this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)

Watches

0 readers
1 users here now

A community for watch & horology discussion.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Looking to get a dress piece to add to the collection within the next year, and I stumbled upon the Citizen AQ4100-65W limited release JDM HAQ after having my eyes set on the Longines Flagship moonphase for a while. Prices are somewhat similar, with the Citizen at $3300ish shipped, and the Longines between $2500-3000. Here’s my assessment:

Longines:

  • Automatic
  • Moonphase
  • Lower price and available domestically without customs duties
  • Greater availability due to non-limited release
  • Gold plated hands and dial markers

Citizen:

  • Quartz
  • HAQ with lots of features to compensate
  • Jumping hour (frequent travel) ++ Beautiful washi paper dial with platinum leaf
  • Lightweight titanium bracelet (but could also look great on a leather strap)
  • More expensive
  • Harder to find
  • JDM with proprietary HAQ movement requiring shipment to Japan for service

Any other thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

top 31 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Admirable_Pie_6609@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Citizen for sure. More versatile and it’s completely striking

[–] wagtrpt@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Longines as I love an automatic vs quartz, even if it’s a higher end quartz

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Agreed; if GS had a spring drive with an interesting dial at this price point, it’d be a no-brainer. Plain white is just too plain for me.

[–] Prisma_Cosmos@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

One of these is clearly twice as nice as the other

[–] shucklessquad@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Between the two, Longines.. However, there are so many nice watches around $3,000 on the pre-owned market. I would personally get a Grand Seiko, Omega, or Santos.

[–] Indiana_MF_Jones@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

GS for the win!

[–] H_Stinkmeaner@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

The Citizen is nice... But learn from my mistake... MAKE SURE YOU REALLY LIKE IT, because you and I are willing to pay for one of those but most people won't lol. Sold mine for about half of what I paid... Even it was hard to sell lol.

The A060 isn't as accurate as Citizen claims, that's something you should be aware. Mine was running at roughly +8s/year, there's also some watchuseek threads on the subject and even the JOMW YouTuber admitted his was also slightly out of spec lol.

The Longines on the other hand, it's an automatic watch from a well respected higher-end watch manufacturer, definitely easier to resell if you want to move to something else.

[–] umamiking@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Normally this or that watch comparisons on this subreddit are so boring but THIS one is truly exciting. I have to say, Citizen HAQ models are underrated. That is a stunning watch and you'll never run into someone wearing one.

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the feedback!

[–] PDX-ROB@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The flagship has a special case back design that's pretty cool. Not a fan of the gold tho, makes it look dated in a tacky kinda way.

The citizen is beautiful, but needs to be seen in person. I've heard complaints about the plastic looking dial, because there is a layer of plastic over the dial.

[–] taskmaster51@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

There's a version with white hands and markers too. Personally, I like this version better

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I’ve seen the AQ4091 in person (Tokyo), and it looks quite impressive in person. Comparing side by side with the GS Shunbun and White Birch, my gut was leaning toward the Citizen washi dial. Obviously the spring drive wins out price notwithstanding, but the features on the HAQ do well to compensate for it being a quartz.

[–] sloopSD@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

The Citizen no doubt. The 65W is beautiful, although I haven’t seen it for sale online anywhere.

[–] GrahamCawthorne@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I think this is pretty easy to decide. Do you want a moon phase or a date window?

[–] jimmeh22@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Love the dial on the longines and I would have pulled the trigger on it or the flagship heritage

But damn it though the lugs ruin it for me

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Agreed, I wish the down curve was a bit more aggressive.

[–] jabs09@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Longines imo in that price bracket!

[–] peterpunk06@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Citizen looks more versatile, but honestly the flagship is the best looking dress watch imo.

[–] TiPirate@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Citizen. It’s the ultimate IYKYK watch.

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This definitely plays into the calculus a bit!

[–] hzg511-@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would prefer Longines Flagship heritage with small seconds. Slimmer and simple watch.

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Slimmer would be great, but the small seconds isn’t my taste. Just a personal preference.

[–] guitarhamster@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

For a dress watch, the longines. For a gada watch, the citizen

[–] KingLuis@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

moonphase for me. why? because moonphase. i just love it. and it has the date hand.

[–] GreatScot4224@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

The Longines for sure. They aren’t even in the same ballpark

[–] BadMr_Frosty@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd personally go with the citizen. It's more versatile and the dial is really interesting.

That being said, if I had to dress formally all the time the longines might make sense.

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I think you’re spot on with where my head’s at. I only find myself in a suit a couple times a year, anyway.

[–] lmboyer04@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Longines design looks great but after seeing it in person it’s both thick and wide. Unfortunate

[–] BWIADCA777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

That’s good to know. I still need to see one in person. I’ve only been able to find the master collection so far.

[–] Schapsouille@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

If I had to buy a quartz watch, it would be this one.

[–] brichardson7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Please don’t spend $3k+ on a Citizen