Mario Canonizado 
Ever the class-leaders in value, Japanese brand Citizen has unveiled a new rendition of their beloved Tsuyosa line!
I’m not the first to admit this, but these days it’s hard to break into the subgenre of ‘integrated bracelet sports watches.’ Ever since the 1970s conception of the Royal Oak and other such icons, it has unfortunately become very easy to roll your eyes at a similar-looking piece that claims to be the next big thing. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been done, though: 2021, for example, saw a renaissance in the trend with Tissot’s PRX. Imagine, then, in just two years since this highly disruptive release, we’d see yet another brand break the mould, at a price point deemed too difficult to muster.
Related Reading: The Legacy Of Iconic Watch Designs: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – Part One
But in 2023, that’s exactly what Citizen did. Though the mighty Japanese conglomerate is as big as any other watch group, encompassing such as Frederique Constant, La Joux-Perret, Miyota, and Arnold & Son, the eponymous brand received little fanfare from anyone outside the watch world. The release of the Tsuyosa/強さ (meaning ‘strength’) collection, it would seem, made just enough noise in the industry for more collectors and budding enthusiasts to notice.
An integrated bracelet sports watch for under AU$1,000 seemed laughable at the time, but when Tsuyosas begun landing onto the wrists of curious customers, the interest in Citizen begun to spread like a bushfire. If there was anyone that was capable of designing a competent and good-looking watch on a budget, it has to be Citizen, who have established themselves as a dominant player in accessibly-priced timepieces. Additionally, the design was heritage-inspired and original, similarly to how Tissot drew inspiration for the PRX from older Seastar references. Looking back into their archives, Citizen took cues from their bestselling NH299 series, spanning the 90s to the early 2000s. Unlike other accessible watch brands of the time that were using plated brass, Citizen’s NH299 lineup used stainless steel, adding to the wrist presence, robustness, and overall luxury feel of the collection.
With this newfound attention, the Nishitokyo/西東京市 brand capitalised tenfold, releasing a slew of Tsuyosa timepieces with varying dial colours, straps, and modifications that now span 21 reference over two years. As is the case with the Internet Watch Community, however, they couldn’t win them all. Even amongst my watch-loving friends, I held reservations to the size of the Tsuyosa. While 40mm and a 45mm lug-to-lug might seem incredibly manageable, integrated bracelet watches rarely have articulated bracelets, making the wearing experience much larger than perceived on paper. A 45mm lug-to-lug for an integrated bracelet reads more like a 49-50mm, personally. However, in 2025 Citizen has begun taking steps to fix this, releasing a trio of Citizen Tsuyosas in 37mm. Hopefully, a taste of what’s to come.
As stated, these watches shrink the original’s case size by 3mm, as well as shortening the on-paper lug-to-lug by 2mm, down to 43mm to 45mm. While these measurements may not seem like much as you read them, they make all the difference in the overall wearing experience of a watch. The original design cues of the NH299 and the 2023 rendition still shine through as apparent as ever here, with each Tsuyosa coming in a sharp, barrel-shaped case flanked on either end with a comfortable rounded three-link bracelet. A date magnifier can also be seen on the crystal – a slightly controversial design feature, depending on who you ask – as well as the uniquely positioned crown at four o’clock.
The dial, while simple, is also a worthy talking point, as all three Tsuyosas follow the lead of the OG with brilliant sunray brushing that elicits a luxury feel. Accompanied by lumed hands and indexes, the dial of the Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm comes in two colours seen on the 40mm version, light blue and green, while the third is a brilliant new light pink. Turning the watch around, the same Citizen Cal. 8210 pervades the see-through case back, beating at 3Hz/21,600VpH on a power reserve of 42 hours. Keep in mind, though, that the Cal. 8210 does not have a stop-seconds function, which means that the second hand will keep going if you want to set the time. If you’re a stickler for accurate time setting, you may want to stay away, but producing a mechanical watch with this quality of finishing at AU$699 has definitely earned Citizen some bragging rights – Even if the movement isn’t much to gawk at!
My Thoughts
It’s hard talking about accessibly-priced timepieces, especially since there are so many new ones being released every day. While it’s good to know that watchmaking is being kept alive by tens of thousands of fledgling brands worldwide, it also muddies the waters for those that are trying to find the best bang for their buck. I’d hate to see someone get so jaded to watch collecting because they got burned on purchasing from a company that does more marketing than manufacturing.
If you’re new to the watch game, then I can wholeheartedly say that Citizen is anything but that. Whether you’re buying their timepieces for $800 or $18000, you’ll find that the quality of work is exceptional for the budget provided. The Tsuyosa is but one of many examples of such, as it ticks off all the average watch enthusiast’s dreams for under four digits Australian! An integrated, automatic, stainless steel, heritage-based, water-resistant sports watch for the price of an Xbox Series X might have seemed like a joke a few years ago, but thanks to Citizen’s efforts with the Tsuyosa – and now the Tsuyosa 37mm – nobody’s laughing now.
References:
- Light Blue: NJ0200-50L
- Pink: NJ0200-50Z
- Green: NJ0200-50X
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 37mm case diameter x 43mm lug-to-lug x 11.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Dial: Light blue/Pink/Green
- Movement: Automatic Citizen Calibre 8210
- Power Reserve: 42h
- Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
- Strap: Stainless steel with butterfly folding clasp
