Citizen Eco-Drive Proximity
A beautiful design with few tech features
For tech companies, like Google and Apple, a smart watch is a small computer on your wrist with voice-control, maps, pedometer, and other bells and whistles. Citizen, on the other hand, has come up with its own answer: the Eco-Drive Proximity, A traditional “smarter” watch that stays loyal to it’s roots while embracing the tech.
It’s beautiful, the case is made of stainless steel and the strap is leather with Nylon backing strap so it’s sports/sweat-friendly. It comes in two colors: silver with blue accents, and black with green accents. I prefer the black, it has a James Bond feel to it, well, maybe just a little.
The Proximity is sporty yet sharp and chic, it is better looking than all the smartwatches out there.
The size strikes a balance - 1.8” diameter with the crown so it is not uncomfortably large but still very noticeable on your wrist. It is thicker than your average watch, but that is not particularly a bad thing.
All the parts are made in Japan (although assembled in China), so great quality. I would say it’s strongest advantage is it’s design.
I would not call this a smartwatch in the traditional sense. It is a classical watch with some tricks up its sleeve. The dial looks traditional, only on the left side of the outer dial, there are four symbols: ACT, LL, MAIL, and CALL. The watch notifies you by vibrating while the second hand moves to one of the symbols:
Being a classic watch has its benefits. For example, you only need to recharge the watch every, well never. Since it is an Eco-Drive watch, it uses light to recharge itself and will not run out of power. It is also water resistance, so you can wear it while swimming, if you like to wear a watch while swimming.
On the other hand, updating the watch physically, is impossible. Citizen released a new version of the iOS app, but one symbol on the watch now refers to five different notifications on your phone, which means you will need to look at your phone to check what the notification is, which, in a way, defeats the purpose. You also cannot read text messages or emails or see who called, you will need to check your phone for that. It also does not have any fitness-tracking capabilities of any sort, which is disappointing.
I have to be honest here, it is very difficult to pair this watch with your iPhone. Once you are paired, the connection is spotty. I was not able to solely rely on the watch to mirror the notifications on my phone. That spoils the experience.
This is a watch that tells time, in style, and notifies you if your phone needs your attention. That’s it. If you are in the market for a traditional watch, you will love the design and the added functionality of this watch.
For tech companies, like Google and Apple, a smart watch is a small computer on your wrist with voice-control, maps, pedometer, and other bells and whistles. Citizen, on the other hand, has come up with its own answer: the Eco-Drive Proximity, A traditional “smarter” watch that stays loyal to it’s roots while embracing the tech.
Design
Citizen has carved a space for itself as an affordable luxury brand, and this watch definitely reflects that.It’s beautiful, the case is made of stainless steel and the strap is leather with Nylon backing strap so it’s sports/sweat-friendly. It comes in two colors: silver with blue accents, and black with green accents. I prefer the black, it has a James Bond feel to it, well, maybe just a little.
The Proximity is sporty yet sharp and chic, it is better looking than all the smartwatches out there.
The size strikes a balance - 1.8” diameter with the crown so it is not uncomfortably large but still very noticeable on your wrist. It is thicker than your average watch, but that is not particularly a bad thing.
All the parts are made in Japan (although assembled in China), so great quality. I would say it’s strongest advantage is it’s design.
A Classic Watch with Smart features
I would not call this a smartwatch in the traditional sense. It is a classical watch with some tricks up its sleeve. The dial looks traditional, only on the left side of the outer dial, there are four symbols: ACT, LL, MAIL, and CALL. The watch notifies you by vibrating while the second hand moves to one of the symbols:
- ACT: to indicate that the watch is connected.
- LL: to indicate a lost connection with the iPhone
- MAIL: to indicate an email, text messages, Calendar, and others
- CALL: to indicate an incoming call (rings once when you receive the call and again when the ringing stops).
Being a classic watch has its benefits. For example, you only need to recharge the watch every, well never. Since it is an Eco-Drive watch, it uses light to recharge itself and will not run out of power. It is also water resistance, so you can wear it while swimming, if you like to wear a watch while swimming.
On the other hand, updating the watch physically, is impossible. Citizen released a new version of the iOS app, but one symbol on the watch now refers to five different notifications on your phone, which means you will need to look at your phone to check what the notification is, which, in a way, defeats the purpose. You also cannot read text messages or emails or see who called, you will need to check your phone for that. It also does not have any fitness-tracking capabilities of any sort, which is disappointing.
The Connection Challenge
I have to be honest here, it is very difficult to pair this watch with your iPhone. Once you are paired, the connection is spotty. I was not able to solely rely on the watch to mirror the notifications on my phone. That spoils the experience.
The Verdict
If you are in the market for a small computer with a strap, check the smartwatches of Google, Apple and Pebble. This definitely is not for you.This is a watch that tells time, in style, and notifies you if your phone needs your attention. That’s it. If you are in the market for a traditional watch, you will love the design and the added functionality of this watch.
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