{"product_id":"citizen-homer-second-setting-jnr-japanese-national-railways-dienstuhr-showa-52-1977-21-jewels-frisch-revidiert","title":"Citizen Homer Second Setting – JNR \/ Japanese National Railways Service Watch – Shōwa 52 (1977) – 21 Jewels – freshly serviced","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot a watch inspired by the railway – but a watch that actually worked for the Japanese railway.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eCitizen Homer Second Setting\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the historic service watches of the former Japanese National Railways, known today as \u003cstrong\u003e“国鉄ホーマー” – JNR Homer\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe term “JNR Homer” does not refer to a common retail model series from Citizen. It refers to Citizen Homer hand-wound watches that were actually intended for use by the then state-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) and can be identified by corresponding service engravings on the case back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is precisely this documented operational origin that fundamentally distinguishes a JNR Homer from a normal Citizen Homer – and makes it a distinct and sought-after category of Japanese vintage watches today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA true Japanese railway employee’s service watch\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRailway watches were not about prestige, but about operational safety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrains, departure times, and operational processes required employees to have precise and synchronized timekeeping. Therefore, the watch had to do three things above all:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ebe immediately legible, robust, and precisely adjustable.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Homer Second Setting was equipped precisely for this purpose. Its most striking technical feature is the \u003cstrong\u003esecond-stop device\u003c\/strong\u003e: when the crown is pulled, the second hand stops immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis allowed the wearer to synchronize their watch to the second with a reference time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat seems self-evident in many mechanical watches today was then a functional tool for daily railway operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e“Second Setting” – Function over Decoration\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecond Setting\u003cbr\u003e21 JEWELS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eabove 6 o'clock therefore describes not a marketing complication, but the actual purpose of the watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the crown is pulled out to set the time, the central second hand stops. The watch can then be set precisely to a predefined second value and subsequently started synchronously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rest of the design consistently follows this functional principle: large black Arabic numerals, a clear outer minute track, clearly drawn hands, and a light dial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything serves to ensure the fastest and clearest possible readability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe JNR Homer as a Collector's Item\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEspecially within the field of collecting Japanese vintage watches, the JNR Homer holds a special position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike a regular production watch, each preserved example has an individual historical layer due to its service engravings. On the back, depending on the watch, the year of issue, the respective railway administration or department, and an inventory or issue number may be documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis allows a JNR Homer not only to be identified as a model but often also to be assigned to a specific operational use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis combination of mechanical watch, railway history, and individual service marking is the main reason for the significantly increased collector's value of these watches today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThis example: Shōwa 52 – 1977\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case back of this example bears the original service engraving with \u003cstrong\u003e昭52\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShōwa 52 corresponds to the year 1977.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNext to it is the individual number \u003cstrong\u003e257\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving is particularly important: it documents that this is not merely an ordinary Citizen Homer Second Setting, but an example actually marked as a service watch from the Japanese National Railways environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrecisely this preserved marking on the back is therefore an essential component of the watch's historical and collector's value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCitizen Homer – robust Japanese utility watch\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Homer was one of Citizen's long-lived mechanical model families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the JNR versions, the focus was not on luxurious features, but on a mechanical hand-wound movement that was as reliable and easy to maintain as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside, a Citizen hand-wound movement with \u003cstrong\u003e21 jewels\u003c\/strong\u003e and a second stop function is at work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaily operation is classically straightforward: the mainspring is wound manually via the crown. For precise time setting, the crown is pulled out and the second hand is stopped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was precisely this combination of simple mechanical construction and a special second-stop function that made the watch suitable for railway service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDesign – an Instrument, not a Jewel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cream-colored dial is designed entirely for readability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge black Arabic numerals dominate the display. Between them is a finely segmented minute track; luminous dots mark the hour positions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark hour and minute hands have luminous inserts. The fine central second hand can be read precisely on the minute scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow 12 o'clock is the curved \u003cstrong\u003eCitizen Homer\u003c\/strong\u003e logo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe almost complete absence of decorative elements is no coincidence: the design corresponds to the character of a professional service watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCase and Proportions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stainless steel case measures approximately \u003cstrong\u003e36.2 mm without the crown\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith approximately \u003cstrong\u003e43.6 mm lug-to-lug\u003c\/strong\u003e and around \u003cstrong\u003e10 mm height\u003c\/strong\u003e, the watch has exceptionally balanced vintage proportions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThus, the watch appears neither small nor oversized, but rather corresponds precisely to the functional standard format of a classic Japanese service watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes with a light brown leather strap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition and Overhaul\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watch is in authentic vintage condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe light dial shows age-related patina and minor discolorations. The hands and luminous material also show typical signs of aging for a utility watch several decades old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case and case back show signs of wear from previous use. It is particularly important that the historical service engraving on the back is still clearly visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watch was acquired from a Japanese watchmaker and has been \u003cstrong\u003efreshly overhauled\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThus, what is offered here is not merely a historically interesting collector's item, but a mechanically refurbished vintage watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy this watch is of collecting interest today\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe JNR Homer combines three areas that rarely come together in Japanese vintage watches:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ea classic mechanical Citizen,\u003cbr\u003ea special technical execution with a second stop function\u003cbr\u003eand a concretely documented historical use in Japanese railway operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrecisely overhauled examples with well-preserved service engravings have become very rare and are offered in specialized Japanese vintage trade at prices sometimes approaching four figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis shows that the JNR Homer is no longer merely perceived as an inexpensive old Citizen, but as an independent collecting area with clear historical provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Citizen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Homer Second Setting\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollector's name:\u003c\/strong\u003e JNR Homer \/ 国鉄ホーマー\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Service watch of the Japanese National Railways\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear of issue:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shōwa 52 \/ 1977\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eService\/Inventory number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 257\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e mechanical Citizen hand-wound movement\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Manual winding\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJewels:\u003c\/strong\u003e 21 Jewels\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e hour, minute, central second, second stop \/ Second Setting\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter without crown:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 36.2 mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLug-to-Lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 43.6 mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 10 mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLug width:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 18 mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight including strap:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 46 g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cream \/ White with Arabic numerals\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStrap:\u003c\/strong\u003e light brown leather strap\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverhaul:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly overhauled in Japan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWarranty (used)\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects under the statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNote on Water Resistance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historic service watch is offered as \u003cstrong\u003enot water-resistant\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage \u0026 JDM (Japan Domestic Market)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188952355154,"sku":"A420","price":849.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/3908\/0530\/files\/CB4877BC-5169-4862-BBC0-49A6AE3725A8.jpg?v=1786028684","url":"https:\/\/japanese-microbrands.com\/en\/products\/citizen-homer-second-setting-jnr-japanese-national-railways-dienstuhr-showa-52-1977-21-jewels-frisch-revidiert","provider":"Japanese Microbrands - Mario Lenke","version":"1.0","type":"link"}