Citizen - Auto Dater - No reserve price - 51401-T - Men - 1965

Presented for auction by Second Vintage This Citizen Auto Dater is a captivating example of mid-century Japanese watchmaking, offering a distinctive and highly recognizable aesthetic that speaks to the era's innovative spirit. Featuring a unique day placement at the twelve o'clock position and a beautifully fluted bezel, this timepiece combines dressy elegance with practical everyday functionality. The Auto Dater line represents an important chapter in Citizen's history, showcasing their ability to produce robust, feature-rich automatic watches that could compete on the global stage. This particular example, with its gold-plated case and character-rich dial, offers collectors a wonderful opportunity to acquire a piece of vintage Citizen heritage with undeniable vintage charm. Brand: Citizen Model: Auto Dater Reference Number: 51401-T Serial Number: 51101223 Movement: Automatic, 19 Jewels Dial: Silver-toned with applied gold indices, showing visible spotting and age-related patina Case Size: 41 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Gold Plated / Stainless Steel Caseback Production Year: 1965 Condition: Good vintage condition with honest wear and distinct character Dial and Hands The silver-toned dial features an elegant layout with faceted, applied gold-tone baton indices that catch the light beautifully. A standout feature is the framed day window located at twelve o'clock, complemented by a date aperture at three o'clock. The dial proudly bears the "Citizen AutoDater" script, alongside the "19" jewel count, the distinctive Citizen crown logo, and "para 40M water" text. Upon close inspection, the dial exhibits clear signs of its vintage journey, displaying noticeable scattered spotting, surface oxidation, and an overall warm, creamy patina that adds undeniable character. The gold-tone dauphine hands are well-preserved, maintaining their sharp profile, though the luminous material on both the hands and the dial plots has aged to a dark, muted tone. Case and Crystal The generously proportioned 41mm case is executed in gold plating (marked C.G.P. on the caseback) and is distinguished by an attractive fluted bezel that frames the dial. The case displays clear, honest signs of wear consistent with its age. The gold plating shows thinning and rub marks, particularly along the edges of the lugs and the case flanks, revealing the base metal beneath in certain areas. The classic crown is positioned at three o'clock and exhibits matching wear. The domed acrylic crystal protects the dial and presents with minor surface wear, maintaining good visibility of the vintage dial beneath. The stainless steel screw-down caseback is sharply engraved with the Citizen Auto Dater branding, reference, and serial numbers. Movement Powering this timepiece is a Citizen 19-jewel automatic movement, featuring a distinctive circular rotor design characteristic of the brand's mid-century automatic calibers. The movement plates are clean, with clear "CITIZEN" and "19 JEWELS" engravings visible on the rotor. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher results show the movement running at -14 to -16 seconds per day, indicating strong mechanical health for a watch of this vintage. Strap The watch is fitted with a handsome brown leather strap with contrasting stitching. The strap is in good condition, offering a comfortable fit and complementing the gold tones of the case and dial perfectly. It is secured with a classic gold-tone pin buckle. Condition This Citizen Auto Dater is presented in Good vintage condition. It is a piece that proudly displays its history, with significant patina and spotting across the dial, and visible wear to the gold-plated case, particularly on the lugs. These elements combine to give the watch a rugged, authentic vintage appeal that many collectors appreciate. The mechanical performance remains highly commendable. Dimensions Case Size: 41 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks This Auto Dater is a testament to Citizen's mid-century design language, offering a large, modern-wearing case size with thoroughly vintage styling. The combination of the day-date layout, the fluted bezel, and the beautifully aged dial makes this a compelling piece for enthusiasts of Japanese horology looking for a watch with true vintage soul. History During the 1960s, Citizen was rapidly expanding its mechanical watch offerings, directly competing with both domestic rivals and Swiss manufacturers. The Auto Dater series was a significant part of this push, introducing reliable automatic winding and practical calendar complications to a wide audience. These watches were designed to be robust daily wearers, often featuring Citizen's "Para Water" sealing technology. Today, vintage Citizen models from this era are increasingly recognized for their unique designs, solid engineering, and historical importance within the broader context of the Japanese watch industry's rise to global prominence. / Second Vintage SKU: CITXGXLN40000