If you think that Atomic Timekeeping is cool, think again!
Keeping your watch up to date with half a dozen of old-school broadcasting stations is as XXth-century as a gasoline-powered Corvette compared to Tesla Roadster. Fighting the inherent flaws of quartz mechanisms, which, like their older fully mechanical ancestors, can still be heavily affected by such external factors as temperature and sometimes even humidity, Citizen is going to start selling its beautiful limited edition Eco-Drive Satellite Wave CC0005-06E that captures the day, date and time signals directly from GPS navigation satellites!
Details are still scarce, but the Japanese company has reported in its press release that the new “concept” will be equipped with their new Satellite Timekeeping system and will be limited to just 990 individually numbered pieces.
Able to “talk” to any of the 24 navigation satellites that orbit Earth, the system is usable in any part of the world, which makes it more versatile than Casio’s Atomic Timekeeping system.
As you may have already know the latter is only good as long as your watch is able to receive the signal from one of the six transmitters that broadcast atomic clock time, which makes it unusable in Africa, Australia, Latin America, and -of course- Russia.
Besides this useful feature, the CC0005-06E also sports such functions as a perpetual calendar and world time for 26 cities.
It is animated by Citizen’s brand new Caliber H990 Eco-Drive solar-powered movement that has a theoretic power reserve range of 2.5 years after being fully charged and sealed in a dark room. According to the Japanese brand, the Satellite Wave GPS will be presented in a rather large case that combines a ceramic bezel (it houses the ring-shaped GPS antenna under its glossy surface) and stainless steel body with the signature DLC coating.
The high-tech treatment not only makes a watch (or just about any gadget that is expensive enough to make the procedure economically feasible) look extremely cool but also protects the case from occasional scratches and minor dings: something that traditional PVD treatment is just not capable of.
Measuring 48.5 millimeters in diameter, it will probably scare away a lot of potential customers who are mostly interested in looks, not in sophisticated electronics that make this device as accurate as it is promised to be.
Of course, the stock black-and-green polyurethane band that comes with the timekeeper doesn’t look as premium as it probably should have been regarding the timekeeper’s impressive recommended street price of $6000 USD, but that doesn’t look like a serious problem as, for a change, Citizen decided to equip the Satellite Wave with standard lugs, so using an aftermarket strap or similarly styled DLC-treated bracelet will probably not be a problem.
We’ll report on this beautiful timepiece later when it officially becomes available.
See also: Seiko Ananta Spring Drive Moon Phase
Photos: Citizen / Ribero Watch
Citizen Eco-Drive Satellite Wave CC0005-06E specification
Price: $6000 (MSRP)
Movement: Eco-Drive, Caliber H990, solar-powered, Made in Japan
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar, GMT
Power reserve: 2.5 years after being fully charged
Case: Stainless steel, black DLC
Bezel: Ceramic
Shape: Round
Size: 48.50 mm
Dial: Skeletonized, 3D-sculpted
Hands: Steel, luminous (green compound)
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Rubber
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid