Help for a very old Citizen

bubba48 · Sep 27, 2019

I recently purchased this wristwatch, probably one of the very first produced by Citizen.

Case and dial are still in fair condition while the movement needs a restoration, given the lack of some parts：winding stem, setting lever and setting bridge.

My watchmaker is trying to rebuild the missing parts and a photo of the movement from the dial side, or of the single pieces, would be of great help.

In the meantime I have contacted the vintagecitizenwatches.com guys, unfortunately with no results.

Many thanks to all those who can help me.

bubba48 · Sep 30, 2019

I try one last time 🙁

Tony C. · Sep 30, 2019

Not sure if these will be of any help, Luigi, but you could, if you like, buy this as a donor movement. It would be cheap, but would take some time to acquire, as it is in Japan. I could help, if needed.

Fritz · Sep 30, 2019

Contact Citizen directly via their website.

While most companies have little interest in their own history I’ve found Japanese companies seemed to be more interested in their own history as of late and are therefore more interested in helping with older pieces like this.

Other waist it’s hunt up anger one on eBay for parts.

I’ve sometimes blown off a year looking for parts, so keep at it.

And good luck, that’s a nice looking watch.

bubba48 · Sep 30, 2019

Thanks Tony. I've sent you a message

Archer · Sep 30, 2019

Fritz
Contact Citizen directly via their website.

While most companies have little interest in their own history I’ve found Japanese companies seemed to be more interested in their own history as of late and are therefore more interested in helping with older pieces like this.

Other waist it’s hunt up anger one on eBay for parts.

I’ve sometimes blown off a year looking for parts, so keep at it.

And good luck, that’s a nice looking watch.

My experience with Japanese watches is exactly the opposite. They tend to stop producing spare parts for movements much quicker than the Swiss companies do. If this attitude is changing, it's a good thing, but if I can't get parts for a GS from the 70's, getting parts for something this old isn't going to be easy...

Canuck · Sep 30, 2019

Japanese over production of watches! The Japanese watch companies seem to be aware that every time a Japanese watch gets repaired, a new Japanese watch doesn’t sell. It is simply not economical for these outfits to warehouse the repair parts for the billions of Japanese watch that are in use, world wide. We’ll soon be up to our ankles, wading around in discarded Japanese watches

bubba48 · Sep 30, 2019

Fritz
Contact Citizen directly via their website.

While most companies have little interest in their own history I’ve found Japanese companies seemed to be more interested in their own history as of late and are therefore more interested in helping with older pieces like this.

Other waist it’s hunt up anger one on eBay for parts.

I’ve sometimes blown off a year looking for parts, so keep at it.

And good luck, that’s a nice looking watch.

Already done. They replied that they have no spare parts. 🙁
Moreover, they did not even know this watch 😕

Fritz · Sep 30, 2019

Bizarre.

Canuck · Sep 30, 2019

bubba48
Already done. They replied that they have no spare parts. 🙁
Moreover, they did not even know this watch 😕

Why am I not surprised??

Professor · Oct 1, 2019

You might try to track down watches that were made by other watch makers that used licensed copies of Citizen movements.
My HMT Sona uses a clone of an older Citizen hand winder.
My Paul Peugeot uses a clone of an older Seiko movement.

bubba48 · Apr 20, 2020

Here I'm again.
It has been a long wait but my watchmaker has finally rebuilt the missing parts. Now I can't pick up the watch because of Covid, but I can't wait to put it on my wrist.
Thank you Davide