Citizen - Compact - Senza prezzo di riserva - 4-600383 TA - Uomo - 1971

Presentato all'asta da Second Vintage

This exceptional Citizen Compact captures the essence of early 1970s Japanese horological design, blending sharp architectural casing with a dial of profound monochromatic elegance. Originating from an era when Citizen was rapidly expanding its global influence through robust and beautifully engineered timepieces, this model features the brand's historic "Parawater" designation on the caseback. The combination of the striking cushion-style case and a brilliantly preserved sunburst dial makes this watch a highly compelling acquisition for collectors of vintage Japanese automatics seeking both aesthetic purity and mechanical reliability.

Brand: Citizen
Model: Compact
Reference Number: 4-600383 TA
Serial Number: 10603881
Movement: Automatic, 21 Jewels
Dial: Silver radial sunburst, applied indices, exceptionally clean and well-preserved
Case Size: 36 mm (excluding the crown)
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Production Year: 1971
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with a remarkably pristine dial

Dial and Hands
The dial is a masterclass in mid-century texture and legibility, featuring a brilliant silver radial sunburst finish that catches the light beautifully from every angle. It is adorned with applied, faceted baton hour markers that feature distinct black central channels, creating a sharp contrast against the silver backdrop. The applied "CITIZEN" logo sits proudly beneath the twelve o'clock position, accompanied by crisp black typography for the "AUTOMATIC", "COMPACT", and "21" text. A carefully framed date window is positioned at three o'clock, displaying a clean black-on-silver date wheel. The sword-style hour and minute hands perfectly mirror the indices with their own black central inserts, while a slender black sweeping seconds hand glides across the dial. Crucially, the dial is in outstanding, near-mint condition. A close visual inspection reveals an exceptionally clean surface devoid of spotting, moisture marks, staining, or print loss, representing a phenomenal level of preservation.

Case and Crystal
The 36 mm stainless steel case is executed in a classic cushion or C-shape profile, a hallmark of the era that provides excellent wrist presence. The case features sweeping, highly polished surfaces that transition smoothly along the flanks and lug hoods. The lug profiles remain sharp and well-defined, indicating careful ownership over the decades. The watch retains its original, deeply grooved crown signed with the "CTZ" logo. Turning the watch over reveals a screw-down stainless steel caseback, clearly engraved with the reference and serial numbers, alongside the historically significant "Parawater" text. A domed acrylic crystal protects the dial, remaining clear and allowing an unobstructed view of the pristine dial beneath. The case shows honest, light handling marks and hairline scratches consistent with careful vintage wear, but remains free of deep gouges or signs of heavy over-polishing.

Movement
Powering this timepiece is a robust Citizen automatic movement, visible in the provided reference photographs. The rotor is proudly stamped with "CITIZEN 21 JEWELS JAPAN", and the movement plates and gears present a clean, well-maintained appearance. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher results indicate a deviation of -15 to -20 seconds per day.

Strap
The watch is fitted with a period-correct black leather strap featuring an embossed crocodilian grain pattern. It is detailed with contrasting white perimeter stitching, which perfectly complements the silver and black tones of the dial and hands. The strap is secured with a classic stainless steel pin buckle.

Condition
This Citizen is presented in excellent vintage condition. The absolute highlight of the piece is its dial, which remains stunningly clean and well-preserved, free from the typical aging often seen in watches of this vintage. The stainless steel case retains its strong factory lines and sharp edges, displaying only normal, light signs of use. The movement is clean and operating with impressive vintage precision.

Dimensions
The case measures 36 mm in diameter, excluding the signed crown.

Remarks
Finding a vintage Citizen from this era with a dial in such immaculate condition is becoming increasingly difficult. The sharp case geometry, combined with the incredibly crisp sunburst dial and historic Parawater caseback, makes this Compact a standout addition to any collection focused on the golden age of Japanese watchmaking.

History
Citizen's history is defined by a relentless pursuit of practical innovation. The "Parawater" designation found on the caseback of this watch is a significant piece of that legacy. Introduced in 1959, the Parawater system was Citizen's proprietary method for sealing a watch against moisture, utilizing a system of O-rings that proved highly effective. Citizen famously tested these watches by dropping them into the ocean from helicopters and towing them behind ships. The Parawater name was proudly displayed on their water-resistant models until the early 1970s, making this early 1971 example one of the final iterations to carry this historically important nomenclature before the industry-wide shift to the "Water Resistant" standard.

Payment and Shipping
Payment must be completed within 1–3 days after purchase.
Your watch will be professionally and very securely packaged, and shipped with tracking and insurance for your peace of mind. We ship via fast express service, with typical delivery in 1–4 business days (destination dependent).
Note that with vintage watches, minor signs of wear, aging, or imperfections may be present and are considered normal for watches of this age.
Please review all photos carefully before bidding. We strive to photograph each watch from multiple angles for the most accurate representation. The photos form an important part of the description.
If there are any concerns of functionality or defects after delivery, make sure to contact us within 3 days of receiving the watch so we can assist you.
As with all vintage watches, water resistance is not guaranteed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us after the auction ends.

/ Second Vintage

SKU: CIT-CAX-0005