The timepieces, said to “incorporate new technologies and a provocative aerodynamic design”, were showcased at a launch event held at the Ivy Penthouse in Sydney earlier in October.
Citizen Watches Australia sales and marketing manager Rod Willment said he believed the range’s satellite technology would be well received locally, much like the brand’s radio-controlled technology was accepted in the US, Asia and Europe.
“The introduction of this technology [radio-controlled] was a huge growth opportunity for Citizen worldwide, but in Australia we didn’t benefit from the technology due to the lack of radio-controlled towers,” he said, explaining that the watches receive signals from the towers in order to adjust the time and date.
Instead, in Australia the Satellite Wave-Air watches obtain time and date signals from navigation satellites orbiting 20,000 km above the Earth, removing any geographical boundaries.
Willment said the new timepieces, which initially were presented at the International Jewellery Fair in Sydney this year, have been popular among retailers, adding that the limited edition model had sold out even before arriving in Australia.
He said that the Satellite Wave-Air was the world’s first light-powered watch with a full-metal case that received time signals from navigation satellites.
“It also receives satellite signals at the world’s fastest speed. A test conducted in April 2013 found that it took four to 20 seconds on average to receive signals.”
First marketed in 2011, Eco-Drive Satellite Wave became the first-ever watch to feature the precision satellite time-keeping system that could give the exact time regardless of where it is worn in the world.
Eco-Drive is Citizen’s proprietary technology that powers watches using any natural or artificial light source. The solar light-powered, rechargeable battery is reportedly able to store enough energy to power the timepiece for five months to seven years, depending on the model.
More reading