Proface

Begun in 1918 as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute in Japan, Citizen begins with the best technology, invented by the best minds in timekeeping. Japan has for some years now been associated with excellence and precision in computers, electronic appliances, emporio armani watches automobiles and mobile technology; it makes sense that they would produce such pioneering watches. Indeed, Citizen has manufactured a number of high tech devices other than watches, developing our modern floppy disk drives.

Between 1956 and 1966 they produced a succession of groundbreaking time pieces. The Parashock, Parawater and X-8 models offered Japan's first shock proof watch, its first water resistant watch and its armani watches first electronic watch, respectively. By this point, trade and diplomatic relations with the rest of the world had improved to the point that on every continent Citizen's name was among the first when it came to fine timepieces.

The business model began as a dispassionate and independent research firm, and has moved forward into the future as an enterprise for which money isn't everything. Developing the first Japanese wristwatch for the blind in 1960, beginning a sustainability push in terms of its chemical waste back in 1983 (long before the present "green" craze) and-in emporio armani watches 005-joining with the UN's Social Compact in order to promote a more peaceful world, Citizen has a long history of engagement with civil society and broader visions than the bottom line.