Citizen Avion 6 Year Review

This is my first review. Please go easy on me.

Citizen CA4210-24E

I rarely see this watch online and I've never seen it out in the wild. So, I figured I would give a long term review on it. This watch was gifted to me for Father's Day in 2017. So, it does have sentimental value.

The Styling:

This is my favorite part of the watch. The dial looks busy, with a lot of informatin, but somehow is very easy to read at a glance. I feel like this watch takes some inspiration from B-Uhr type B's. I don't think it is trying to be a replica or mimic it, but it really reminds me of a modern take on the Fliegers.

The Strap:

When the watch was new, it was the best leather strap I have ever owned. It was thick, soft, very comfortable, and looked amazing. However, it wore out in about 2 years. I guess it was kind of a trade off. After the strap wore out, I tried it on a tan Zulu Strap:

Hated it! Then I tried it on a black/grey Nato Strap:

I didn't love it. At least not near as much as the OEM strap. But, I liked it enough to leave it on that strap for a few years. Finally, I ended up putting the strap off my Citizen Brycen on it, and that is what it wears today.

Just a note - you can buy an OEM replacement strap from Citizen. But, I didnt feel like it was worth $63 shipped when it wore out so quickly.

The Movement:

Its a Citizen Eco-Drive, not much to say here. I prefer mechanical, but as far as quartz goes the battery lasts a really long, even without a charge, and I was getting accuracy of +9 to +12 seconds a month.

The Crystal:

The crystal sits just a little proud of the bezel, which leaves it more vulnerable to scratches. And, since it is a mineral crystal, I had to replace it after about 5 years of use. My local watch shop was able to do it for $35, which I didn't think was bad.

Case Size:

I saved the most questionable aspect for last. At 45mm, it is too big for a lot of people to even consider. However, it does wear smaller than most 45mm watches. The lug to lug is fairly small compared to the case. Don't get me wrong, it is still a large watch. But, it just doesnt feel 45mm large. For reference, I have a 7" (178mm) wrist:

My Verdict:

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this watch to anyone. I really like it. But, I am partial because I love fliegers and this watch was a gift from my daughters.

Is it worth the $250 it cost at Kay in 2017? Absolutely. However, I see it as low as $185 online nowadays. Are there better watches out there in that price rage? Yea, maybe. Unless you're after a modern take on a fleiger and don't mind a quartz movement.