Stacking the Deck: Having Some Fun with Citizen’s Joyful New Fio Collection
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the watchmaker’s varied septet of easy-to-wear, vintage-inspired creations opens up a multitude of gift-giving (and self-gifting) possibilities, including some intriguing potential for “stackable” style.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
TikTok has recently revived interest in the sort of stackable “wrist game” that combines cocktail watches with bracelets, bangles, and even other watches. This personalized, often two-wristed, style of adornment has certainly been an enduring fashion choice for ages, but to my mind, the most iconic (and indisputably elegant) avatar for this style is none other than the late Princess Diana.
Despite her royal status, her easy, refreshing approach to fashion earned her a multitude of fans before her untimely passing in 1997 and has helped her image and legend live on.
And for people looking to emulate her almost preternatural grace and style, Citizen’s new Fio collection is the perfect place to start.
Light Play
In reviewing the brand’s seven new Fio timepieces, one is first struck by the sheer variety of the collection: two 18.4mm circular cases on metal, two 14.3mm x 30.7mm elongated rectangular cases on metal, and three similarly proportioned rectangular cases on colorful leather straps.
To top off that thoughtful selection, and in step with the brand’s 50th anniversary celebration of its Eco-Drive technology, all are powered by the G620 or G626 movements, which use any light source to deliver a long-lasting running time charge (up to 9 months) after a 9-hour charge from a fully empty state. Most remarkably, the Fio houses the smallest Eco-Drive movement Citizen has ever made.
Moreover, given the very accessible price points ranging from $275 to $395, indulging in a few Fios is as close to a no-brainer as you can get. Let’s take a look.
Metals Moves
The 18.4mm circular case options are offered in both silver-tone and yellow gold-tone stainless steel, with the silver-tone version featuring a lovely light blue sunray dial and the gold-tone version featuring an appropriately gold-toned sunray dial.
The diminutive case sizes, along with the ultra-slim metal bracelets that meet the timepieces in separate “rolled” lug connections, present as vintage ladies watch DNA 101. However, jewel-faceted mineral top crystals and cabochon-set crowns (blue for the silver-tone, red for the yellow-gold tone), along with the prominent Eco-Drive badging, amp up the pairs’ modernity and sophistication.
Similarly, two elongated rectangular case versions are presented, in both silver-tone and yellow gold-tone stainless steel.
For these two, a vintage-inspired “box”- style mineral crystal tops off the pair, providing alluring visual magnification along the edges of the silver-tone’s brilliant silver-white sunray dial (with blued hands and indices) and the gold-tone’s elegantly black sunray dial (with gold-tone hands and indices). Black cabochon-set crowns round out the appeal of this pair.
Certainly, a quick take on an all-metal “short stack” for the wrist would be an enjoyable, artful exercise, given the variety offered in these four Fio models. But we haven’t even gotten to some color yet.
Coloring Outside the Lines
For the trio of leather-strap options, the same 14.3 by 30.7mm, “box” crystal, rectangular cases are rendered in rose gold-tone, yellow gold-tone, and silver-tone stainless steel (all with silver-white sunray dials and red or black cabochons on the crown)
But the brilliantly vibrant leather straps are the real appeal of this trio: First, a classic burgundy-red natural-pattern leather strap accompanies the pink-gold-tone Fio. For the yellow-gold-tone timepiece, an eye-catching sunny-orange leather strap holds it to the wrist. Moreover, the silver-tone execution is paired with a stunning turquoise-blue leather strap. Meanwhile, both the orange and blue straps, with their grained leather texture insert some modern, fashion-forward flair to the mix.
These chromatic options only serve to fuel the fire for any intended “stackability” experiments.
Pricing & Availability
The circular-dial Fio models list for $350 for the silver-toned model and $395 for the yellow gold-toned version. Meanwhile, the all-metal rectangular versions go for $325 for the silver-tone and $350 for the yellow gold-tone.
Finally, the rectangular models on leather straps range from $275 for the silver-tone on a blue strap to $295 each for the yellow-gold-tone on orange and rose-gold-tone on burgundy versions.
For more information and to get in on the fun, check out the Citizen website.