Citizen Series8 870 Automatic Limited Edition
The All-Black Citizen 870 Mechanical Celebrates the First Anniversary of the Series 8 with Stealth and Style
To honor the birthday of the sports watch reboot from last year, the latest Series 8 presents an intriguing combination of an all-black colorway with a dramatic dial that won’t get lost in the crowd.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
All-black timepiece executions work well. Plain and simple. Yes, they can sometimes fade into the background (especially if you are a fan of modern monochrome noire dressing), but they are sleek and, when done right, something truly special.
Case-in-point: The limited-edition Series 8 870 Mechanical from Citizen. Let’s take a look.
Out of the Black Abyss
Cutting to the chase, the bold hands, indices, and swirling carbon materials borrowed from the aviation and auto industries on the 870 Mechanical’s dial not only extend beyond its all-black package but their very use, a first for Citizen, will attract admirers.
The 40.8mm case and two-piece bezel are crafted from brushed and mirror-finished stainless steel and topped-off with Citizen’s propriety Duratect DLC coating. Interestingly, Duratect not only increases the durability of the steel and adds an inky black hue to the hardware, but it also provides some light-catching elements to the timepiece.
The result is that this all-black beauty can sometimes take on a grayish shimmering metallic quality in the right light.
Stealthy Movement
Another first for Citizen’s Series 8 collection is the 870 Mechanical’s transparent caseback, which provides a view of the Calibre 0950’s balance wheel and rotor. Automatic with a 48-hour power reserve, the movement inside the 870 Mechanical provides an accuracy rating of -5/+10 seconds a day.
However, more related to the stealth part of the equation, the Calibre 0950 also sports enhanced magnetic resistance to combat magnetic fields from smartphones, tablets, and other devices you might gear up with on your more clandestine adventures. The timepiece is also water-resistant to 10 bar (about 328 feet).
Stylish Statement
Interestingly enough, it’s the more eye-catching qualities of the all-black Series 8 870 Mechanical that define its overall design aesthetic. As said, the bright metal hands, indices, and Citizen logo and badging pop beautifully from an equally eye-catching textured carbon dial.
Moreover, the DLC-treated case and bezel surfaces transmit more gleam than most of the all-black timepiece we’ve seen that take up a flat-matte visage. Throw in a gold-toned rotor visible via the sapphire caseback and a black textured polyurethane strap, and you’ve got a noire masterpiece that stands out.
If you will, the limited-edition Series 8 870 Mechanical is the perfect timepiece for secret agents who don’t want to keep their style sense a secret anymore.
Pricing & Availability
Limited to 700 pieces and retailing for $2,000, the Citizen Series 8 870 Mechanical is available at Citizen boutiques and via the Citizen website.
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)
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