Unveiled alongside the flagship The Citizen Caliber 0200, the Series 8 is a line of affordable, integrated-bracelet sports watches equipped with slim automatic movements that have increased magnetism resistance. The Series 8 is made up of three sub-collections: the 870, 830, and 831. All are similar, but have different case and dial constructions, as well as different movements, but are all accessibly priced affordable, starting at $1,200 for the 831 and rising to US$2,000 for the 870.

Initial thoughts

The Series 8 is essentially a luxury-sports watch done accessibly – the case is angular and faceted, with both brushed and polished surfaces finishes, while the bracelet is integrated. While the styling brings to mind several other well-known watch designs, the Series 8 watches are not outright copies, which is a good thing, especially at this price range where originality harder to find.

The 870 with its two-piece bezel

The 830 with its three-layer dial of mother of pearl under a metal lattice

Though all three models are slightly different, they are almost identical in size at 40 mm wide and a relatively thin 10-12 mm high. That’s a good size that large enough but not so big that the watch feels chunky, which is likely for this type of design beyond a certain size.

The 870 with its two-colour bezel seems the most appealing of the trio, with both its case and bracelet being more streamlined. Both the 830 and 831 have the same case that’s slightly octagonal, which makes more of a statement but feels less refined. The 830 tries a bit too hard with the fancy dial, while the 831 is more plain, which is fair given its entry-level price.

The base model 831

Mechanical

The Series 8 models are powered by two different, but related, movements, the cal. 0950 and cal. 9051. Derived from the Miyota cal. 9015, both are just 4.1 mm high, explaining the thinness of the cases.

The 870 and 830 are the pricier models, so they are equipped with the cal. 0950 that has a longer power reserve of 50 hours and better accuracy rating of -5 to +10 seconds a day. The more affordable 831, on the other hand, is powered by the cal. 9051 that has 42-hour power reserve and runs within -10 to +20 seconds a day.

One feature both movements have in common is magnetism resistance. They conform to JIS B7024, the Japan Industrial Standards requirement for “magnetic-resistant portable watch”, which is magnetism resistance to 16,000 A/m. That’s about three times the magnetism resistance of conventional mechanical watches that are typically rated to 4,800 A/m. It’s also sufficient to withstand the magnetic fields generated by everyday electronic devices like smartphones and tablets.

870

The 870 is the flagship of the Series 8. Though the design is minimalist compared to the other two models, it is made interesting with details like the two-piece bezel and contrast finishing of the case and bracelet.

NA1000-88A (left), and NA1004-87E

The 830 case

830

The 830 has a three-layer dial that’s made up of a metal base topped by a mother of pearl disc, followed by a topmost lattice that also carries the hour markers. It’s not for everybody but the dial gives the watch an unusual look amongst integrated-bracelet sports watches.

Slightly more angular than the case of the 870, the 830 case also has broader lugs, giving it a bit of a 1970s feel. And it also has large crown guards, which similar contribute to its larger appearance, although its diameter is the same 40 mm.

NA1010-84X (left), and NA1015-81Z

831

The simplest and most affordable Series 8 watch is the 831. This shares the same as case the fancy-dial 870, but instead has a clean dial that has a triple seconds track that fades towards the centre.

NB6010-81E (left), and NB6012-18L

The case of the 831

Key facts and price

Citizen Series 8
870 Mechanical (two-piece bezel)
830 Mechanical (mother-of-pearl dial)

Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 870 – 10.9 mm; 830 – 11.7 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: cal. 0950
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 50 hours

Strap: Steel bracelet

Availability: Starting August 2021 at Citizen boutiques and retailers
Price:
870 – US$2000
830 – US$1,800 in steel; US$1,900 in grey-coated steel

Citizen Series 8 – 831 Mechanical 

Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 10.0 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: cal. 9051
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Steel bracelet or leather strap

Availability: Starting August 2021 at Citizen boutiques and retailers
Price: US$1,200

For more, visit Citizenwatch-global.com.

This was brought to you in partnership with Citizen.