Leon Eckell
July 6th, 2009, 04:16
Hello Folks,
Responding to our kind Mods request for watch reviews. I present the Citizen Minute Repeater Calibre 9000
The Calibre 9000 I have is the BL9000-59F. It is SS and on a bracelet
This is a minute repeater. You push a button and the watch will chime the hours and minutes, allowing you to tell the time in the dark. This was a expensive and high tech/ high degree of craftsmanship in the 1800's and early 1900's. In the days before reliable electric lights and no lume on watch hands, this represented a chance to be able to tell the time. It also offered folks that were blind a way to tell time also.
Largely phased out except for high dollar watches now due to today's technology, the minute repeater is still a very interesting watch.
I had admired this watch at the local department store and loved the sound the thing made when you pushed the minute repeater button. It is very bell like for this price range( I have heard a few complaints from folks that say this watch sounds a bit electronic but keep in mind it retails for $500. If you want a realistic bell sound be prepared to spend $2000-$50,000+)
For the price it sounds good.
I got mine from a department store clearance for $180 (marked down from $599 due to being discontinued in that store)
So I will discuss briefly some aspects of the watch
BAND:
The band that came on it was a 21mm metal bracelet with hidden clasp. This allows the watch band to be perfect looking visually. The big con for me on this is that the design does not allow placement of a micro adjustment hole for those with wrists that are not lucky enough to have the watch fit perfectly with link removal.
I wound up trying leather to discover it sucked(I have never found a leather strap that I like) also. At that point I almost returned the watch back to the store but I decided to tray a 22mm 2 piece nylon strap and it worked perfectly and wore great. The band looks like it was made for the watch and being black matched the number part of the dial.
WATCH:
This is by far one of the most complex watches out there to set the first time around. It took about 5-10 minutes after I read the owners manual to set up the calender and home time.
The case is polished and exquisitely done. The buttons are big a easy to push. The chime is loud enough to hear when the watch is worn.
The dial has a very art deco look to it.
Watch is only rated for 30m which is because it is a dress watch and also because it needs the small slits in the case back to allow the chime to be heard.
It is eco-drive so there is no need for an inconvenient battery change
CONS:
While I do like the watch a lot, I have a few cons
1. Water resistance could be more
2. Original bracelet should have had a couple of micro adjustment slots in it.
3. Buttons with play in them. While the buttons are secure and don't feel like they would ever fall out, they do have play in them due to their design
4. No atomic time. This would have increased sales.
All in all a great watch and one that was discontinued in the USA so you should be able to get one at a discount. They came in SS with bracelet, SS on leather, Gold Plated on leather and Gold Plated on bracelet.
While not as flashy as the Skyhawk AT, it feels more solid to me(I have both and hate the flimsy Skyhawk Bezel
Thanks
L
Responding to our kind Mods request for watch reviews. I present the Citizen Minute Repeater Calibre 9000
The Calibre 9000 I have is the BL9000-59F. It is SS and on a bracelet
This is a minute repeater. You push a button and the watch will chime the hours and minutes, allowing you to tell the time in the dark. This was a expensive and high tech/ high degree of craftsmanship in the 1800's and early 1900's. In the days before reliable electric lights and no lume on watch hands, this represented a chance to be able to tell the time. It also offered folks that were blind a way to tell time also.
Largely phased out except for high dollar watches now due to today's technology, the minute repeater is still a very interesting watch.
I had admired this watch at the local department store and loved the sound the thing made when you pushed the minute repeater button. It is very bell like for this price range( I have heard a few complaints from folks that say this watch sounds a bit electronic but keep in mind it retails for $500. If you want a realistic bell sound be prepared to spend $2000-$50,000+)
For the price it sounds good.
I got mine from a department store clearance for $180 (marked down from $599 due to being discontinued in that store)
So I will discuss briefly some aspects of the watch
BAND:
The band that came on it was a 21mm metal bracelet with hidden clasp. This allows the watch band to be perfect looking visually. The big con for me on this is that the design does not allow placement of a micro adjustment hole for those with wrists that are not lucky enough to have the watch fit perfectly with link removal.
I wound up trying leather to discover it sucked(I have never found a leather strap that I like) also. At that point I almost returned the watch back to the store but I decided to tray a 22mm 2 piece nylon strap and it worked perfectly and wore great. The band looks like it was made for the watch and being black matched the number part of the dial.
WATCH:
This is by far one of the most complex watches out there to set the first time around. It took about 5-10 minutes after I read the owners manual to set up the calender and home time.
The case is polished and exquisitely done. The buttons are big a easy to push. The chime is loud enough to hear when the watch is worn.
The dial has a very art deco look to it.
Watch is only rated for 30m which is because it is a dress watch and also because it needs the small slits in the case back to allow the chime to be heard.
It is eco-drive so there is no need for an inconvenient battery change
CONS:
While I do like the watch a lot, I have a few cons
1. Water resistance could be more
2. Original bracelet should have had a couple of micro adjustment slots in it.
3. Buttons with play in them. While the buttons are secure and don't feel like they would ever fall out, they do have play in them due to their design
4. No atomic time. This would have increased sales.
All in all a great watch and one that was discontinued in the USA so you should be able to get one at a discount. They came in SS with bracelet, SS on leather, Gold Plated on leather and Gold Plated on bracelet.
While not as flashy as the Skyhawk AT, it feels more solid to me(I have both and hate the flimsy Skyhawk Bezel
Thanks
L