Citizen serial numbers.

[Satyricon]

Hello!

I have just received two automatic Citizens and wonder how to find out their age by serial number?
The other "problem" is ladies Citizen, there´s weird way how to open it´s back cover. Do anyone know how it should be open?

Regards Marko

[doug sinclair]

I have no idea about Citizen serial numbers. But the back doesn`t come off the square one!. Inside the top edge of the case back which houses the movement, very close to the winding crown, you will find a `trigger`that is evident when you pull the winder out to a hand setting position. Push that trigger down, pull out the winder, invert he case, and the movement should fall out. I would guess the age of the watch to be circa late `60s or early `70s.

It`s none of my business, but what are your intentions if you get it out of the case.

[sderek]

Hello!

I have just received two automatic Citizens and wonder how to find out their age by serial number?
The other "problem" is ladies Citizen, there´s weird way how to open it´s back cover. Do anyone know how it should be open?

Regards Marko

After some searching, I found this resource that describes how to find the age of most Citizen watches from 1931 - 1977. You'll have to identify the movement caliber to use it.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen...0%20Secure.pdf
There is a complete description in the link but it appears the date is based on the 1st 3 numbers in the serial number. So, it appears yours may be from March (03) of 1969 (9).

[Satyricon]

Hi!

Doug Singlair : The watch do not currently work. So i have got to open it up to examine it.
So, i started prying it out from one side and when it was allmost open, i push somehow behind windingstem. The area beside windingstem was full of s**t and when i got it opened, i washed case immediately with ultrawasher. I saw nothing behind stem... Photos are after wash, only both side of case are washed. First time met that kind of stemsystem.

sderek: Thanks for your effort!

regards Marko

[sderek]

As the number under the balance is "6900" you have a caliber 6900 1st introduced in 1970 (according to the same resource mentioned above).
-> posts merged by system <-

After some searching, I found this resource that describes how to find the age of most Citizen watches from 1931 - 1977. You'll have to identify the movement caliber to use it.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen...0%20Secure.pdf
There is a complete description in the link but it appears the date is based on the 1st 3 numbers in the serial number. So, it appears yours may be from March (03) of 1969 (9).

I forgot to mention my estimate of March, 1969 is for the watch on the right. The serial number of the watch on the left starts with 311, so it appears it's from November of 1973.

[doug sinclair]

The Citizen you have has what is known as a "two-piece" or "split" stem. The steps I outlined to you are steps that are often necessary with watches of this style of case. So there is no trigger as I described on yours. But I see you got it out of the case and that is all that matters.

[Satyricon]

Yes, i got it out, with just few scratches Well, i can polish them away. NOW i have a problem: Have to service the movement and i have never serviced automatic before. Can someone recommend any link where is some advise for service automatic movement?
Thanks to Doug too for your efforts!

regards Marko