Citizen Zenshin Automatic 40.5mm

Finishing on the case is exceptional. And we do not use this word easily. The finnisage stands up to very close scrutiny. Polished surfaces, brushed surfaces are executed to perfection. There are no sharp edges, all have been nicely smoothed to create a very luxurious hand-feel.

We find the Zenshin to be a compelling proposition at the sub SGD 1k price point for a titanium watch with titanium bracelet and an in-house automatic movement. The watch is exceptionally finished. The case, dial, bracelet and hands is on par with watches with retail prices well above the level Citizen is proposing. And the movement is at least on par with Swiss made counterparts at the sub SGD 1k mark. Excellent value proposition. And we highly recommend the Zenshin as perhaps one of the best way to enter the mechanical watch market.

Up close, you’ll see that the texture looks pretty much as good as in the product photos and does look akin to a bunch of much more expensive textured dial watches. It’s not as three-dimensional as some other dials I’ve covered before, such as the San Martin desert dial watches, but the shallow ridges and bumps still provide a pretty magical effect that transforms as you move the watch around.

While it’s hard to criticize the dial, if I had to be picky, I do think it looks a little cluttered and bottom-heavy, given the imbalanced placement of the subdial and lower text. As far as automatics go, in the flesh, I think the more symmetrical Tsuyosa Small Seconds is the better-looking of the two, though it is a close contest.