Citizen Bullhead Flyback Chronograph Supertitanium™ Limited Edition

15 June 2020 | Citizen , Japanese Watches

Citizen celebrates this year the first-ever titanium wristwatch's 50^th anniversary, quite an achievement in watchmaking. In 1972, the Japanese brand also launched its first Bullhead Flyback Chronograph, an odd wristwatch, back then, powered by the sophisticated caliber 8110A, featuring flyback function and push-buttons placed at twelve, hence the nickname "Tsuno," which means "Horn" in Japanese.

The 2020 commemorative edition embodies fifty years of technical prowess and product innovation and showcases two of Citizen's state of the art technologies: Eco-Drive™ and Supertitanium™. It is not Citizen's very first attempt in combining Supertitanium™ and Eco-Drive™ in a Bullhead, though. If you're a watch geek, you won't forget that Citizen introduced a 1000-piece Limited Edition Bullhead, exclusively available in Singapore, combining both technologies, although not as advanced as this edition, given the continuous evolution and improvement processes ongoing at Citizen.

Compared to the new timepiece (a collector posted the photo above on Watchuseek), that model was stylistically closer to the original Bullhead. We think Citizen experimented, with that limited product, how the market could have reacted to a modern Eco-Drive™ powered Bullhead. That collection sold out in a blink of an eye, and it's virtually impossible to find for sale anywhere on the market, at least not across the most known platforms. The 2020 Bullhead or Tsuno Chrono Limited Edition offers the state-of-the-art Supertitanium™ (and Eco-Drive™) technology, paired to a steel-finish, and houses one of the most advanced movements available. It is the E2100 caliber, consisting of 294 parts, powered by Eco-Drive™, which transforms any light into energy.

The case is impressive, at 43mm, across, and has mixed satin (bracelet, case side) and polished (bezel, buttons, and crown) finish, the outcome being a steel sports watch touch to it. Also, you'll notice this edition debuts a sharper design over the outgoing Tsuno range: upper and lower sides of the case'edges are squared and kind of manga-looking. Protected by a sapphire crystal, the four-register dial comes in two versions, a silver double "panda" with black counters, and a black one with dark gray registers. The Chrono ones are placed on the right-hand side, while at 9 o'clock, there's the power reserve indicator (the movement ensures an 8-month power reserve when fully charged). There's an additional tiny hand between 4 and 5 o'clock, which activates the alarm and can be operated by pressing a button in the lower right-hand side, whose design mimics an Allen screw.

Regarding the flyback function, the brand aimed at replicating a mechanical watch's feel as much as possible: the jump start function is instantaneous, and the push-pieces offer a mechanical chronograph's feedback. Additionally, the timepiece is guaranteed water-resistant to up to 10atm.

Case and bracelet are treated with Citizen's proprietary Duratect™ to make it virtually scratchproof. It would be great if Citizen would offer a replacement leather or NATO strap, something we'll find out once we might get our hands on one. The Citizen Bullhead Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition watch retails for Euro 698. Additonal information at: Citizen Watch Global

(Photo credit: courtesy of Citizen Watches)

Francesco Falcone @Horbiter®