Citizen Eco-Drive Men's Nighthawk Chronograph Watch

Product Information

Like with other Citizen Eco-Drive watches, the Stealth Nighthawk doesn’t require batteries. The watch utilizes a lithium capacitor for power and it stores charge through solar power. There’s actually a solar panel just under the dial of the watch which absorbs light energy and converts it into electrical energy. However, it’s worth noting that the watch charges not just from solar energy but from other light sources as well.

Citizen got a lot of things right with this watch, and the case size and construction are no exception. The Nighthawk is 42mm in diameter and sits very comfortably on the wrist. The dial is the perfect size to show off everything without being too large or too small.It’s a 42 mm timepiece so it doesn’t look that large when it’s sitting on my wrist. The bracelet is easy to size and it feels secure while worn, thanks to the two-button safety system on the clasp. This feature is much appreciated since the watch is quite pricey. Many owners find that it requires quite a bit more time to study the dial before discerning what time it is, which is not ideal in a flight situation. Readability in those conditions trumps stealth. The first thing you’ll notice is the striking dial design. You’re instantly met with a sea of information besides just the time. One note on the Nighthawk’s slide rule bezel, it doesn’t line up perfectly. When doing calculations, I found that the answer was usually a little off of where it was supposed to be (i.e. in multiplying 30×2, with 30 over the origin, I would find the solution, 60 would be off mark by a hair). While this doesn’t really affect the ways in which I would use the bezel on a daily basis, which would allow for a margin of error, you should be aware that it is there. The watch wears very well. At 41mm it is a comfortable medium-large size, but given its all-dial design, it appears much larger and really stands out on the wrist. The faceted design of the case matched with the information intensive dial give the watch a fairly aggressive demeanor that can be very eye-catching. In fact, this watch has garnered more attention from people around me than most of my watches. Given the masculine lines, good build, 200m water resistance and bold dial, this is a great option for wearing in active situations, but it still maintains a level of refinement making it welcome at the office and other less casual places.

For the price, this watch definitely doesn’t count as an impulse buy. This is a fairly high-end watch and it comes at a price that might be too steep for many people, especially when it’s essentially just a standard chronograph. Below, we take a closer look at some of the more prominent design elements of the Citizen Nighthawk watch. Watch FaceSo is this watch well worth the price? Well, considering what you’ll be getting out of the box and the quality of the watch itself, it’s well worth the price. It looks great and works as intended, sometimes, that’s all you ever need. Should You Buy the Citizen CA0295-58E Nighthawk Watch? The build quality is above average and it features a movement that is both accurate and reliable. It also requires little to no maintenance and you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries from time to time. It’s also water-resistant to 200 meters which is a nice plus. The Citizen Nighthawk watch leans more on the high-end side, and the price definitely reflects that.

I also appreciate the versatility of the design since the watch can be easily dressed up or down by simply swapping the bracelet. The overall design also lends itself well to a wide range of use. Whether it’s for a sporting activity or a dress event, this watch will make you look good. Personally, I found myself using the Nighthawk during formal events. On the other hand, this watch evokes a very “Special Operations” component of air missions, like the famous/secret 160 th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) which, among many missions, famously transported Seal Team 6 to the Bin Laden raid. The main feature in common is the case and bracelet – although it does add the increased functionality of a quartz chronograph – useful for measuring elapsed time. Since the Nighthawk is solar-powered, you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries. PricingAt the center of the dial is perhaps my favorite aspect of the watch in terms of clever ways to organize information. The GMT index consists of two nested arcs that sweep about 98 degrees, from 6 – 12, one in white and one in red. Closest to the center is the white index, which indicates from 0 – 12 hours. Surrounding that is the red index, which indicates from 12 -24. Both index extend a little past their end time to create an overlap area (hence the about 8 extra degrees). Now, to read this set of arcs you look at the GMT hand, which is a double-sided hand with airplane shaped pointers. On one end the pointer is white, the other red, and you read the arcs depending on which side is currently over them. These indexes break up the symmetry of the dial and condense some of the information on the dial. In doing so, it helps further organize each piece of information on the face, making for an easier at-a-glance read. The little-double headed GMT hand is also just a great design that looks good, serves a purpose and adds a bit of personality. Like with all Citizen Eco-Drive watches, the Nighthawk is powered by the B612 movement. The watch also features a chronograph, date display, and AM/PM indicator. I am rather a big fan of Citizen’s Eco-Drive movements due to the fact that it requires little to no maintenance. The movement is also known for its longevity and reliability. The shape of the case is very angular and aggressive, but without detracting from comfort. This gives it a very robust military aesthetic, adding ot the entire design.

While the watch is labeled as “Nighthawk”, it’s not the same piece that most people associate with the name. Those who are familiar with Citizen watches are probably thinking of the model BJ7000-52E which is known for its information-laden dial. I am not the biggest fan of leather straps, so it’s a good thing that Citizen used a stainless steel bracelet for the Stealth Nighthawk. While it’s a chronograph, I am happy to report that the weight of the watch is just right, not too heavy or too light which is just the way I like it. My all-time favorite part of this watch is the GMT/dual-time complication we briefly mentioned in the Dial section. The hands are shaped like little airplanes; one in red, and one in white. Well, you can’t really talk about this watch without mentioning the impressive Eco-Drive technology to power itself.

Specification

NIGHTHAWK – the name of the watch, accompanied with the distinctive Promaster Logo that looks like a jet flying up in the air As far as features go, the watch is quite flawless. The chronograph works as intended and I’ve had no problems operating the watch. The Eco-Drive feature is also standout and should please those who require a watch with less maintenance. It’s pretty much a “wear and forget” piece. Durability and reliability are also on-point which means that you’ll be having this watch for a long time. These hands point to a dedicated subdial that’s arranged in a unique orientation; two concentric semicircles: the white going from 0 to 12 (12am to 12pm), and the red going from 12 to 24 (12pm to 12am). These correspond to 24-hour time, or “military time”. On the downside, the crystal face does present some durability issues. So it’s not a watch that I would recommend for more rugged uses. Although it’s not technically a dive watch, the Citizen Nighthawk is water-resistant to 200 meters. Personally, I haven’t tested the waterproofness of the piece but I have no reason to doubt such a claim by Citizen. So feel free to shower or swim while wearing the watch. On the left hemisphere, you’ve got the most distinctive implementation of a GMT/dual-time analog display. Citizen accomplishes this by using one central hand with two airplane-shaped tips – a red and a white one.