Did a Vaunted Japanese Brand Quietly Release Its Best-Looking Watch Ever?

Citizen launched the Echo-Drive One collection in 2016 to mark the 40th anniversary of its signature light-powered quartz movement.

With cases as thin as 2.98mm, the One collection has previously focused on pushing the limits of how slim a solar-charging watch can be. But now, Citizen has pivoted to make this ultra-thin design look as dressed up and jaw-dropping as possible.

Citizen

The new pink gold-plated Echo-Drive One exhibits a Washi paper dial, familiar from the brand’s luxurious The Citizen collection. At 37mm wide and 4.5mm thick, the comparatively bulky case accommodates a small seconds dial, solidifying a dress watch categorization.

Completing the elegant makeover is a brown crocodile leather strap with a three-piece folding clasp partially plated in pink gold.

Citizen

As the watch industry edges toward smaller case sizes, in both width and height, Citizen is pushing ahead of the trend by converting its thinnest Echo-Drive watch into the best-looking offering in its entire catalog.

So little time

Most Echo-Drive One references have had a modern steel sports watch vibe. The earliest examples, which are still in production, have exposed screws, a prominent steel bezel and a hexagonal crown.

Citizen

In 2024, Citizen introduced a small seconds version of the Echo-Drive One. It retained the same steel case construction and gently curved shape, but the exposed screws were removed and the top was smoothed out to resemble a classical watch case.

This new Washi paper dial and precious metal reference represents the completion of a transition from a novel design that was pushing boundaries into the application of that innovative engineering in a genuinely beautiful dress watch.

A stigma still exists around quartz movements, and many enthusiasts are put off by the jerky motion of the second hand. This bias is rooted in the prestige of mechanical engineering, despite the categorically superior accuracy of quartz.

Citizen

In the case of the Echo-Drive One, that accuracy holds despite the movement’s mind-blowing thinness. Removed from the case, it is barely the size of a quarter.

Though high for Citizen, the $3,250 price is easy to justify when compared to similarly thin mechanical watches, like the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra, which goes for $529,000.

Two limited edition alternatives

Joining the Echo-Drive One Washi Dial are two limited edition references with equally classy looks. The first has a polished black dial, matching the one found on the first Echo-Drive One, and a yellow gold-plated case, indices and hands.

Citizen

It is a gold-plated version of the first small hands Echo-Drive One, released in 2024, coming on a black alligator leather strap with a folding clasp.

The other limited edition model has a matching yellow gold-plated case with a textured green dial. The gilt applied indices are switched up with alternating batons and Roman numerals, and the central hands are a narrow leaf shape.

Citizen

A remarkable detail about all three watches is that Citizen has made little effort to promote some of the best-looking watches it has ever produced. All three were released in the Japanese market in March and came to the States in May.

With an enormous, constantly updated catalog to consider, it can be challenging to track down Citizen’s best offerings. The new Echo-Drive One is a hidden gem that scratches one of the watch community’s most intense itches of 2025 with a “goldilocks” case width and flex-worthy height.

Availability and pricing

The Citizen Echo-Drove One Washi Dial is available now from Citizen and authorized dealers for $3,250.

The limited edition gold Echo-Drive One references with a green dial and a black dial are both $2,995.

Citizen

Citizen Echo-Drive One Washi Dial

Specs

Case Size	37mm
Movement	Echo-Drive quartz
Water Resistance	30m

• $3,250 at Citizen

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