Released on February 21, 2025, we got our hands-on the new Citizen Series 8 831 for a few weeks, and bring you this detailed review of the novelty. A sporty, entry level mechanical model, which is a limited edition of 1800 pieces.
New and Reviewed: Citizen Series 8 831 with video
The Citizen Series 8 831 Ref. NB6051-59L has a retail price of USD 1,300. Limited edition of 1800 pieces.
YouTube video
The case
The case is the familiar new architecture of Citizen which we first saw in the Series 8 introduction in 2021, and carried over with variations over the years since. It was used in the Series 8 870, released in 2021, and carried over to the Series 8 880 GMT in 2023, and also in the Series 8 890 in 2024. This base design is even used in the high end The Citizen Mechanical 0200 model.
This novelty, the Series 8 831 carries a very attractive price of USD 1.3k, and even though this is an entry level model, it is a limited edition of 1,800 pieces world wide.
The case is octagonal, with faceted and angular sides. Around the crown, two additional extensions, also very angular with polished chamfers serve as crown guards. The watch head measures a nominal 40mm in diameter and is 11.6mm thick. The case and bracelet is in stainless steel. The adjacent surfaces have been applied with alternate high polish and linear brushing to create a very attractive surface. The bezel is round, and sloped with a high polish side. Citizen does not pull attention to the fact that this level of high polish is executed to the famed Japanese styled zaratsu finish that other brands make as their selling point. But the high polish that Citizen achieves is every bit as good.
The bracelet is also a study in excellent design and execution. the bracelet is a three link design, with a H link joined to a center link. The upper surfaces have linear brushed finishing, while the chamfers and inner sides are bright polished.
The dial
To me, the dial is particularly attractive. The geometric patterns on the dial glitters as the angled facets reflect light from different angles and glitters. The Citizen release describes the effect to be like the surface of a calm sea on a sunny day, with the ice blue colour inspired by the crystal clear ocean waters. But to us, the narrative is perhaps better served by the freshly laid snow which is abundant in the Nagano region where the Citizen movement manufacture is situated. The patterns and even the glitter reminds us of the often bright sun on a frosty winter’s day.
The dial has a minute chapter ring which is stepped up from the center geometric portion. And the indices are faceted and applied over this ring. The indices are large and bar shaped with the cardinal markers enlarged with double bars. The marker at the 3 o’clock position is truncated to allow for an aperture to show the date. The surfaces have a high polish side and facet right adjacent to linear brushed surface. This gives the indices a very 3 dimensional look and enlivens the dial.
The hands are also large, javelin shaped with infill of lume. A long slender seconds hand is used as the center pivoted sweep hand completes the picture.
The movement
The movement is the Citizen Caliber 9051, which is automatic winding. The specification are rather average, keeping an average accuracy of -10/+20s a day. However, in our usage over about 3 weeks, we have observed that it deviates no more than +2s a day, making the watch able to meet chronometer specifications. And we believe this is the norm in regular usage.
The decoration applied to the movement is rather nice. The finissage is well done, and meets all the engineering requirements of a movement and more. The decorative finishing applied, like the anglage on the sides, the polished countersinks to openings for jewels and pivots, and the Geneva stripes, or Tokyo Stripes as they are called in relation to Japanese movements, are applied to the rotor and plate. All make for a nice view from the case back.
Competitive landscape
In this space of a well designed, well executed watch, where the sporty nature and practical capabilities are paramount, the landscape may be well populated. But this is a garden which, in our view, full of weeds with only a few outstanding examples standing out. In our books, this Citizen is a high performing example. We feel this novelty can stand proud with the watches we listed in our under SGD 5K recommendation, which indeed also included the Series 8 830.
Other competitive inhabitants to consider is the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80. It carries a lower retail price of SGD 1k, but in our view the finishing of the dial, the case and bracelet is more industrial than what is offered by Citizen Series 8. We also feel the Citizen movement is also more refined than the rather basic (but very functional) Powermatic 80 offered by Tissot.
Concluding thoughts
This is a very nice watch to wear. It looks great. It is comfortable. It is reliable and as we found in our three weeks, accurate. The refinements of the finishing and aesthetics punches above the asking price of USD 1.3k, which in today’s exchange is about SGD 1.75k. A very reasonable ransom, we think.
The 40mm case is perfectly sized for the wrist. And for a watch about town, and for the urban warrior, this is a nice piece to add to the basic collection.
