Citizen NJ015 ‘Tsuyosa’ Review

What We Know

Citizen made a colorful splash today, annoucing the new NJ015 Series making its debut in the U.S. The model range is also known as "Tsuyosa" (Japanese for strength) and arrives stateside in a variety of colorful dial configurations affixed to a 40mm case with a four o'clock crown which itself has an integrated steel bracelet.

Inside the watch beats the Citizen in-house caliber 8210 visible through an exhibition caseback featuring a beat rate of 21,600VPH and 40 hours of power reserve. But back to the dial side – and in addition to the colors – the watch features a three o'clock date aperture with a magnifier as well as luminescent baton markers.

In terms of selection, the NJ015 comes in five variations: Black, blue, green, yellow, and turquoise. The bracelet itself features polished center links giving the overall feel of the models a fusion of sport and dress (with water resistance of 50m).

This newly announced collection is available beginning May 23, and will set prospective buyers back at just $450.

What We Think

Colorful variety has been the name of the game for watch brands across the industry in recent years whether we are talking Rolex's Oyster Perpetual collection (which has since been wrangled into a singular bubble dial watch), the Omega Aqua Terra line and the new 36mm TAG Heuer Carrera date watches from Watches & Wonders this year. Dials in different shades are in – and Citizen has arrived today with its own distinct take on the trend.

And to that end, I must say: Statement made. These colorful integrated steel watches are bold, loud, and packed with value at under $500. I applaud Citizen for the choice to keep these at 40mm. Watches without functional bezels tend to wear larger than their diameter would normally indicate. The overall dial styling is very OP in its execution from the markings above the batons to the magnified date window. These are design cue that needs to be called out but hey, if a certain look works, why reinvent the wheel?

The style of the integrated bracelet year definitely gives a bit of that presidential bracelet charm which, in turn, elevates the model from something conventional to something a bit more versatile. I could absolutely see someone picking this up as their first automatic timepiece and wearing it both causally, and in more dressy environs, as they should.

In terms of which model sticks out to me as the one I'd like to wear, it would have to be the yellow dial. It's just loud enough, while also providing peak legibility. Of course, I look forward to seeing all of these in the metal soon, and will report back my hands-on observations.

The Basics

Brand: Citizen
Model: NJ015

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 11.7mm
Case Material:
Dial Color: Black, blue, green, yellow, and turquoise.
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Bracelet

The Movement

Caliber: 8210
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600VPH
Jewels: 21

Pricing & Availability

Price: $450
Availability: May 23, 2023
Limited Edition: No

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For more on the NJ015, visit Citizen online.

Citizen