Citizen Tsuyosa x seconde/seconde/ Is a Future Collector Favorite

In a year dominated by price hikes and impossible waitlists, Citizen has quietly released something far more interesting: a limited-edition automatic watch under $500 that feels destined to become a collector’s favourite.

The new Citizen Tsuyosa x seconde/seconde/ isn’t just another colour variation. It’s playful, slightly rebellious, and layered with meaning, the kind of watch that sparks conversation the moment someone notices your wrist.

And with only 3,600 pieces available worldwide, hesitation might cost you.

A Watch That Literally “Cuts Time in Half” 

At first glance, it looks like a familiar Tsuyosa. Clean case. Integrated bracelet. Blue dial. But then your eyes lock onto the minute hand, and everything changes.

Instead of a traditional handset, you get a pixelated katana sword. The creative mind behind it is Romaric André, better known as seconde/seconde/, the French artist famous for remixing classic watches with ironic, nostalgic twists. Before collaborating officially with brands, he built a cult following by modifying vintage pieces in unexpected ways, often swapping hands for playful objects.

Here, the sword isn’t random. Each hour marker on the dial appears sliced clean in half. The outer portions remain fixed, while the inner halves look as if they’ve been cut and pushed toward the centre of the dial.

It’s visual storytelling. The minute hand is “cutting” through time. Turn the watch over, and the message becomes clear. Across the display caseback is an engraved quote: “Being smaller never stopped minutes from slicing hours into pieces.”

It sounds like a proverb passed down for centuries. In reality, it was written specifically for this collaboration, a poetic reminder that small increments of time carry real power. For a watch under $500, that level of conceptual depth is rare.

Why the Tsuyosa Works

The base model is the wildly popular Citizen Tsuyosa, one of the strongest affordable automatic sports watches on the market today.

The 40mm stainless steel case hits a sweet spot for modern wrists. The integrated bracelet gives it a refined, slightly sporty edge. The polished bezel contrasts nicely with the brushed surfaces along the case, giving it more presence than most watches in its price category.

The crown sits subtly at 4 o’clock, keeping the profile clean and comfortable. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters, enough for daily wear without pretending to be something it’s not.

Under the hood is Citizen’s in-house Calibre 8210 automatic movement. It beats at 3Hz and offers around 42 hours of power reserve. It’s not designed to compete with luxury Swiss calibres, and it doesn’t try to. Instead, it delivers reliability and mechanical charm at a price point that keeps automatic watches accessible.

In many ways, this movement is the mechanical equivalent of a dependable daily driver. No drama. Just consistency.

Dial Colour

While the sword hand grabs attention, the dial colour seals the deal. The sunburst blue sits between baby blue and navy; cooler than the standard variant, but deeper than pastel tones. Under natural light, it shifts subtly, giving the watch far more character than a flat matte dial would.

The sliced hour markers catch shadows differently throughout the day, making the concept feel alive rather than static. It’s playful without being loud. Creative without sacrificing legibility. And that balance is harder to achieve than it looks.

Why Collectors Are Paying Attention

Limited editions at this price point often fly under the radar. But this one feels different. It doesn’t charge a premium over the standard Tsuyosa. At $495, it costs the same as the regular production model. There’s no artificial “collaboration tax.”

That alone will attract buyers. Add in the rising popularity of seconde/seconde/ collaborations, and you have a watch that sits at an interesting crossroads: affordable enough for newcomers, intriguing enough for seasoned collectors.

The watch market has shifted dramatically in recent years. Entry-level pieces that once felt disposable are now being re-evaluated. Buyers want personality. They want a story. They want something that feels intentional.

This watch delivers that, without requiring a four-figure commitment. And here’s the reality: 3,600 pieces worldwide may sound like a lot, but global demand spreads fast. Especially when a watch hits the sweet spot of price, design, and narrative. Many collectors have learned the hard way that affordable limited editions often become the hardest to find later.

Final Thoughts

The Citizen Tsuyosa x seconde/seconde/ succeeds because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet it’s thoughtfully executed. It’s mechanical. It’s wearable. It’s affordable. But most importantly, it feels alive.

In a landscape filled with safe releases and predictable colour swaps, this collaboration dares to reinterpret time itself, and somehow makes it charming rather than gimmicky.

At $495, it’s one of the most interesting automatic watches currently available in its segment. The only real question is whether you’ll grab one before the minutes, and the market slices the opportunity in half.