Citizen Skyhawk JY0000 53E Review • Citizen JY0000 53E
Citizen JY0000-53E Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T Men's Watch
You don't have to be a pilot to love this watch. People actually buy the Citizen JY0000 53E for at least two good reasons: |
Click Image To Enlarge
1) For keeping time and performing flight calculations. Yes, this one is obvious. Although a flight chronograph was more essential before computers came along, today it's still an important secondary device, and must be accurate and reliable. With up to the second atomic timekeeping accuracy and its E6B circular slide rule bezel, the Citizen JY0000 53E delivers admirably.
2) Because it just looks good. The Citizen JY0000 53E subtly evokes a sense of bold adventure and extreme action, cool assurance in the teeth of challenge, whether we actually do the flying or not.
(by the way, you can get the Citizen JY0000 53E online for a very good price and with unbeatable service through Amazon here)
Of course, the Citizen JY0000 53E is loaded with other features like:
• Solar-powered drive so you never have to change a battery
• Chronograph with 1/100 second resolution for a lot of sport utility
• World time for 29 time zones/43 cities for traveling convenience
• 200M water-resistance, at home underwater as well as in the air
In short, the Citizen JY0000 53E is a very impressive watch, made to get you there and back again in consummate style.
|
Specifications: Citizen Skyhawk JY0000 53E • Citizen JY0000 53E
|
|
• Size: |
48mm x 16mm |
|
• Case: |
Satin finish stainless steel, screwdown caseback |
|
• Bezel: |
Black ion plated satin finish stainless steel, bi-directional rotating, E6B navigational slide rule |
|
• Crown: |
Protected crown with push-pull operation, chrono pushers |
|
• Dial: |
Black, analog/digital display, white hands and markers, orange sweep hand and other orange accents, tonal subdials (12 o'clock - UTC/GMT time, 2 o'clock - 24 hour time, 6 o'clock - mode indicator, 10 o'clock - charge level and radio wave reception indicator), LCD digital displays (4 o'clock - display of world city and time zone; chrono/timer/alarm/calendar functions; charge indicator, 9 o'clock - home city) |
|
• Crystal: |
Scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, hardened/tempered mineral glass |
|
• Movement: |
Precision eco-drive quartz analog/digital, caliber U600, perpetual calendar to the year 2100 (day/date/month/year), time and calendar in 29 time zones (43 cities), auto daylight savings time setting, 2 world time alarms with each having its own acoustic tone |
|
• Chronograph: |
1/100 second resolution, measures up to 24 hours, split time/add time, stop watch, 99 minute countdown timer with acoustic time up tone at end of countdown |
|
• Accuracy: |
Precise atomic timekeeping, multi-band radio controlled accuracy [USA (WWVB) Germany (DCF77) Japan (JJY)], reception can be auto or on demand (manual reception) |
|
• Power: |
Solar/light powered, eco-friendly, no need to change a battery, power reserve indicator, 180 day max power reserve when fully charged, normal light exposure maintains the charge, 30 months power reserve in power save mode, low charge warning of 3 days |
|
• Illumination: |
Luminous hands and hour markers, digital display backlight |
|
• Submersible: |
20 atm/200 meters/660 feet, suitable for snorkeling/skin diving, not designed to be a scuba dive watch |
|
• Band: |
Satin finish stainless steel bracelet, fold-over push-button deployment safety clasp, width 21mm, men's length |
Let's Get a Better Look at the Citizen JY0000 53E |
As you can see in the image to the left, the 48mm diameter of the JY0000 53E fills the wrist pretty well and, to be truthful, the 16mm height won't fit comfortably under a tight fitting sleeve. The ample size insures that all of the function readouts are clearly legible. |
| |
Here you can see the LCD backlight illuminating the digital displays. What is not apparent in this image is the luminescense of the hands and hour markers, but the illumination properties of this watch make it easy to read in low light conditions. |
| |
The stainless steel bracelet of the JY0000 53E is equipped with a fold-over, push-button deployment clasp which requires that the buttons on either side of the clasp must be depressed to release it. The pushbutton is a safety feature so that the clasp will not open on its own. |
|
The Good (Pros) vs The Bad (Cons) |
| |
| The Good |
| |
- The case and bracelet are made with solid, 316L surgical grade stainless steel, very strong and corrosion-resistant. The Citizen JY0000 53E is definitely built to take a lot of punishment but, as with any fine instrument, I personally recommend tending it with care anyway.
- The large size of the watch insures that its many robust functions are housed properly and can be used and read easily at a glance.
- The black bezel is achieved via ion plating, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process which produces a very clean, smooth finish that provides extreme resistance to wear.
- Once you learn a few basics, the E6B navigational slide rule can be used to quickly perform numerous pre-flight and in-flight calculations, such as measuring ground speed, distance, fuel burn, wind set, and many other useful computations and conversions.
- Configured like an instrument panel the dial and subdials, along with the functions they display (current time, UTC, world time, 24 hour format, chrono, countdown timer, perpetual calendar, etc.), express the aviation spirit that permeates this timepiece.
- The precision movement of the Citizen JY0000 53E, caliber U600, the inner engine that makes it all work embodies high tech sophistication at its best.
- Powered by Eco-Drive solar/light energy, you will never need to replace a battery, and it maintains its power for months even without further exposure to light.
- For accuracy, you simply cannot do better than atomic timekeeping which maintains the proper time up to the second via radio signal calibration several times each day.
- As if all of the above were not enough, Citizen throws in water-resistance to 200 meters, so the JY0000 53E is ready to get wet when you are.
- This last one may not be very important to many of you, but when wearing the JY0000 53E you will find no shortage of admiring comments from others.
|
| |
| The Bad |
| |
- The Citizen JY0000 53E is a large watch that some may even describe as "bulky." Not only is the diameter sizable, but it's height off the wrist precludes fitting comfortably beneath tight sleeves. In addition, due to its size and solid stainless steel construction, it's rather heavy as far as most watches go.
- Citizen might have covered the dial with a sapphire crystal instead of using mineral glass. On the other hand, the JY0000 53E would then have to be more costly but, beyond that, there are pros and cons to whatever crystal material is used. A sapphire crystal (3x harder than mineral crystal) has greater scratch resistance, yet there are not many things that can scratch a mineral crystal either. Moreover, a mineral crystal possesses greater impact resistance (shatter resistance against a hard knock or fall) than a sapphire crystal which is more brittle because it is so hard.
- Given its numerous functions, the JY0000 53E is fairly complex, so it takes a little time to set up initially. However, it comes with clear documentation, and it doesn't take long to become accustomed to all of the functions.
- The 200 meter submersible rating of the Citizen JY0000 53E does not qualify it for serious scuba diving. It can, however, be worn for swimming and recreational diving with confidence.
- The Citizen JY0000 53E, with a list price of $650.00, is not an inexpensive timepiece. Still, you can purchase it online with substantial savings here.
|
| |
| |
|
What Others Are Saying About The JY0000 53E |
| |
 |
The JY0000 53E is a very nice watch. While it is large, it is not too large. Because it is solar powered, you never need to change a battery, and with atomic timekeeping, you never have to set the time. Also, the illumination makes it easy to read in the dark. I recommend the JY0000 53E highly.
John W. Terry (review re-written for uniqueness. Read the original review here). |
| |
| |
|
I received the watch on time, and had no difficulty doing the initial set up. Its distinctive appearance brings many positive remarks. My previous watch was a Casio ATM. The JY0000 53E can be read far more easily and it's much better looking.
Robert F. Kinsey (review re-written for uniqueness. Read the original review here). |
| |
| |
|
After having the JY0000 53 for 3 months, I believe that within its price range it's probably the best. The only possible negatives might be the crystal and quartz movement. However, if it had a mechanical movement, it could not offer the many high tech features that give this watch its character. And, I prefer the mineral crystal for its shatter resistance, and do not mind the lesser scratch resistance which doesn't matter anyway. What I do not want is an exposed dial due to an accidental impact. I am glad I bought it.
John (review re-written for uniqueness. Read the original review here). |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Copyright © 2010, citizenjy0000-53e.com. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
