Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium test - a rock for explorers?

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An analog automatic watch is always something very special for a real watch enthusiast. The high-quality materials, the workmanship and the weight - in short: the look and feel that such a wristwatch has on the wrist create its magic. And the look at the wrist, where the watch shines like a real piece of jewelry. The Citizen radio controlled men's watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L is just such a timepiece. Titanium case, sapphire crystal and a perfectly accentuated blue dial make the Japanese automatic watch a real eye-catcher. What does the quartz watch do in everyday life and when traveling? We have the model in our Citizen radio controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium Test CB5020-87L thoroughly checked.

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When choosing a new one Uhr I tended towards a robust and massive diving watch. Always in the back of my mind was the next trip, during which the analog quartz watch would have to suffer a lot: sweat while jogging, salty weather seawater The timepiece will have to withstand the sun, sand and heat when snorkeling. So a robust watch model like the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L was needed.

And at the same time it should also be elegant to wear at meetings with business partners, at dinner at a Maldives Island or to be able to wear it to your best friend's wedding. The choice fell on CB5020-87L. Yes, that's not a typo, that's the name of my new watch. The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L appeared almost delicate, delicate and fragile when I carefully pulled it out of the box. I almost felt a little sorry for the timepiece that it ended up with me.

The first route takes me to the watchmaker

The first way led me to the watchmaker, because the limb bracelet was a bit too long. Shortening took a few minutes and my return to an analog, mechanical wristwatch was perfect. I honestly did not think that was possible for a long time, because I was - and am - a friend of Smartwaches like the one because of the great range of functions Apple Watch.

But there are occasions when you don't want them Heart rate monitor but a real neat and analog wristwatch. The CB5020-87L is just that. We have checked the timepiece in detail in our Citizen radio controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium Test.

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The best Citizen watches.

Buy Citizen watches

Bestseller no. 1
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Bracelet BM7470-84L, Silver*
  • Caliber number: E111
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 2
Citizen men's analog Eco-Drive watch with Super Titanium bracelet BM7470-84E, silver
34 reviews
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Bracelet BM7470-84E, Silver*
  • Caliber number: E111
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 3
CITIZEN Promaster Marine CA0700-86E CA0700-86E, Silver*
  • Caliber number: B612
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 4
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Strap CA4444-82E*
  • Caliber number: B620
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 5
CITIZEN men's analogue quartz watch with titanium bracelet AT2480-81L*
  • Eco-Drive, environmentally friendly, never change batteries again
  • super titanium
  • massive bracelet

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My first impression of the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L

I have been using smartwatches almost exclusively for several years due to the high functionality of many models. At the same time, I am of the opinion that an analog wristwatch is significantly more attractive from a visual and stylistic point of view than almost all current smartwatch models. And that was exactly my first impression of the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L: the timepiece appeared to be of very high quality and made a noble impression without being pretentious. The watch feels surprisingly light, which may be due to the titanium used.

Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L: The chronograph has numerous complications on the dial. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L: The chronograph has numerous complications on the dial. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

And that's exactly the point: In direct comparison to the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L, my current smartwatch looks like a toy watch. However, the disadvantages of an analogue automatic watch immediately become apparent: the displays and the three control buttons are like Bohemian villages for me - so the operation is not intuitive. Although I am quite critical of analog wristwatches, my first impression is clear:

The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L is a pretty piece of jewelry that at the same time appears relaxingly unobtrusive, even reserved and modest. I then took a closer look at the technology and the setting options for my Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L test.

The main features and functions of Citizen Men's Radio Controlled Eco-Drive Titanium

  • noble chronograph in a simple-elegant design
  • robust watch case made of satined Super Titanium
  • Cover glass made of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
  • Link bracelet made of matted Super Titanium, polished on the side
  • Radio clock with reception in Europe, China, Japan and USA
  • the radio clock receives the signals DCF77, BPC, JJY and WWVB
  • Japanese quartz movement
  • Eco-Drive solar technology, Kal. E660
  • Eco-Drive converts light into energy
  • no battery change required
  • 3 years dark power reserve (at full previous charge)
  • 300 days power reserve
  • Warning function in case of insufficient charge
  • Daily Alarm
  • Stopwatch to 60 minutes in 1 / 20 seconds
  • Display of day and date
  • endless calendar
  • 24-hour display
  • Local time for 24 cities
  • callable time zones
  • blue dial
  • luminescent hands
  • matt indices
  • polished bezel and details
  • Safety folding clasp with logo
  • waterproof up to 10 bar
  • Diameter 42 mm, height 12 mm; Weight 97 grams
Hello, I'm Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg - and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.
About the author

I'm just a curious beach kid in the world

Hello, I am Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg – and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.

Follow me too Xing, TripAdvisor and Threads!

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stick with Travel Blog Just-Wanderlust.com and @strandkind_co always up to date and just follow me on Instagram!

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Strengths and weaknesses of the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium

The Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium is a wristwatch that has an elegant, high-quality and robust look and feel. The watch case and bracelet are mostly made of matt Super Titanium, which appears elegant throughout. The bezel, in turn, is polished, which creates a nice contrast. The safety clasp works very reliably.

Edeler timepiece: The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L has a case and bracelet made of titanium. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Edeler timepiece: The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L has a case and bracelet made of titanium. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Such a large chronograph is generally a bit bulky on the wrist, but at the same time the timepiece makes an inconspicuous, even modest impression. The automatic watch is definitely not a bling-bling watch to show off. In my opinion, the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium is an interesting model from a visual point of view - but as everyone knows, tastes differ and opinions differ. 

If it is to be stylish, an analog wristwatch is still the first choice. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
If it is to be stylish, an analog wristwatch is still the first choice. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

It looks different with the inner values ​​of the clock. Thanks to the eco-drive inside, the timepiece charges in the sunlight and therefore does not need a battery change. The watch has adjusted itself immediately after removal from the packaging. Radio clock functionality is available on the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium for the USA, Europe, China and Japan. The power reserve is 300 days, the dark power reserve even three years. In short, if you keep your wrist occasionally in the sun with your watch, you will never run out of energy. 

This is how the properties of the analogues have impressed me watch fully convinced. Things become more problematic when you want to use the functions of the automatic watch. To do this, I first had to read the operating instructions – several times. If you're not that technically savvy, you should just use a radio-controlled clock that sets itself automatically. Stopwatch, world time, alarm clock and alarm are set using the crown and the two buttons (top and bottom). You just have to try something out to familiarize yourself with the numerous setting options.

Strengths of the CB5020-87L

  • high-quality workmanship with premium materials such as titanium and sapphire crystal
  • visually appealing appearance
  • advanced charging technology with Citizen Eco-Drive
  • Eco-Drive converts light into energy
  • long battery life of 300 days power reserve (3 years dark power reserve)
  • Radio clock reception in the USA, Europe, China and Japan
  • various complications such as time, date, stopwatch, alarm
  • Waterproof to 10 bar - ideal for swimming and snorkeling
  • Absolute lightweight: 97 grams

Weaknesses of CB5020-87L

  • the operation of the watch is not intuitive - a detailed look at the manual is essential
  • The bracelet can not be shortened and must be taken over by the watchmaker
  • with a waterproofness of 10 bar not suitable for diving
  • You either have to know or memorize the abbreviations of the world time - PAR for Paris and DXB for Dubai are just known

Buy Citizen watches

Bestseller no. 1
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Bracelet BM7470-84L, Silver*
  • Caliber number: E111
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 2
Citizen men's analog Eco-Drive watch with Super Titanium bracelet BM7470-84E, silver
34 reviews
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Bracelet BM7470-84E, Silver*
  • Caliber number: E111
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 3
CITIZEN Promaster Marine CA0700-86E CA0700-86E, Silver*
  • Caliber number: B612
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 4
Citizen Men's Analogue Eco-Drive Watch with Super Titanium Strap CA4444-82E*
  • Caliber number: B620
  • Eco-Drive: Eco-Drive is a core technology from CITIZEN that…
  • No battery change required. Eco-Drive eliminates the hassle and…
ServicesBestseller no. 5
CITIZEN men's analogue quartz watch with titanium bracelet AT2480-81L*
  • Eco-Drive, environmentally friendly, never change batteries again
  • super titanium
  • massive bracelet
The closure of the Citizen men's radio-controlled Eco-Drive Titanium is smooth. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
The closure of the Citizen men's radio-controlled Eco-Drive Titanium is smooth. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

FAQs Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium - the most important questions and answers

What is Citizen Eco-Drive?

Citizen Eco-Drive is a series of quartz wristwatches from the manufacturer Citizen. Eco-Drive means something like ecological drive. The watch uses an integrated solar cell to generate electricity for the watch. Electricity can also be obtained from movement and heat. For this reason, the watch battery does not need to be replaced.

How long does Eco Drive last?

Citizen watches with Eco-Drive Eco-Drive convert light into energy, so there is no need to change the battery. Citizen watches Eco-Drive Titanium have a three-year dark power reserve (when fully charged). They also have a 300-day power reserve. There is a warning function for insufficient charge for safety.

How long does a solar watch last?

A solar watch lasts for its entire life without changing the battery, because the watch is charged again and again via the solar cell. Modern solar clocks can easily last ten years or more.

Do radio clocks have batteries?

Radio clocks usually have batteries that have to be changed approximately every two years. However, this does not apply to solar clocks. Since these clocks convert light into energy, there is no need to change the battery on these models.

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Citizen men's radio-controlled Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L for traveling and sports

Basically, the Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L is an ideal companion when traveling and on vacation, accompanying you to any travel destination worldwide and withstanding a lot of sunlight, dust, heat, salt water and sand. Of course, this doesn't leave the watch case unaffected. The analogue wristwatch already gets a few scratches. If you want to protect yourself from this, you should take off your watch when doing too demanding activities. Otherwise, nothing stands in the way of using the watch on your vacation adventures. Just be careful so it doesn't get stolen from you. 

The Citizen Mens Radio Clock Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L can be used as a radio clock in several regions of the world. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
The Citizen Mens Radio Clock Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L can be used as a radio clock in several regions of the world. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium test - How does an analogue automatic watch fit into my digital life?

For some time now I have noticed very attractive analogue and mechanical watch models from various manufacturers. The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium is certainly one of the most appealing pieces, but is in good company with many beautiful watches from numerous manufacturers. High-quality diving watch models in particular caught my attention. I noticed the mechanical wristwatches again and again, especially at meetings with business partners, at exclusive dinners on vacation and at festive occasions, while my own smartwatch looked like a colorfully flashing children's toy.

Analogue watch something special

However, due to the numerous sports watch functions, I could never bring myself to buy a mechanical wristwatch again. The reason is very simple: Anyone who uses a smartwatch records activities all day long - steps, kilometers traveled, calories burned and numerous other information. An electronic wearable therefore claims exclusive control of the wrist. The digital assistant does not allow rivals.

Citizen Men's Radio-controlled Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L Test: Is the Automatic Sports Watch the ideal and reliable companion for explorers and adventurers? Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer
Citizen Men's Radio-controlled Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L Test: Is the Automatic Sports Watch the ideal and reliable companion for explorers and adventurers? Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Mechanical wristwatches, on the other hand, can be collected and basically worn a different one every day. So if you ever want to take off your sports watch - or smartwatch - and use an analog watch instead, you will consequently have to forego recording your activities and will have a large gap in your activity tracking. If I, as an ambitious athlete, want to have a complete overview of his training during the workout, I have to think about something here.

Watch for special occasions

The Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L is therefore my watch for special occasions from now on. While I wear my digital smartwatch during the day while moving, the analogue automatic watch is now always used when it needs to be a little more stylish and chic on the wrist. I wear the Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L at dinner, when going out and at business meetings.

The smartwatch, on the other hand, remains my companion in everyday life and whenever I know that I move a lot and want information about the distance I've covered and how many calories I've burned. So I found the ideal way for me to integrate an analogue wristwatch like the Citizen men's radio-controlled watch Eco-Drive Titanium CB5020-87L into my everyday life.

Are you already using a Citizen sports watch or are you considering buying a model? Share your experience in the comments.

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  1. One of the most beautiful watches I've bought ... I'm very proud of it

    Reply

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