CITIZEN

CITIZEN

Citizen Holdings   the core company of a Japanese global corporate group based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was originally founded as Shokosha Watch Research Institute in 1918 and is currently known as the manufacturer of Cincom precision lathe machine tools as well as Citizen Watches. The trade name originated from a pocket watch Citizen sold in 1924. It is one of the world's largest producers of watches.

HISTORY

the early part of 1950’s, Citizen completed Cal. 960(M), its first 6 beat caliber with 17 jewels, and Cal. C, Japan’s first men’s wrist watch fitted with date display known as "Citizen Calendar". In 1953, Citizen acquired a clock manufacturer, The Rhythm Clock Co. , as an affiliated company.

 1956 was a momentous year for the brand. The company produced the first shock-proof Japanese watch, known as the Parashock.

 In 1958, the company produced its first automatic-winding wrist watch “Auto” fitted with Cal.3KA, and Japan's first manual winding alarm caliber with 19 jewels, Cal.980. Also the introduction of “Citizen Deluxe” fitted with Cal.920, Citizen's first caliber with central seconds, proves a hit with the watch buying public, with sales of over 100 million pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Apart from watches, Citizen also manufactures calculators and small electronic organizers. Some non-watch devices such as handheld televisions and computer printers, have been marketed under the Citizen brand name.

In the 1980s, a number of handheld electronic games were sold under the Q&Q brand.

In the early-mid 1990s, Citizen partnered with Compaq Computer Corporation to build notebook computers in Japan for the Japan and Far Eastern market to be sold under the Compaq name.