Citizen Exceed – April 1987 - Bicolor Tank case with onyx bezel – Caliber 3330, anti-magnetic

A very flat, very small dress watch from Citizen's Exceed line — the program that was positioned above the regular collection in-house and responded to European luxury competitors with sophisticated case manufacturing and thin movements.

The case back bears the engraving CITIZEN WATCH CO., the markings WATER RESIST, BASE METAL and ANTIMAG. 4800, the case reference 3330-C80096 TA, the case number 740225, as well as the identifiers GN-0-S and JAPAN. The dial is marked EXCEED and CITIZEN.

Exceed – Citizen's Answer to the Tank

The rectangular case with beveled corners unmistakably quotes the European Tank design language of the interwar period. Citizen translated it into its own manufacturing logic: a very flat quartz movement, a bicolored case with a dark frame around the dial, and the ANTIMAG. 4800 marking on the back — an indication of shielding against magnetic fields up to 4800 A/m, which was by no means a given for quartz watches.

Exceed models were almost exclusively built for the Japanese market. They are hardly known in Europe, although they were managed as a prestige line in their home country.

Design

A champagne-colored dial with a fine finish, framed by a deep dark bezel that visually reduces and sharpens the dial surface. The Roman numeral XII is the only numerical marker at twelve; the other hours are marked by slender baton indices.

The EXCEED lettering is located below the XII, CITIZEN above the 6. The hands are designed as fine gold-colored batons.

The case is finished in a bicolored design: gold-colored frame elements on the top and bottom edges, with dark flanks in between. At 5.3 millimeters in height and 14 grams in weight, the watch is practically imperceptible when worn.

Please note: The case back engraving indicates the case is made of base metal (BASE METAL). The gold-colored parts are coated, not made of gold.

Dating

The case number 740225 follows the Citizen system, with the last digit of the year first and the month second. This indicates April of a year ending in 7. In conjunction with the caliber 3330 and its Exceed affiliation, this suggests 1987. We provide this as a guide, not as a confirmed dating.

Condition and Origin

The watch comes from a Japanese watch specialist store, where it was inspected before sale.

Dial, indices, and hands are flawless, the printing is complete. The crystal is clear. The gold-colored coating on the upper case frame shows fine scratches and signs of handling; the dark frame around the dial has no chipping. The brushed case back has fine scratches, the engraving is complete and clearly legible. The crown is smooth.

The brown crocodile-embossed leather strap has been newly fitted.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Citizen
• Line: Exceed
• Case Reference: 3330-C80096 TA
• Case Number: 740225
• Case Identifier: GN-0-S
• Movement: Quartz, battery-powered, Caliber 3330
• Functions: Hour, Minute
• Special Feature: Anti-magnetic up to 4800 A/m (ANTIMAG. 4800)
• Case: Base metal, bicolored, rectangular
• Dimensions without crown: 17.9 × 21.5 mm
• Height: 5.3 mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 27.3 mm
• Lug width: 13 mm
• Weight including strap: 14 g
• Dial: Champagne-colored with Roman XII and baton indices
• Strap: New brown crocodile-embossed leather strap
• Dating: April 1987
• Origin: Japan

For whom?

For very slender wrists. For wearers who are looking for a watch that disappears under a cuff instead of adding bulk. And for collectors who want to discover Citizen's prestige line, which was practically never available in Europe.

Warranty (used)

This is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects under the statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.

Note on Water Resistance

Water resistance is not guaranteed. The case back engraving indicates the condition upon delivery. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.