1980 Citizen Dive Watch (Ref. 51-2273)

Founded in 1918 in Japan, Citizen is one of the most integrated manufacturers in the watch world. They make all of their watch components in-house and do not have any manufacturing facilities outside the brand's home country. With a history of cutting-edge technology, Citizen is known for their incredibly accurate and rugged timepieces. 

In fact, the brand engineered Japan's first waterproof watch in 1959, six years before Seiko launched the 62MAS. Twenty-one years later, this ref. 51-2273 came into being and continued the friendly competition between Japan's two biggest watchmakers. It's considered to be among the best of Citizen's vintage automatic tool watches, and serves as a fantastic, under-the-radar alternative to the famous Seiko 6309 "Turtle." 

The 51-2273 also has a proven history, with examples known to have served with the Argentine Navy’s Tactical Divers, adding real military credibility to an otherwise modest watch. For collectors of early Japanese tool watches, the 51-2273 is an accessible and characterful alternative to the usual Seiko picks, and a natural first step into vintage Citizen.