JDM Model ATD53-3072
Eco-Drive quartz caliber H110 (Japan only atomic radio sync)
Sapphire crystal (anti-reflective coating)
Titanium + Duratect
Perpetual calendar
6 month power reserve (2 years in power save mode)
Case diameter: ~40 mm bezel diameter, ~42 mm including crown
Case thickness 9.7 mm
Lug width 20 mm
Bracelet width 20 mm, clasp 18 mm
Weight 86 grams
I was looking for the perfect 3-hand automatic Japanese watch for more than one year, size being the main concern. After buying a Seiko SARB021, I didn't get used to the hour markers at that time (sparkling like diamonds even in the lowest light, too bling for me), so I sold it. Of course I regret this decision now.
Recently, while navigating the Citizen website to take a look at the latest Attesa eco-drive watches (which seems to be selling like hotcakes), I was blown away by the new Attesa Slim Date 20bar ATD53-3072 model, Japan radio sync only. Finally, I have found the watch I've been looking for, even it was not an automatic.
I was a little worried about the size (41,5 – 42 mm without crown, according to several websites) and the weight (only 86 grams), but the overall design has made me to byte the bullet.
First of all, it is much smaller than it looks in the pictures. The size is only 40mm, perfect for my 6.9 inch wrist, it was a lucky shot.
Unfortunately the pictures are not that great (point and shoot), but the watch itself is gorgeous, it looks stunning in reality.
I'm happier with this one than I was with the SARB021.
I will make several comparisons with the automatic Seiko SARB021, a superb watch, I'm not trying to put it down in any way, but it's the only Japanese watch that I had until now, with a similar case style and size.
Size, Weight:
The bezel diameter is about 39.5-40 mm. The case size is also 40 mm without the crown guards (9-3) and about 42 mm including crown. When I measure it 8-4, it's about 41 mm without the button at 4 o'clock. Total length is 47 mm, the thickness is ~10 mm.
The weight seems ok for me, I didn't get the impression of cheap as I read in several reviews of titan made watches, but I am also used to light watches. The watch is more balanced at my wrist than the SARB021 (137 grams).
The size of the yellow watch is 37.5 mm.
Case:
The case is the main reason I bought this watch, it has beautiful brushed angled lugs and a mix of brushed and polished facets. The case is beefy, extending outside the bezel with a facet brushed in a radial pattern. The button at 4 o'clock it's also polished. It looks good from every angle, unlike the SARB021.
The overall style of the case is a retro one, in contrast with the bracelet. The back has a simple finish, nothing interesting. The whole case is anti-magnetic.
The watch sits very well at my wrist, the lugs are curved inside like all Japanese watches.
Bracelet:
I'm not a big fan of modern bracelets, but this one really looks good. It's also comfortable. The bracelet is 20mm at the lugs and 18mm at the clasp, making the watch look bigger.
The links are brushed, the inner ones with a different finish than the case. The links has also polished angled facets. It has a pin and collar system. The end-links are solid, the clasp doesn't rattle like the one in SARB021. The best feature of this bracelet is the extension system, when you press both buttons the whole bracelet moves almost one entire link, no more problems with the adjustment. It's not easy though to adjust it with the watch on the wrist.
Bezel:
It has two beautiful inner and outer polished rings and a painted blue insert with silver hour markers that gives the watch a diver look. I hope the insert has Duratect treatment too. The bezel is fixed (first thing that I had tried on this watch :D ).
Crown:
Simple, basic, not screw-in type. I wasn't sure first, but I think it's too plain. Something more interesting and maybe bigger wouldn't hurt. It has a good grip. I like instead the way the button at 4 o'clock is merging with the crown guards, it's a clever design.
Dial, Crystal:
It has an inner central circle with a vertical glossy pattern, and a matte circular one outside. The inner one doesn't seem to be 3D, but gives that impression.
The hour markers are applied, the numerals at the 12, 6, 9 are painted with lume and have polished edges (Explorer I?). The indices have a longitudinal pattern that capture and reflect any light. It's a very legible dial, I love the blue color, I never get bored watching it.
The chapter ring also has a fine circular pattern, with lume dots at hour markers looking similar to the ones in some Brightz Seiko solar watches. The words are printed on the dial, nothing special here. No eco-drive on the dial.
The flat sapphire crystal is leveled with the bezel, it has an AR coating on the inside, but nevertheless it gets a lot of reflections.
Hands:
For me, this is the only weak point. The minute and hour hands are angled to reflect the light, but the finishing is not in par with the ones in SARB021, at certain angles you can see the rough edges (lume?). This is one thing I've notices in other photos of Japanese watches, but nobody complained about it. It's not a deal break though.
Yet, the seconds hand is perfect, with it's silver? color contrasting the blue dial and matching the lume.
Lume:
For me, this is the best lume I've ever got in a watch, I really like the lume numerals.
Movement:
It has the H110 movement, which can sync only in Japan. I can barely hear the movement and only in total silence, unlike my other Swiss quartz watches. After pulling the crown, every time I rotate it forward or backward, the date / minute hand / hour hand advances forward or backward, each one independently. The watch keep the time independently of the hands mechanism, and reset the hands position accordingly after each operation. So hi-tech than my old quartz watches.
It has many features like perpetual calendar, power save mode, overcharge protection, automatic hands compensation, impact detection, time zone correction (to set a different time zone without the need to adjust the time again and thus keeping the accuracy) and so on. Since I can't sync the watch, I'll skip this feature.
This movement is listed at ± 15 seconds/month, I am testing it right now.
Conclusion:
It's very close to be the perfect watch for me. It's a beautiful little gem of Japanese craftsmanship. It has a retro/diver/adventure watch look, I like everything about it, except maybe the hour and minute hands edges finishing. Citizen got it right with this one.
