Citizen - Auto Dater - No reserve price - 30402622 - Men - 1960-1969

Presented for auction by Second Vintage A captivating piece of Japanese horological history, this Citizen Jet Auto Dater showcases the brand's innovative engineering and mid-century design prowess. Featuring the famous ring-rotor automatic movement, this timepiece is a testament to an era of fierce competition and remarkable mechanical creativity, offering collectors a beautifully preserved example of a highly sought-after vintage caliber. Brand: Citizen Model: Auto Dater Serial Number: 30402622 Movement: Automatic 27 Jewels Dial: Silver sunburst with applied faceted gold-tone indices and elegant script typography, beautifully preserved Case Size: 37 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1960s Condition: Excellent vintage condition with exceptionally sharp case lines Dial and Hands The dial is a striking execution of mid-century elegance, featuring a radiant silver sunburst texture that remains incredibly vibrant and clean. The typography is a highlight, with the "Citizen Jet Auto Dater" text rendered in a sweeping, elegant serif script, perfectly balanced by the technical "27 Jewels Parashock phynox" print below. The dial furniture consists of prominent, applied gold-tone indices with faceted surfaces and a distinctive double baton at the twelve o'clock position. A framed date window sits cleanly at three o'clock. The time is indicated by sharp gold-tone dauphine hands. Both the hands and the applied markers exhibit a very light, even, and attractive vintage patina that adds warmth to the piece without compromising the crispness of the overall display. Case and Crystal The 37mm stainless steel case is a masterclass in vintage geometry. The lugs are the standout feature, displaying sharp, angular facets that transition beautifully into the case flanks. These factory chamfers and angles remain exceptionally well-defined, catching the light dynamically and indicating that the case has been wonderfully preserved over the decades. A smooth, polished bezel frames the dial perfectly. The case shows honest, light handling marks and superficial wear consistent with careful vintage use, but retains a strong, unpolished appearance. The watch is fitted with a domed crystal that enhances the vintage aesthetic and provides a clear, distortion-free view of the dial beneath. Movement Removing the caseback reveals the spectacular and historically significant Citizen Jet automatic movement, instantly recognizable by its unique geared outer ring rotor. This innovative design allowed for a thinner movement profile while maintaining efficient winding. The movement is proudly stamped with "CITIZEN JET AUTO DATER" and "TWENTY SEVEN 27 JEWELS" across the rotor bridge. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher results show an impressive -7 to +12 seconds per day with strong amplitude. Strap The watch is paired with a dark brown textured leather strap featuring contrasting tan stitching. The strap secures comfortably to the wrist and beautifully complements the gold-tone accents of the dial and hands, completing the refined vintage aesthetic. Condition Excellent vintage condition. The dial is exceptionally well-preserved, showing a brilliant sunburst finish with only minor age-appropriate patina on the hands and applied markers. The stainless steel case is a highlight, retaining remarkably sharp faceted lugs and showing only light, normal wear. The crystal is clear and free of major blemishes. The distinctive ring-rotor movement presents beautifully and is functioning with outstanding precision. Dimensions Case Size: 37 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks The Citizen Jet movement represents a fascinating and highly inventive chapter in watchmaking, utilizing a peripheral rotor system to achieve a thinner profile while offering a visually stunning mechanical layout. This specific Auto Dater model, combining the coveted Jet caliber with an elegant script dial and striking faceted lug geometry, represents a highly collectible configuration for enthusiasts of golden-era Japanese horology. History Introduced in the early 1960s, the Citizen Jet line was a direct and ingenious response to the growing consumer demand for slimmer automatic watches. By employing a unique ring-rotor mechanism that orbited the periphery of the movement, Citizen successfully reduced the overall thickness compared to traditional center-rotor designs. The Auto Dater variants added practical everyday functionality to this innovative caliber, cementing Citizen's reputation for combining sophisticated, out-of-the-box engineering with refined, dress-oriented styling. Today, the Jet series remains one of the most mechanically interesting and historically significant lines in Citizen's vintage catalog. / Second Vintage SKU: CIT-FAD-0002