently started to dabble in the high-end market as well as smart watch technology, its watches remain timepieces of the people. One hundred years after it started, Citizen continues to offer really good watches to match all of our busy lives. Happy birthday Citizen.