Horological Meandering

I'm curious to know whether or not you have sympathy for my position: The Citizen Signature Grand Touring (NB0070-57E) pictured below was roundly ridiculed when introduced in 2013. I won't call attention to any particular review, but many were brutally critical of it's tip of the hat to Panerai. Was this any more a tip of the hat than Montblanc's introduction of the Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim? That watch mimics the long-revered JLC just as shamelessly. And there are literally countless other examples that could be listed. Why beat up on the Japanese? We have our suspicions, and they are not nice ones.

I own this watch and replied to a post just today singing the praises of its Miyota 9015 movement—which starts up with the slightest motion of the rotor, and has kept time from the moment it first ran with an accuracy of ~1-2 spd. Here, I'd like to laud more of the CSGT's positive points, for I feel it important for those of us with slim pocketbooks to take heart in the fact that the horological landscape has become so competitive in recent years that we, too, can own pieces of remarkable design, reliability, and accuracy.

The CSGT does bear a strong resemblance to its Italian cousin, granted. But as one who has tried on a number of Panerai pieces, I must say it is nothing like one! (Nor, for that matter, is my Montblanc anything like the JLC that inspired it.) You may deplore this industry-wide copying of well-proven designs—fair enough. But as it does exist industry-wide I think we should agree that the CSGT was unfairly singled out as a copycat. In point of fact, it is a fine watch.

The case is an impressive chunk of stainless steel; the domed sapphire crystal looks thick, and inviting; the polished, applied indices catch every stray light beam; and its bold hands assure that you will never have to second guess what time it is. Though a relatively large piece, the watch sits quite comfortable on my 7.25 in. (18.4 cm.) wrist. The lume is OK (many watch's lume is merely OK if one expects it to last a long long time) and the movement—protected to 20 atm—I've already commented on. 

This is not a Rolex. This is not a Panerai. But it is a good watch. It keeps more accurate—and more importantly, more consistent—time than my most expensive, ~$5-6K, pieces. It is VERY easy to read. It is comfortable. If one had the pockets deep enough to afford a movement made by hand… what a dream! But a dream, alas, for many of us. Since the time of all the bad press to which I refer, five important years have passed. One can't say there has not been additional criticism leveled at major manufactures during that time—Montblanc's Meisterstuck Heritage Perpetual Calendar brought praise from some quarters, and ridicule from others—but it seems to me the vitriol has dropped off consideably. Perhaps this is due in part to the massive amount of reintroduction of older designs by major companies in an effort to shore up profit margins. Some have been more successful than others. But can we say that any really compare to the originals? They are shiny new things, albeit with in some cases with more robust movements. Hopefully reviewers will get off their high horses and get to important matters--wear the watches they review for a period of time, to see how they really perform. All of this rushrushrush of publishing deadlines does us all a disservice.

I'm afraid it's too late for the CSGT, though. I don't think sales of the watch ever hit expected targets. And imho the outcry over the audacity of the Japanese to strongly hint at a European design sharply suppressed enthusiast acceptance. A great watch, though. I think I'll let it keep me company as I watch Croatia/France. It's just beefy enough to take it.

Thanks in advance for your comments. All best, FH

The polished bevel that follows the perimeter of the cushion outline is a nice detail on this largely brushed case.

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