Chronomaster was Citizen's answer to the Grand Seiko. The name stood for the highest standard the house had to offer – and even today, 33 jewels is a number you will almost never find on Japanese dials of that era.
The Chronomaster line
In the early 1960s, Seiko and Citizen were locked in a race for the chronometric precision of Japanese watches. Both houses sent their movements to the Swiss observatory trials, and both created their own top-tier lines from the results. For Seiko, the result was Grand Seiko; for Citizen, it was the Chronomaster.
The ambition was the same: the highest manufacturing quality, elaborately regulated movements, and carefully crafted dials and cases. The version with 33 jewels and a full day-date display is among the most sophisticated pieces Citizen built during that period – for comparison, the brand's good utility models typically featured 21 to 25 jewels.
At 6 o'clock, the dial features the eagle emblem, which Citizen reserved for its highest-quality models. The case back is engraved with PARAWATER · CHRONOMASTER · ACSS2929-Y · GN2 and the serial number 70612556, which dates the watch to June 1967.
Serviced with documentation
The watch was professionally and fully serviced in Japan in the spring of 2026.
Design and character
The champagne-colored dial features a fine sunburst finish, which makes it appear completely different depending on the light – from bright silver to warm gold. It is adorned with slim, applied, and faceted baton indices; the hands are kept equally restrained.
The displays are unusually arranged: the day of the week is in its own framed window above the center of the dial and is written in Japanese – 木曜日 for Thursday, spelled out instead of abbreviated, which gives the dial a distinctively Japanese touch. The date is at 3 o'clock.
The stainless steel case measures 35.6 mm excluding the crown, with a 42 mm lug-to-lug distance and a height of 10.6 mm. The relatively long lugs and the wide 20 mm lug width give the watch significantly more presence on the wrist than the diameter might suggest. At 45 grams on the black leather strap, it remains lightweight.
Condition
The watch is in outstanding condition, especially given its age. The crystal is free of scratches, and the case and dial also show only minor signs of wear. The original medallion on the back is preserved but shows some wear, as does the crown.
Operating note: The quick-set function for the day and date should not be operated at night while the gear mechanism is engaged; set the hands to approximately 6 o'clock beforehand.
Technical specifications
- Brand: Citizen
- Model: Chronomaster
- Case reference: ACSS2929-Y, GN2
- Movement: Automatic
- Jewels: 33 jewels
- Functions: Hour, minute, center seconds, day (Japanese), date
- Case material: Stainless steel, Parawater
- Diameter excluding crown: 35.6 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 42 mm
- Height: 10.6 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Weight incl. strap: 45 g
- Serial number: 70612556
- Date: June 1967
- Service: Overhauled in Japan in the spring of 2026
- Strap: New high-quality black leather strap by the Japanese company Maruman
- Origin: Japan
For whom?
For collectors who want to understand Japanese watch history beyond Seiko – without a Chronomaster, half the story is missing. For those who are looking for a jewel count of 33 on a dial and know what that represents. And for buyers who find a spelled-out Japanese day display more beautiful than any abbreviation.
Warranty (used)
This is a pre-owned item. The limitation period for claims for defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.
Note
As this is a pre-owned watch, water resistance cannot be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.
