With a design directly inherited from the 1970s, a compact format, an integrated bracelet and a quartz movement, the Citizen Tsuno Chrono has everything it takes to see out the summer holidays. An instantly recognisable watch, offered in two versions at the particularly accessible price of 229 euros.
In August, the ideal watch has to know how to make itself forgotten without ever lacking character. It should be able to accompany a stroll through town, a day by the water, an impromptu trip or an evening on a terrace. At this particular game, the new Citizen Tsuno Chrono has some serious arguments.
Retro without being backward-looking, sporty without seeking to show off and original without becoming extravagant, it brings up to date one of the most emblematic chronographs of the Japanese manufacture.
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A chronograph born from a quarter turn
To understand the personality of this new Tsuno Chrono, you have to go back to 1973 and the launch of the Citizen Challenge Timer, also presented under the name “Challenger Timer” in the brand’s French communications.
The historic model holds an important place in Citizen’s heritage. It ranks among the manufacture’s first genuine chronograph wristwatches and stood out at the time thanks to its automatic mechanical calibre 8110 as well as a rather unusual architecture.
Rather than keeping the traditional layout of the movement, the designers at Citizen chose to rotate it by 90 degrees. The pushers and the crown thus ended up positioned at 12 o’clock, while the counters took their place at 3 and 9 o’clock. The calendar display, positioned at 6 o’clock, completes this three-counter visual composition.
This configuration gives rise to the so-called “bullhead” silhouette, whose two pushers immediately evoke a pair of horns. The Japanese nickname “Tsuno”, which refers precisely to this feature, would eventually establish itself as the name of this family of chronographs.
A 1970s silhouette brought up to date
More than fifty years after the creation of the original model, Citizen is not looking to offer a strictly historical reproduction of it. The new Tsuno Chrono takes up its main signatures while simplifying its approach.
The stainless-steel case keeps that rounded, slightly asymmetrical shape that gives it so much presence. Its black bezel underlines the dial, while the crown and the two pushers set at 12 o’clock make it immediately identifiable.
Above all, Citizen opted for a modest diameter of 38 mm, for a thickness of 11.7 mm. Reasonable dimensions that should allow it to fit many wrists, far from certain needlessly oversized retro reinterpretations. Its weight of 97 grams and its integrated steel bracelet reinforce this impression of a compact watch that is easy to wear. The bracelet plays a full part in its aesthetic. Its slim links naturally extend the lines of the case and recall the supple metal bracelets that readily accompanied the sporty chronographs of the 1970s.
Two dials and two temperaments
Citizen offers this reissue in two very different interpretations.
The reference AN3660-81A adopts a cream dial framed by a black bezel. Its black counters, combined with the orange chronograph hands, recreate the “panda” spirit of the historic model. It is unquestionably the more faithful of the two versions, the one that will appeal to fans of vintage chronographs and automotive aesthetics.
The reference AN3660-73X proves much bolder. Its luminous green dial gives the watch a contemporary, almost summery identity, while retaining the orange hands that bring a welcome touch of contrast.
This green variant is offered as a limited edition of 4,000 pieces worldwide, of which only 200 pieces are destined for France.
On these new Tsuno Chrono watches, the date is moved to around 5 o’clock. The counter set at 6 o’clock can therefore fully take part in the chronograph functions, unlike the 1973 model, on which the day and date were integrated at that spot.
Quartz as the choice of simplicity
Enthusiasts most attached to mechanics will naturally regret that Citizen did not opt for an automatic movement for this reissue. The historic 1973 model was indeed powered by the mechanical calibre 8110, notably featuring both automatic and manual winding.
But the choice of quartz appears here to be consistent with the watch’s positioning.
The Tsuno Chrono carries the Citizen calibre 0510, a quartz movement rated for an accuracy of around plus or minus 20 seconds per month. It drives a chronograph capable of timing durations of up to 12 hours, with reading to the second, as well as a date display and a stop-seconds function that makes precise time-setting easier.
For the holidays, this solution has a few obvious advantages. The watch can sit for several days before being picked up again straight away, with no winding or resetting. It proves accurate, simple to use and undemanding, while keeping the look and personality of a genuine historic chronograph.
Quartz also allows Citizen to offer this reissue at a particularly modest price, without sacrificing what makes up its visual identity.
A watch designed to live the summer
With its compact case, its metal bracelet, its luminous hands and indexes and its mineral glass, the Tsuno Chrono seems perfectly suited to everyday use. Its personality lets it work equally well with a polo shirt, a light shirt or a sportier outfit.
Its water resistance is stated at 5 ATM, that is 5 bar or 50 metres. Citizen’s general recommendations allow swimming with a watch meeting this level of resistance, but rule out free diving and scuba diving. Furthermore, the chronograph pushers must never be operated when the watch is wet.
The Tsuno Chrono will therefore be able to accompany a large part of summer activities, provided it is not regarded as a true diving watch. Those who want to take on the most demanding water sports will have to favour a model offering greater water resistance.
An accessible watchmaking pleasure
The success of this new Citizen ultimately rests on a fairly simple balance. The manufacture keeps the essentials of the 1973 model’s identity, such as its pushers at 12 o’clock, its rounded case, its black bezel and its graphic dial, while offering a simpler, more affordable and probably easier-to-wear watch for everyday use.
At 229 euros, both versions offer particularly appealing positioning. The cream one plays the heritage card to the full, while the green one brings a dose of freshness and originality perfectly suited to summer. The models are available from a selection of retailers as well as on the official Citizen France website.
The Citizen Tsuno Chrono is therefore not trying to become the most technical watch of the summer. It would rather be one of the most endearing. A chronograph with a strong design, immediately identifiable, easy to live with and affordable enough to be slipped into a suitcase without a second thought.
Technical specifications — Citizen Tsuno Chrono
| References | AN3660-81A, cream dial ; AN3660-73X, luminous green dial |
| Case | stainless steel |
| Diameter | 38 mm |
| Thickness | 11.7 mm |
| Glass | mineral |
| Bracelet | integrated stainless steel |
| Movement | Citizen quartz, calibre 0510 |
| Functions | hours, minutes, seconds, date and chronograph up to 12 hours |
| Stated accuracy | ± 20 seconds per month |
| Water resistance | 5 bar / 50 metres |
| Limited edition | green dial, 4,000 pieces worldwide, of which 200 in France |
| Price | 229 euros |
Frequently asked questions
It is a reissue of Citizen’s iconic 1973 “bullhead” chronograph, originally the Citizen Challenge Timer. A compact, retro quartz chronograph with the pushers and crown at 12 o’clock, it measures 38 mm and is offered in two versions from 229 euros.
To create it, Citizen rotated the movement 90 degrees, placing the crown and the two pushers at 12 o’clock so that they resemble a pair of horns. “Tsuno”, the Japanese word for horn, eventually became the name of this family of chronographs.
The AN3660-81A has a cream dial with a black bezel and black counters, recreating the historic “panda” look, while the AN3660-73X features a luminous green dial as a limited edition of 4,000 pieces worldwide, of which only 200 are destined for France. Both keep the orange chronograph hands.
The Citizen quartz calibre 0510, accurate to about ±20 seconds per month, driving a chronograph that times up to 12 hours, with a date and a stop-seconds function. Quartz keeps the watch affordable and hassle-free for holidays — no winding or resetting — unlike the mechanical calibre 8110 of the 1973 original.
A stainless-steel case measuring 38 mm across and 11.7 mm thick, with mineral glass and an integrated steel bracelet, weighing 97 grams. It is water-resistant to 5 ATM (50 metres): swimming is fine, but not diving, and the chronograph pushers must never be operated when the watch is wet.
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