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As Citizen continues to add automatic self-wind movements to their Signature series, the brand introduces their first diver in the form of the Citizen NB1031-53L Grand Touring Sport.
This Sports watch for men is the first in the collection to have a 300-meter water resistance thanks to the new screw-down crown. In typical Citizen style, the NB1031-53L is also very appealing to the eye, and can be worn in a wide range of situations such as with business wear, formal, casual and as a sports watch.
Stylish yet subtle, the NB1031-53L features a blue 60-click uni-directional bezel with matching blue dial and orange highlights. It also has luminous indexes and hands for total functionality even when underwater.
The dial is very easy to see and it’s clear to read the time even at a quick glance. The color scheme of the blue dial against the stainless steel band and case is very stylish, it really does go together so well.
Key components of the Citizen NB1031-53L watch
Automatic self-wind movement
Like the 2013 Grant Touring model, this piece utilizes what Citizen refers to as the “Caliber 9012” movement. This automatic self-winding movement consists of a 28,800 beats-per-hour capacity, 24 jewels, and a power reserve that lasts up to 42 hours.
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The skeleton rotor allows a sneak peek at the inner works of the watch and is designed in a way to move at a smooth, steady pace. With this, you can ensure that you’ll never lose any time. The face of the watch is protected by a Sapphire crystal window, which is anti-glare treated and has a slight dome profile for viewing clarity.
Blue radial dial
The blue dial of the NB10131-53L comes in a radial pattern and while it looks to be matte blue at first glance, it can also appear as metallic in certain lights. This optical illusion of sorts comes off as a nice surprise for fans of Citizen who pay keen attention to detail. The thick indexes around the dial are coated with lume’ towards the outer edges.
If you are planning to go snorkeling, this feature makes checking for the time a breeze even when underwater. Most of the finishing on the indexes is brushed, save for the faceted edges which are treated to a shiny polish. Aside from blue and silver, this piece also comes in a black-dialed version with gold rose trimmings to suit different styles.
Stylishly subtle accents
To complement the blue dial of this men’s dive watch, Citizen used a sandwich-style second/minute track on its outer edges. The first fourteen minutes are in orange and the rest are in white for a stylishly subtle accent.
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The second and hour hands are in white while the minute hand is highlighted in orange, which makes it easier to indicate the minutes passed when used with the blue 60-click bezel. The solid bezel is uni-directional and functions smoothly to give you the clearest indications on which marker you’re aligning with.
Water resistant up to 300 meters
The 300 meter water resistance of the NB1031-53L is owed mostly to its screw-down crown design. There’s no other model from the automatic Signature series to have this kind of feature, or such water resistance depth at present.
Its crown protector is comparable to the original Grand Touring, which is connected to the actual crown via an insert on the unit’s side profile. This insert can be seen protruding from the protector by simply unscrewing and pulling out the crown.
The good aspects of this watch
- New unique design that is both stylish and versatile
- 3-hand basic hand configuration
- Water resistant up to 300 meters
- Dual coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Smooth operation
- Innovative crown-guard system
And the not-so good aspects…
We have tried to dig up some dirt on this watch, but it is hard to find much fault about it. One thing we will say is that it is quite a big watch (as most sports watches are), so it is best suited for medium to larger wrists. Some people may not like the new crown guard system; we personally love it and feel that it adds a real signature to the NB1031-53L watch.
Additional information
The Citizen NB1031-53L Signature Grand Touring Sport for men has a case diameter of 45 millimeters and thickness of 14 millimeters. The stainless steel band has a men’s standard length of 8.5 inches and width of 22 millimeters. It weighs in at approximately 22 ounces and comes in a unique presentation box. Citizen has the NB1031-53L covered with a 5-year limited warranty on parts and service.
Should you buy the Citizen NB1031-53L?
Whether you like the design of this watch is going to be down to personal preference of course. We love it, and think that Citizen has hit a home run with the style of the NB1031-53L. What you can be assured of is the quality and level of craftsmanship that has gone into this watch. Citizen make excellent watches that perform well, and the Citizen NB1031-53L is certainly no exception. It runs like a dream, and really does catch the eye with its unique design.
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Click here to purchase the NB1031-53L at the lowest price today
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