Citizen BL5250-02L Review: Eco-Drive Titanium Chronograph Watch

And this watch does not fall short as it employs Citizen’s well-respected, solar-powered movement that they dubbed the Eco-Drive. At its core, the Eco-Drive is technically a quartz movement, as there is a power cell that serves as a battery.

However, with the Eco-Drive you won’t need to get the battery changed yearly as there is a solar panel in the watch’s dial that converts light energy into electrical energy that gets stored in the tiny power cell.

At a full charge, the battery has enough power to keep the watch moving for 6 months, only losing a few seconds a month, making this watch low maintenance and incredibly accurate.

Without boring you with all the technical details, basically, all it takes is a couple of hours in the sun (artificial light works just as well) to charge the watch for a couple of months.

Dial & Crystal

The dial of this watch is pure eye candy, the deep navy blue face with amazing details is something that I just couldn’t stop staring at.

The face also features a checkered texture that can only be seen when the proper light is shone on it is a great touch by Citizen.

There are three chronograph subdials on the face that are large enough to provide easy reading, while not distracting from the watch’s main dial that features white hands and markers that really make reading the time a breeze.

All of this is protected by a mineral crystal, which isn’t as scratch-proof as sapphire but does a great job of protecting the watch.

Case & Crown

I like watches that look durable and feel durable, and this watch delivers on both of those criteria and takes it a step further by being incredibly light.

The BL5250-02L has a titanium case, which is famous for being as strong as stainless steel while being half the weight. The material of the case allows the large watch, which is 42mm in diameter, to feel like almost nothing on the wrist while still maintaining its durable and sturdy look.

The watch’s crown is a perfect size, especially when put in proportion with the case, it is easy to pull out and manipulate, which is great as the watch’s multiple complications are mostly controlled by the crown.

Strap & Buckle

The one thing that ties up the classic and sleek design of the watch is the beautiful supple pigskin crocodile embossed strap.

The brown colored strap pairs beautifully with the titanium case and navy blue dial. The lug width, which measures at 20mm is the optimal width for the watch’s size.

On the wrist, the strap is very comfortable and you can go through the entire day without feeling any discomfort. But the comfort can also be attributed to the watch’s weight which is just a clear manifestation of how cohesive Citizen can be with their watch designs.

The watch also has a buckle closure which is nothing too special, but it does allow for easy sizing of the watch on the wrist.

All The Complications You Need

For starters, the watch has a perpetual calendar, meaning that you only have to set the date once and basically never worry about adjusting it again.

The calendar automatically takes into account the number of days in each month, and even adjusts itself for leap years! The only time that the calendar would have to be adjusted is 2100, where users will have to set the calendar back one day on March 1, 2100.

So I wouldn’t worry about it.

The watch also has a standard alarm, albeit the sound is a bit soft so deep sleepers may not be able to use the feature that much.

The chronograph feature on this watch may be tricky to manipulate at first, but after some getting used to works like a dream, the chronograph itself can measure up to 60 minutes.

The dials on the watch are multifunctional, having different uses depending on what mode you’re in, and arguably one the best parts is when you go back to regular watch mode, the hands move back into position automatically, pretty cool if you ask me.

The unidirectional bezel of the watch is equipped with a tachymeter and is the one shiny part of the watch, which is a very pretty detail.

There’s also no need to worry if you plan to do water activities with this watch as it is water-resistant up to 200m, however it is not a diving watch and is not equipped to withstand constant water pressure, but it should work with no problem when skin diving.

In Conclusion

All in all, this watch covers everything you would need, and requires little to no maintenance. This watch maintains its accuracy, all while being stylish enough that you can use it as a dress watch for formal activities, while not being too grandiose to wear with casual outfits.

This watch is an everyday watch in the truest sense, being able to cover all your daily watch needs, and needs to climb to the top of your watch list.

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