Like most people, you’ve probably had a watch or two that you loved, but the battery died one day. Most likely you put it away in a drawer or a box somewhere and it's collecting dust. Like many of us, chances are that you didn’t have the time to take it to a jeweler to get the battery replaced. Citizen Eco-Drive watches however are something different. They design stunning watches that you will fall in love with, and never have to worry about the cost and inconvenience of replacing a battery ever again. Eco-Drive timepieces are strong, dependable, and have the longest-lasting batteries available.
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How Does Eco-Drive Work?
Citizen watches feature Eco-Drive, a mechanism that captures energy from any type of light source. The technology can work whether you use artificial or natural light. A rechargeable lithium-ion cell stores the energy. The battery has an infinite runtime and may be continuously charged. Eco-Drive watches are made to last a lifetime with proper care. The Citizen Eco-Drive watch line, according to Citizen, has prevented the disposal of over 10 million batteries in North America alone. This is big news for the environment, and a bold step towards reducing pollution.
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A Synopsis of Eco-Drive Watches' History
These watches, which were first made available to the public in 1996, represented significant technological advancements over other solar-powered timepieces at the time. By using sleek, elegant designs instead of bulky, obvious power cells, this cutting-edge technology eliminated the need for them. The Eco-Drive caliber 7878 movements served as the inspiration for these timepieces. The first of its type, it was. This made it possible to place solar cells beneath the dial. Light can travel through the dial's translucence and power the movement and recharge the battery. The battery can operate for up to 180 days on secondary (stored) energy before needing to be recharged by exposure to light.
Some versions may hibernate for a predetermined amount of time and the watch hands will cease moving if exposed to darkness for an extended period. The internal quartz movement will still reliably monitor the time, though. The hands will ultimately adjust to the proper position when exposed to light and resume keeping time as usual. Due to this feature, Eco-Drive watches require very little maintenance. After being hidden over 3 months, your watch will tell the correct time when you take out of the drawer and put it in the light.
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What makes a Citizen Eco-Drive watch unique?
We gave the technology the moniker Eco-Drive to honor its environmentally favorable beginnings. Any type of light is transformed into energy to run a watch, and any extra is stored in a power cell. An Eco-Drive watch can operate for months on a single charge, even in complete darkness, without the need for routine battery change. Any type of light can fuel a watch with Eco-Drive, which stores the extra energy on a power cell. An Eco-Drive watch can operate for months on a single charge, even in complete darkness, without the need for routine battery change. It is made to be charged by commonplace light sources like desks and fluorescent indoor lighting. Your watch will never stop, so you may go about your daily activities with assurance. Numerous Eco-Drive watches from Citizen are available in a variety of colors, materials, and features. Take a peek at some of their most well-known watches below.
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Can you replace the battery in Citizen Eco-Drive watch?
One of the top watchmaking companies in the world is Citizen. To its credit, it was the first analog quartz mechanism, which runs watches by using light. This technique was created by the firm in 1976, and it is now affectionately referred to as eco-drive. Any source of light may be used, including the sun, man-made lighting, and even low light. You are spared the need to swap out batteries as a result. If you look more closely at how this technology functions, you'll discover that light is converted into electrical energy during the eco-drive process and stored inside the lithium-ion power battery that powers the watch. However, these Li-ion batteries may be recharged.
Therefore, ease of usage is one of the clear benefits of wearing Citizen Watches Eco-Drive. Once you get it, you won't need to worry about buying new batteries. Despite how poor the light may be, eco-drive watches can still generate energy thanks to their mechanism. The result is that the watch never stops. If someone claims that a fully charged Citizen watch can operate for at least six months without any illumination, they are not going too far. That implies that even in complete darkness, it would still be able to tell you the time. Some versions on the market alert you about an insufficient charge. The second-hand ticks after two seconds, signaling that your watch needs to be lit. Some wristwatches have power-saving modes, which prevent the hands from working when left in a dark room. It helps with energy conservation.
Everyone used to agree that quartz watches required frequent battery replacement. However, the introduction of Eco-Drive challenged the status quo. Eco-Drive is a light-powered equipment that controls timepieces by holding the light and using an combined solar cell to fit it into energy. Suddenly, the inconvenience of changing batteries was history. The solar cells and backup battery used in Eco-Drive watches will last up to 10 years, according to reports from Citizen Watches. They added that the lubricants used to make these watches are designed to help with longevity because the oil will not harden or evaporate, even over 20 years. Despite how infrequently it occurs, there have been instances where damage from excessive heat while recharge has been documented. As little more than a safety precaution, the device's warmth must not rise above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If the timepieces are held too close to light bulbs, for example, they may overheat.
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Is Citizen Eco-Drive watches expensive?
While costs for the watches in Citizen's Eco-Drive range vary widely, you can easily get a timeless, sophisticated watch for between $100 and $200. These watches have been built using the finest tools. You will need to spend extra money if you want a watch that has a tonne of features. The watches in this range, which is suitable for most budgets, cost up to about $1500.
The most expensive models come loaded with features including light level indications, power saving settings, alarms, chronographs, and warnings for low battery levels. In adding, they have a lot additional stylish arrival than the middle-priced variations.
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Lower-End Prices
There is no doubting that the timepieces at the lower end of this price range are excellent and therefore would look good on the wrist of any owner, even though they might not be the most stylish. Starting at just $109 is the lowest price range in this group. These 36 mm or so solar-powered watches often have leather straps with conventional buckles and stainless steel cases that are gold- or silver-toned. A leather strap might not be what you want if the style is essential to you. The stainless steel bracelets start to appear at the $149 price point.
This pricing range's dials feature various markings and Japanese movements (E110 or E111). Naturally, the low cost reflects the type of crystal, and this is mineral crystal. It has one advantage over plastic crystals while being the less expensive option: when it receives a hit, it won't scratch as easily. But how do these less expensive variants fare in terms of performance? Even if it doesn't have the best water resistance, it has three hands, a day-date indicator, and a power reserve of six months. An elegant watch that provides simplicity and functionality in one, fuss-free package.
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Middle and Top End
The middle range of the Citizens Eco-Drive starts at about $840. You will get all the additional features that enhance performance if you have about $1,000 to invest on a watch. You will receive a lot of features for the money you spend, like a Power Reserve Indicator that lets the wearer know how much charge is left, a perpetual calendar, a power-saving feature, time adjustments for about 40 different time zones, and enhanced water resistance up to 333 feet.
The highest costly Eco-Drive watch goes for $1495, but if you use the features, the cost is justified. A watch with the fastest signal speed in the world (as fast as 3 seconds), an alarm, a bezel coated in DLC (diamond-like coating), two chronographs, and doubled water resistance of up to 667 feet may be had for this price.
There is a substantial variance in style as well. The shell is normally around 44mm for the midrange to more expensive models, which gives more in terms of aesthetics. The dials can be a little intimidating with all of those features, but if you understand what each one does, the clock face is a lot easier to read. In place of the less expensive mineral crystal, the more premium models will use sapphire crystal. Sapphire crystals are much more sought-after because they are scratch-resistant and will only shatter under a very powerful impact. Other notable alterations include the movements and straps. The more expensive Eco-Drive series offers additional options thanks to its Japanese components and stainless bands with two locking clasps rather than a typical buckle.