The watch King Seiko and Grand Seiko are firmly established, while the Citizen Highness remains a bit of an insider’s choice. That’s surprising, as it represents Citizen at its most ambitious, with a high-beat 36,000 bph automatic movement at a time when accuracy was being pushed to new limits.
This example dates to 1971 and captures that spirit well. The gold-plated cushion case has a strong presence on the wrist and remains in very good condition, with only some light red staining along the edges, typical for a gold-plated watch of this age. The dial is clean and balanced, with applied indices that catch the light nicely, and only minor signs of wear visible up close. The crystal shows a few light scratches, but nothing that distracts in daily use.
On the wrist, it feels refined but not delicate. The high-beat movement gives it a smooth, almost fluid sweep, and it is currently running well and keeping accurate time. It has been paired with a new crocodile-pattern Seiko leather strap, which complements the warm tones of the case and gives it a slightly more dressed look without feeling overdone.
Details The Citizen Highness line was introduced around 1970 as part of Citizen’s push into high-beat mechanical watches. It featured automatic movements running at 36,000 vibrations per hour, placing it alongside other high-frequency calibres of the era. These movements were designed to improve accuracy and stability, reflecting the broader industry trend toward higher beat rates in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Production of the Highness line was relatively short-lived, making it a less common and lesser-known series within Citizen’s vintage lineup today.
