Categories: Horology/Wristwatches

How Good is the Citizen Tsuyosa 60 Automatic? A Closer Look at Value, Style, and Engineering

How Good is the Citizen Tsuyosa 60 Automatic? A Closer Look at Value, Style, and Engineering

Introduction: A Refresh with Purpose

The Citizen Tsuyosa line has been turning heads since its 2022 debut, blending sporty elegance with an accessible price tag. The Tsuyosa 60 Automatic represents a thoughtful evolution of the NJ015-based 40mm design, addressing user feedback while preserving the core appeal of the collection. Built for daily wear with a dash of Japanese-influenced aesthetics, the Tsuyosa 60 Automatic aims to balance value, refinement, and timeless style.

What Stays the Same—and What Changes

Size and silhouette are at the heart of the Tsuyosa 60 Automatic. It shares the same 40mm case as the original Tsuyosa NJ015, offering a slim 11.7mm profile and a compact lug-to-lug of about 45mm. This makes it comfortable on a wide range of wrists, though the overall wrist presence can feel substantial on smaller wearers. The stainless steel case is vertically brushed with polished bevels, delivering a refined look that still reads casual enough for everyday use.

Externally, the watch keeps a flat sapphire crystal, a magnified date window, an angled bezel, and a 50-meter water-resistance rating. The crown is positioned at 4 o’clock for comfort, but it remains recessed, which can affect grip for some users. The most visible updates lie in the dial, case finishing, and bracelet upgrades that accompany the 8310 movement swap.

Dial, Texture, and Legibility

Citizen has introduced a more tactile dial with a stamped, guilloché-like concentric pattern. The texture adds depth without compromising legibility, aligning well with the watch’s sporty-elegant character. Luminescent hands and hour markers carry ample glow, complementing the case’s color and ensuring readability in low light. The dial options—classic black, a two-tone green/yellow gold pairing, and a rich blue with rose-gold tones—offer choices for different personal styles while maintaining coherence with the overall Tsuyosa look.

Movement and Power Reserve

Under the hood, the Tsuyosa 60 Automatic upgrades to the calibre 8310, stepping up from the 8210 used in earlier models. The most notable mechanical improvement is the power reserve, now rated at 60 hours, a welcome 20-hour gain that translates into fewer winding cycles between wearings. Frequency remains at 3Hz with hacking seconds, and the movement retains practical accuracy within -20/+40 seconds per day on average. Beyond performance, the 8310 features rhodium plating, blue screws, an openworked rotor, and striped bridges, which collectively elevate the watch’s internal aesthetics without breaking the bank.

Bracelet, Clasp, and Wearability

The Tsuyosa 60 Automatic upgrades to a five-link jubilee-style bracelet, replacing the previous three-link design. The outer links are brushed and the inner links polished, yielding a more premium feel with noticeably reduced play between links. The length is adjustable via screws, and a new concealed butterfly clasp provides a cleaner look. However, the new clasp eliminates bracelet micro-adjustment holes, which could be a drawback for some wearers seeking precise fit without tools. On wrists around 16.5 cm, the watch may wear larger than expected, while those with larger wrists find the presence quite balanced, especially the 37mm version in the line-up.

Availability, Price, and Market Position

The Tsuyosa 60 Automatic strikes a balance between affordability and perceived luxury. In steel with a black dial, it launches at around EUR 379 or USD 575. While it sits in a price band above the NJ015, it still undercuts many Swiss rivals that offer similar styling and refinement. The real question for buyers comes down to what you value: Swiss brand prestige versus a strong, well-built alternative with a modern twist. In that context, the Tsuyosa 60 Automatic holds its own against affordable competition like the Seiko 5 Sports and mid-tier options such as the Tissot PRX—delivering more premium details for a fraction of the cost of higher-end brands.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It?

Yes. The Tsuyosa 60 Automatic delivers meaningful upgrades without straying from the original concept that defined the line. You get a more refined case, a more tactile dial, a significantly longer power reserve, and a higher-quality bracelet, all wrapped in a design that remains practical for daily wear. If you’re after an elegant sports watch with integrated bracelet aesthetics and reasonable pricing, the Tsuyosa 60 Automatic makes a compelling case. You’ll pay a bit more than the NJ015, but the added value—especially in movement decoration and dial texture—helps justify the price delta. For many buyers, this adds up to one of the best value propositions in the segment today.