Watch Review: 1974 Citizen Automatic Calibre 6501

My father gave me this watch sometime in 1993. I was in grade school and back then all of my classmates had those really colorful digital watches. I didn't mind though. I reveled in the thought that my watch didn't need any batteries. My classmates would look at me in confusion as I tried to explain that my watch didn't need batteries because it was an automatic. Of course back then, I didn't care about brands or movements or what "jewels" meant for a watch. It was just cool to brag about a watch with no batteries.

I don't know where my father got this watch. He also couldn't remember how this came into his possession. It was obviously pre-owned since there was some name engraved on the clasp. By the time I was given this watch, it was already pretty scuffed. Of course in the years that followed, I also added to those dings and scratches. I've tried searching the internet for a similar one, but so far I have not found any. There is also no specific model name for this watch. The only things I have found out were that it was made in 1974, and its movement (it's mechanism) is called 6501.

Here are the specs of the watch.

It's a nice size even for people with small wrists. However, the watch is rather thick. Maybe even thicker than some dive watches out there. I like the signed crown at the 3 o'clock. It's signed "CTZ". I guess that's how they abbreviated CITIZEN?

The thing that intrigues me the most about this watch is the crystal. While most watches have either a domed or flat crystal, this one has a crystal that is relatively thick and faceted almost like a jewel. Because of this, people think it's a ladies' watch. However, the size and weight of the watch meant otherwise.

Thick crystal

Notice how the crystal distorts the hands of the watch.

The top of the crystal has 3 facets and lends to some interesting distortion on the dial. The dial looks to be a tan brown color. It has a light shade in the center and goes dark toward the edges at 9 and 3 o'clock. It is also textured in what looks like concentric semi circles starting at the 6 o'clock and radiating out.

21 JEWELS
JAPAN 6501 657478-Y

CITIZEN
AUTOMATIC
21 JEWELS

I'm not sure what the design of the minute and hour hands are called, but they look like swords to me. The seconds hand is like a needle and reaches almost to the edge of the dial. Hours are marked by rectangular, applied, silver indexes. With a day/date window at the 3 o'clock. It is nicely framed in silver matching the hour markers. Minutes are marked as well.

Lume is applied on the minute and hour hands and also on the markers, but they don't light up as bright anymore. In fact, I don't think they charge up anymore. Some of the lume also came off the hour hand.

Stainless Steel Case
Some of the lume came off the hour hand.

Not sure what this type of case is called. Cushion case maybe?

Case is polished stainless steel, no brush finishes on the case. It looks like it was never re-polished. The lines on the watch are still crisp and clean. There are a lot of scratches and dings, but its to be expected from a beater watch this old. It's got a rather pronounced bezel that frames the crystal nicely giving a bit of separation or border between the watch case and the thick crystal.

It says "WATER RESISTANT", but I'm not too confident in that anymore because of its age.

Case back is also stainless steel. The back has some markings. With the movement calibre "6501" framed. There is also a serial number, 41004108. From what I have learned, the first number (4) is the last digit of the year and next 2 digits (10) indicate the month when the watch was made. My watch looks like it was made in October of some year ending in 4 (1974, 1984, 1994, etc), but the tricky part is determining which decade the watch was made. I got this in 1993 so I know it was made before then. A few more internet searches and I found that the movement, calibre 6501 was made and used in the 70's and since the serial number starts with 4, I concluded that the watch was made in October of 1974. The watch is about 44 years old at the time of this writing. It's pretty old - vintage!

A bit of corrosion on the bracelet.

Clasp is signed, "CITIZEN"
(Cosmotron Logo)

Bracelet is also stainless. Folded end links, they are not solid. Solid bracelet links though which is cool. Links remind me of finger joints in wood working. Links are brush finished. Clasp is signed and it has a logo. The name of the previous owner is engraved on the clasp.

I later found out that the bracelet is not the original bracelet, but came from a Citizen Cosmotron - an electromechanical watch from the same era. Since I have not yet seen the same watch anywhere, even on the internet, I have no idea what the original bracelet may have looked like. Now that I think about it, the name on the clasp is probably the owner of the Cosmotron and not this watch. Bracelet was probably just transferred.

The watch is automatic and it hand winds, but does not hack. Since it is automatic, the watch has overwind protection. Date can be quick set at mid pull of the crown, but the day does not. To set the day, you must adjust the time until the day moves forward. It's a bit tedious to do, but not a deal breaker for me.

Accuracy wise, it still keeps good time. Its a bit fast gaining about 2 minutes a week by my estimate. I bet this watch has outlasted all the colorful digital watches my classmates sported during our years in grade school.

Since I had this watch, it was never serviced and for it to still have an acceptable accuracy is just amazing. That was some 25 odd years ago. Japanese watches are just great!

I often rotate this with my other watches and I wear it at least once a week. I do have to wind it every 12 hours because the rotor does not wind the watch anymore effectively making the watch manual wind. I do need to have this checked and serviced and hopefully have the automatic function going again.

Here it is on my 6 1/2 inch wrist. Design is a bit dated, but I don't mind. I don't see mens' watches with faceted crystals like this that often.

Citizen still makes automatics and if you can, I suggest you get one. Citizen is a good alternative to Seiko and, in my opinion, just as stylish. There are a lot of Citizen watches for sale in the used market and prices are not that bad.

Citizen now markets their Eco-drive watches that run on batteries that are recharged by light. It's a good technological leap forward, but my heart is still for mechanical watches, be it automatic, or manual wind.

Enjoy!