Bold headline: A playful clash of heritage and modern whimsy arrives as Citizen teams up with seconde/seconde/ for an affordable Tsuyosa collab that cuts through the noise.
What’s happening
Citizen collaborates with Romaric André, better known as seconde/seconde, the cheeky watch customizer whose work spans Furlan Marri, Timex, Christopher Ward and beyond. Rather than a simple swap of hands, this partnership slices into the dial itself—quite literally in a pixelated katana motif.
The watch in question returns to Citizen’s Tsuyosa line: a 40mm by 11.7mm stainless steel, integrated-bracelet sports watch featuring hours, minutes, seconds, and date. Its blue sunburst fumé dial is theatrically sliced by a katana that replaces the standard minute hand. The slash effect penetrates the dial and all the indices, giving the impression that the center has been sliced and rotated. Yet the layout remains readable, thanks to luminous hands and edge markers that still tell you the time at a glance.
A transparent caseback, partly veiled by a seconde/seconde quote—“Being smaller has never stopped Minutes from slicing Hours into pieces”—sits above the automatic Cal. 8210 movement. While the movement’s stated accuracy of -20/+40 seconds per day and a 42-hour power reserve aren’t class-leading by high-end standards, this release stays true to Citizen’s affordability while delivering a strong design punch.
Availability and scale
This is a true limited edition, but not ultra-tight: 3,600 pieces. The choice of quantity aligns with the motif—the number of seconds in an hour reinforces the idea that the hands are continually slicing through time on the dial. Priced at $495, it offers a playful, approachable entry point into a collaboration that combines a lighthearted vibe with solid value.
What the reviewer thinks
Seconde/seconde/ has long delighted with a breezy, non-destructive approach to modifying watches, a stance I personally enjoy—especially when it allows vintage pieces to stay intact while still getting a fresh look. This release fits squarely into that vibe: cheeky, creative, and accessible. It’s interesting to see such bold experimentation at sub-$500, where the design risks feel appropriate and welcome. The dial effect is particularly well-executed for a sunburst finish; achieving it on sunburst requires more nuance than a matte surface, and Citizen still didn’t skimp on overall quality here.
Spec highlights
- Brand: Citizen x seconde/seconde/
- Model: Tsuyosa
- Reference: NJ0157-81L
- Diameter: 40 mm; Thickness: 11.7 mm
- Case: Stainless steel; Bracelet: Integrated stainless steel
- Dial: Blue fumé sunburst with sword-cut motif
- Indices: Applied, lumed, engineered to appear cut by a blade
- Lume: Hands and indices
- Water resistance: 50 m
- Movement: Cal. 8210, automatic with manual winding option; 42-hour power reserve
- Accuracy: -20/+40 seconds/day (not chronometer-certified)
- Special: Custom limited-edition box
Pricing and availability
- Price: $495
- Availability: Immediately
- Limited edition: Yes, 3,600 pieces
For more details, visit Citizen’s official page: https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/.
