Vintage Citizen Chrono Masters - Part 2

[Sweephand]

Following Part 1 on the hand-winding models, here is the second part of the article, covering the automatic models......and one other...

The  Chrono Master is a 'high-end' watch that first appeared in Citizen's  line-up in 1967. Although it was not the first of Citizen's watches  to include chronometer grade movements, since it was preceded by the  Chronometer (1962), it featured a range of models in both hand-wind  and automatic forms, and has probably become Citizen's most  recognised high grade vintage watch.  Although there are other high end lines by Citizen, including the  Chronometer of course (which will be the subject of a separate  articles), the Chrono Master is probably the best known.    This  two part article summarises the history and development of the Chrono  Master, with examples and other material shown for reference.  Reference and comparative information on their movements and  chronology can be found here:  http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.netherwood/Vintage%20Citizen%20Movement%20Table%20v2.0%20Secure.pdf



Part  2
The  Automatic Chrono Master, 1967:    Citizen  launched all bar one of their automatic versions of the Chrono Master  in 1967, the same year as their first hand-winding model. The  movement is essentially the same for each version, in either 33 or 35  jewel form, but with some extra adjustment on the higher jeweled  versions to justify 'special',  'chronometer' and 'superior  chronometer' grades. The movements were also differentiated on the  dial side by being either date only, or day and date models.
The  movements are part of Citizen's 52xx/54xx family, which can be found  in a range of their other models, for example the well known Crystal  Seven and the Seven Star lines, and the lesser known Crystal Date,  Cutlass and Dandy Seven models.  The 52xx line features both day and  date windows, the 54xx line is date only. The Chrono Master movements  are the 5240 / 5250 and the 5440 / 5450 calibers and following family  tree illustrates where they slot into the lineage:




The  numbering methodology for the movements is linked to jeweling and  degree of adjustment (and consequently reflected in the dial marking)  as follows:    5240  & 5440, with 33j  - Chrono Master & Chrono Master Chronometer
5250  & 5450, with 35j  - Chrono Master Special & Chrono Master  Superior Chronometer
The  pricing structure (see below) also follows the degree of adjustment  and therefore accuracy achieved at the factory. I have not been able  to find any accuracy certification specifically for the Chrono  Master, but I have included an example for Citizen's 1962  'Chronometer' in Part 1 of this article for reference.
The  following table summarises the 52xx/54xx movement family by jewel  count – interestingly, the 35 jewel Chrono Master is not the  highest jeweled movement – that fell to the 43 jewel Crystal Seven  (5204) produced in 1965:





 
The  movements both run at 18,000 beats per hour, and measure 28.00mm  across, and are 3.98mm deep (date only) or 4.38mm (day and date).  They have a micro-adjuster on the balance to assist fine tuning. Here is a schematic of a 33 jewel movement, with the Chrono Master balance, with micro-adjuster shown at bottom left:





Like  its hand-winding namesake, the automatic Chrono Master features a  medallion on the case back. So far I don't recall seeing a gold cased  version, only stainless steel, and no gold version is listed in my  reference material. The Superior versions have a gold 'eagle' logo on the dial (see catalog photo below):

5240 Chrono Master: 5240 Case Back:    5240 Movement:


5250 Special:               5250 Movement: 


5440 Chronometer: 



Original  Prices (1967) – in Japanese Yen:

 
5440,  33j Chrono Master (date)  ..........................................25,000
5240,  33j Chrono Master  (day/date).....................................28,000

 
5450,  35j Chrono Master Special (date)  ................................35,000
5250,  35j Chrono Master Special (day/date) ..........................38,000

 
5440,  33j Chrono Master Chronometer (date) ........................26,000
5250,  33j Chrono Master Chronometer (day/date)...................29,000  

 
5450,  35j Chrono Master Superior Chronometer (date) ...........36,000
5250,  35j Chrono Master Superior Chronometer (day/date) .....39,000   

 
In  1971, catalog prices look to be very similar:


5240 Chronometer:   5440 Chrono Master:    5250 Superior:


The  Chrono Master Diver, 1971

 
One  more version of the automatic line was produced, in 1971, in the form  of a diver. This is a very rare piece, I've yet to see one for sale  or in a collection gallery. Rated to 500m, the diver movement is the  5420, a date only model with 33 jewels:


Chrono Master Diver, 5420:  


 
Here  it is shown with a price tag of JPY35,000 in the 1971 catalog: 




 
The  Electro-Mechanical Chrono Master:

 
An  article on vintage Chrono Masters should not overlook one other  model, first produced in 1969 as part of the 'X8' electro-mechanical  watch line. This followed Citizen's pioneering 'Electric Watch' of  1966, using the 0802 movement. In these watches the traditional  mainspring is replaced by a battery and integrated circuit, which  then powers a conventional hairspring balance albeit fitted with  magnets.  
Although  the 0802 movement ran at 18,000 beats per hour powered by its 1.5v  battery, the subsequent 'Cosmotron' models using later hybrid  movements ran at 36,000 beats per hour, and in one case 43,200 beats  (i.e. 12 beats per second).  
The  25 jewel 0802 movement had only a short production run, reflecting  the rapid development of the technology. However, the use of the  Chrono Master name, and later models which were labeled  'officially  certified chronometers', indicates their ability to run accurately,  at least within the parameters of mechanical accuracy standards.
The  distinctive case shape was shared with the original Electric Watch  version:


0802 X8:     0802 Movement:    




0802 Case:    




Stephen







 

[John W]

Thank you again for the second part of your work in bringing the history of the Chrono Master to a wider body of collectors. You've done a great job. Thanks for your effort and and the fine result.
John

[kohym]

the oversized mercedes hour hand looks really vintage-y!
 
nice divers range 
 
wonder if there is really one out there in the wild...

[Seikozen]

  Nice Job   Great Info   It appears for some   This would be the Catch of a Lifetime        Thanks for the effort.

[kuma-kun]

Thanks a lot for these posts, very good work.
 
Bjorn.
 

[minidriver]

Stephen, you have done it again!

[StartSomething]

Stephen,
 
it is people like you and such great research posts that make this forum such a great place to be.
Thank you very much for this excellent work!!!
 
All the best,
Hermann
 
P. S.: I suggest that these two articles are later on to be moved in the Reference section?

[Sweephand]

Stephen,
 
it is people like you and such great research posts that make this forum such a great place to be.
Thank you very much for this excellent work!!!
 
All the best,
Hermann
 
P. S.: I suggest that these two articles are later on to be moved in the Reference section?

thanks Hermann - I guessed that the mods would move these to the reference section in due course

[Sweephand]

thanks for your comments guys - I've enjoyed researching the vintage Citizens and it's good to share

I must acknowledge and thank Martin (Martback) for his help and encouragement, he's very knowledgeable and a much more experienced collector.

I intend to do a few more articles, including the other high end Citizens - rare beasties! - and the Leopard range too.

Stephen

[Sweephand]

I've made a correction to Part 2 - I mentioned seeing a black dialed version 5440 but this turned out to be a hand-winder so I'll edit that into Part 1 now.

Here's a nice shot of a 'Superior' version - a very good looking watch imho:



This shot reminded me to add (in the article) that these top of the range models had gold dial logos.

Stephen