CitizenMen's Analogue Classic Solar Powered Watch with PU Strap BJ8050-08E

I received my watch today. First and foremost, its a 'watch'. A watch the size of a small planet, but nonetheless still just a watch. It has no chronometer on it, nor a barometer, nor even an altimeter. But you are not buying a Casio here, I suspect if you buy this watch you already decided that you aren't bothered about bells and whistles. It tells you the time and date, glows like a neutron star in the dark, and doubles up as a blunt-force object if you are ever caught in a tricky spot against some big lads sporting tattoos and steel cap boots. You can also wear it in a cat5 hurricane and not worry about it failing on you. Its a tool watch, and it serves that purpose in droves. Plus it looks DAMN good. Its a watch that serves as ego-food for those who want everyone ELSE to know what they are wearing. This will just keep going, and going, and ... well, you get the point. And you can dive with it, it has ISO certified water resistance down to 300m/1000ft.The extension strap for wearing the watch over a dive suit, or a big thick Shetland wool jumper, is a welcome addition. Packaging is nice, the black box with silver trim instantly tells you you bought a watch that your neighbour never even realised existed, let alone might be sitting on his mantelpiece. This is an eco-drive, so works on both indoor and outdoor light. It supposedly has a 180 day reserve when full, so shouldn't ever run out of juice with normal use. I suspect this might just be the last watch I will 'need' for quite some time. Desire is another matter, but I wont have a material need for a working watch because I suspect this will be on my wrist in 10yrs time still going like a beast.The date is a little small, but that seems to be the trend in dive watches. If I need the date its on my smartphone or the TV guide, so its not a dealbreaker at all. Its not so small that you cant see it with a little prolonged focus, or with reading glasses. There is talk of how uncomfortable the strap is. Myself, it seems fine. Not uncomfortable at all. No more than any other rubber strapped watch I have. I will probably get the suppaparts or citi adaptors, in case I decide a NATO strap is the way to go in the future.Right now im blissed out that it is on my wrist in person, a big smile on my face. This watch is no joke, its a total monster. A very worthwhile purchase.UPDATE- Three weeks in, this might just be the most accurate watch i've ever seen. I set it by BBCNews when I got it, and its not lost or gained a single second. Not ONE! Unbelievable. Every hour BBCNews hits the hour, and the EcoZilla matches it to the tick. Incredible watch, BUY! I doubt a £2000 watch would match it for accuracy

I also bought a Rotary watch for similar money, both this and the Rotary are Dive watches, but this is far superior in terms of build quality and luminescents. It is a big watch, well huge, so not a dress watch as it's thick and heavy and the strap is very stiff, but it's actually very comfortable to wear (and I don't have big wrists). This watch is a bit of a collector's piece, as well as a fantastic watch to wear, and at circa £230, it's a really good price. It came well packaged in a scuba tank "box" and it is a watch you'll love to own.

Absolutely stunning watch. Sublime build quality cannot fault it.

What a watch! Very heavy but I am used to chunky G Shocks so not a problem. The lume lights the bedroom up and lasts all night! I. Look forward to diving with it and looking at the build quality it will last years and probably even an earthquake. The only negative point I have and it’s worth being aware of is, I received the watch in a Citizen cardboard watch box, not the waterproof ‘peli’ box or miniature dive cylinder as other people have so maybe a note to Amazon to make people aware in the advert how the watch will be presented after purchasing it. So I was disappointed. But over all if you don’t mind the weight of it and the size then snap one up as it’s a classic timepiece that will last for years!

I first saw this watch 12 or more years ago. I’ve always wanted to own it. I was amazed to see it appear on Amazon during some browsing. I really had to question whether it could be new. It doesn’t appear on the Citizen website with the exception of Germany. When mine turned up it was from Germany but had come from a supplier in France. The watch is perfect and definitely new. I’ve read critical reviews and some seem justified. If you see that the labels are in German you might expect it to be original and new. If you like robust purposeful watches, it doesn’t get better than the ‘Ecozilla’. It has become the daily wear. It is heavy and the strap isn’t the most comfortable but I can’t say it bothers me overly. Can’t believe I managed to get one after all this time.

The second hand never landed correctly on any of the second markers and the outer bezel felt loose and cheap

I have owned citizen aqualands for the last 20 odd years and have always loved the functionality, size and reliability.This time around I wanted something purely analogue and eco-drive and this absolutely ticked the box.The size isn't an issue and doesn't feel much different to previous Citizens. It looks great and does what a watch is supposed to do - tell the time.The only issue I have is the strap. Firstly it is unique to the watch, which means that come replacement time it will cost me almost half of paid for the watch to buy a new strap, or fork out for lug adapters to fit a std strap.Secondly it is really stiff and inflexible making it an uncomfortable wear, I am hoping that this changes over time but I'm not sure why citizen chose to make it so stuff in the first place.Either way I think I'll have to buy £50 lug adapters to solve the problem.

Very well made and so solid.It’s more impressive actually holding the watch than Photos can relay.Strap is stiff and a bit fiddly,But it is a tool watch and I’m fine with purchasing adapters and a decent rubber strap for normal wear and beach time..Lume is a very nice blue and initially glows well before setting down for many hours