I have come across quite a few auctions in which a Citizen Eco-Drive watch is being sold. In the description (if there is one), there is usually mention of the watches' innovative Eco-Drive Technology. However, I have yet to come across an auction that actually explains what Eco-Drive really is. If you are among the many buyers who are unsatisfied with the sellers reluctance to explain, then you have definitely come to the right place!

 Background

Since 1995, the Citizen Watch Co. has been selling their line of mainly light powered Eco-Drive watches. Due to the reasonable prices, the impeccable design, and the green technology, the Eco-Drive line has become the watch of choice among many jewelry buyers.

 How They Work

The Eco-Drive watches are just about as innovative as innovation gets. The watches contain a very, very thin disk of amorphous silicon under the dial to convert the light energy it receives from the sun into electrical energy. This energy is then stored in a titanium lithium-ion battery. This is how the watch “gets” power!

    1. Sunlight and artificial light will be absorbed through the crystal dial.

    2. The solar cell beneath the dial will convert light into electric energy to power the watch. With  regular exposure to light, the watch will continue to recharge!

    3. The Lithium-Ion battery will store the energy. This is where the watch will get power to run even in low light conditions.

What Happens If There Is No Sun?

A couple of minutes of sunlight is enough to power the watches for an entire day (and through the night), and when the watch is fully charged, there will be enough energy stored (depending on the model) to power the watch for anywhere from 30 days to 8 years! Plus, certain Eco-Drive models, when kept inside of your home for too long, will engage into "hibernate" mode. This means that the hands of the watch will stop moving, but the quartz movement inside of the watch will still keep track of time. When the time comes that you would like to wear the watch again, all you need to do is re-expose the watch to sunlight. This will cause the hands to move back into their positions and resume regular timekeeping. Now that's innovation!

-You can also use other sources of light to power the watches such as heat lamps. This method
will take much longer to charge the watch (in some models it will take 175 hours of indoor light
to recharge, where as a watch exposed to direct sunlight will only take 3-3.5 hours!) However,
it is recommended that the watch is not kept too close to any indoor light source.

Do They Need Batteries?

No! A traditional watch battery needs to be replaced every couple of years, and although the Eco-Drive watches do have a secondary battery, they will still work great even after more than 20 years.

How Will I Know When The Power Is Low?

Most Eco-Drive watches are equipped with a low power indicator. When the watch is running low on power, the second hand will move at 2-second intervals. Again, if the watch is fully powered, it will still be able to run in complete darkness for anywhere from 1-6 months. So, if you will be wearing the watch on a semi-regular basis, chances are you will never see the low power warning!

  Things To Keep In Mind

Although this watch is charged by the sun and artificial indoor light, be advised that you should never keep a watch too close to a source of artificial light. Also, do not keep the watch sitting in direct sunlight. treat this watch as you would any other. With wear, it will have significant power.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide! I hope you now have a better understanding of what Eco-Drive technology is, and what makes it so innovative. Also, be sure to check out my watch listings. You'll find some at the top right of this page!