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Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

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elceedee

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Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post12 Jul 2015, 22:57

Hey all,
As you might know I am an enthausiast when it comes down to the Citizen Crystron LCD watches of the 1970's
I have been looking for that one 1978 Citizen Crystron LCD which was solar powered, and especially which was in a great condition.
This specific Citizen LCD of 1978 is (as far as I know) Citizen's single 1970's answer to the Seiko's solar rage (a few different Seiko A156 models) of 1978
Seiko continued its solar powered LCD movements (following several different models and movements in the late 70's and early 80's) where Citizen (again, as far as I know) continued its solar powered range in the late 1980's/early 90's with its (ana-digi) Promaster range.

This specific 1978 Citizen 50-0518 model with the Citizen 9069A movement (close to Citizen's 9060 movement) is in a fantastic all original condition with its original (pretty rare Citizen strap in general) solid linked strap. I disabled the solar panel (didn't attach its + connector and isolated it with a small strip of scotch tape). It has a very clean movement and is running perfectly

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PG101

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post12 Jul 2015, 23:43

Beauty!
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simone

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 20:51

A very rare one!a beauty...
Do you think it's always better disconnect the solar system panel in these early LCD watches?
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 21:56

It's véry nice, but I'd prefer to try to make it running with a connected solar cell again. Is the solar cell charging the watch or only "helping" the battery "live longer" like many seventies lcd solar watches. (then you don't need a rechargeable cell)

(I've got it's 1976 analogue cousin, with new Varta V15h rechargeable cell)

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elceedee

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 22:00

@ Simone; I prefer to use normal cells, but I keep the watch original in case I like to use a rechargeable in the future. So I disable one polar. Not good to have normal silver oxide cells with a charging load

@ Dutch; I have the black and white version of that watch, also tried the Varta cell, but I find it discharges too quick
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simone

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 23:21

seicitizitch wrote:@ Simone; I prefer to use normal cells, but I keep the watch original in case I like to use a rechargeable in the future. So I disable one polar. Not good to have normal silver oxide cells with a charging load

@ Dutch; I have the black and white version of that watch, also tried the Varta cell, but I find it discharges too quick


Ok,i always wanted to understand the real problem to use a normal cell in these solar watches :scratch: ....i have a Seiko A258 solar powered with a normal silver oxide cell but i never tried to disconnect the solar cell polar...sometimes the watch (every 3 or 4 months per year) shows all segments lights up : could be an issue related with an incorrect power combination (solar and normal cell) :?:
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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elceedee

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 23:28

Also there is a risk of a popping common silver oxide cell when you spend a day in the sun. You don't want the crystal to blow up in your face .. (although I never heard of such a situation. I did have a cell pop once however, outside a watch. It sounds like the little crackers on the small rope you pull, when I was a kid)
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post16 Jul 2015, 23:48

My analogue watch seems to work great, I leave it at a window sill when I'm not wearing it. I measured the voltage of the solar cell in sunlight without battery, 3 volt charging current!
I've also got some (cheap) solar lcd watches that are supposed to have regular batteries in it. The solar cell reduces the power consumption from the batteries, not charging them. More of a gimmick than useful :-?
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cybr

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post17 Mar 2018, 19:43

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I think that I have some more information about this REALLY RARE early CITIZEN LCD Solar watch: :grin1:
1. First of all, the Citizen LCD Solar 50-0518 watch it is NOT mentioned AT ALL between the early LCD SOLAR watches nor by the major Doensen's book - "WATCH. History of the modern wrist watch" and NOT either by the most known Early Solar Watches Expert - the owner of SolUhr website: :scratch:
https://doensen.home.xs4all.nl/n2.html
http://www.soluhr.com/
Thus the most probable explanation may be that this watch was produced in so small numbers that even the experts in the field were not aware about its existence!!!

2. BUT IT DID EXIST and the BIGGEST surprise is that it was available/sold on the market AS EARLY AS the year 1977!!! :grin1:
Below you will find some photos of my new Early Citizen LCD Solar 50-0518, MADE IN DECEMBER 1977 (!!!) :mega: , a prove that it was launched BEFORE Early Seiko's LCD Solar watches (1978) AND in the same Year with the famous Sicura VIP 2000 and Mondaine DigiSolar (which I also own)! :grin1:
https://doensen.home.xs4all.nl/n2.html
And now some photos:

the watch
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Made in December 1977 (!!!), according to the Citizen Serial Numbers system - SN 712nnnn: :-D
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Regards,
:dwf:
Last edited by cybr on 18 Mar 2018, 21:57, edited 1 time in total.
Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)
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Adam

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post18 Mar 2018, 13:42

I have a September 1977 here. Not working at the moment.
http://www.digital-watch.com - online database of 2000+ watches, manuals and adverts from the 70s-90s
http://www.vintagelcd.com - Vintage Digital Watches for sale
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cybr

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Re: Citizen 1978 solar powered Crystron LCD 50-0518

Post18 Mar 2018, 21:50

Thanks Adam for Your kind reply.
Outstanding find!
Because Your watch may confirm - once again and even more - that the Citizen Crystron LCD 50-0518 was available as early as mid-end 1977, thus before early Seiko's Solar LCDs (1978) and AT the same time with some very early (and rare! :grin1: ) LCD Solar watches of 1977 - like Mondaine, Sicura etc !!!
Please post, when You may have some time, a photo of that Citizen Crystron LCD Solar watch caseback, made in September 1977 (!), functioning or not ...
It seems that some (at least small) parts of the SOLAR POWERED watch history should be rewritten! :grin1:
Best regards,
:dwf:
Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)

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