Citizen’s finest light-powered watches have long had a quiet fascination with paper, and these two limited editions show why the idea still feels compelling.
The new The CITIZEN AQ4100-65X and AQ4106-00B use handmade Tosa Washi dials from Japan’s Kochi Prefecture, turning a functional dial surface into something textured, translucent and distinctly Japanese.
They’re also serious daily watches, with Super Titanium cases, perpetual calendars and Eco-Drive Caliber A060 movements rated to annual accuracy.
At a glance
- Citizen has introduced two limited edition The CITIZEN models with handmade Tosa Washi paper dials.
- The dials allow light to reach the Eco-Drive movement while showing the fine texture, fibers and depth of traditional Japanese paper.
- The AQ4100-65X is limited to 350 pieces at USD 2,995, while the AQ4106-00B is limited to 300 pieces worldwide at USD 3,095.
Tosa Washi as a functional dial material
Washi paper has been part of The CITIZEN collection since 2017, but its appeal is especially clear in these two watches.
The material is thin enough to let light pass through to the solar cell beneath the dial, which makes it a natural partner for Eco-Drive.
It also brings a quality that metal, lacquer or enamel can’t quite imitate.
The surface carries tiny irregularities, visible fibers and soft changes in density, so each dial feels less like a printed component and more like a crafted object.
For a watch built around precision and low-maintenance practicality, that handmade contrast is the most interesting part.
Crimson Tengujoshi and cloud-like Unryushi
The AQ4100-65X is the bolder of the pair, using ultra-thin Japanese Tosa Tengujoshi paper under a transparent upper plate treated in deep crimson.
A sunburst pattern adds movement across the dial, while the paper’s fine texture remains visible beneath the red layer.
Its 38.3mm Super Titanium case and bracelet are finished in silver-toned Duratect Platinum, giving the watch a clean, modern frame around a saturated dial.
The AQ4106-00B takes a softer route with off-white Tosa Unryushi paper, a name that translates to “cloud dragon paper.”
Long swirling fibers and gold flecks run through the dial, and the pattern varies because the fibers are introduced during the papermaking process.
This version uses a Sakura Pink Super Titanium case and a crocodile leather strap, creating the dressier personality of the two.
Eco-Drive precision in a lightweight case
Both watches are powered by Citizen’s light-powered Eco-Drive Caliber A060, a high-accuracy movement rated to within plus or minus 5 seconds per year.
On a full charge in power-save mode, the movement can run for up to 18 months.
The perpetual calendar automatically handles month lengths and leap years until February 28, 2100, while the date changes instantaneously at midnight.
An independently adjustable hour hand also makes travel and daylight saving adjustments more convenient.
The 38.3mm cases are made from Super Titanium, which Citizen states is around 40 percent lighter than stainless steel.
With Duratect hardening, the treated surface is also around five times harder than stainless steel, a useful advantage for watches that are likely to be worn often rather than kept aside.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Citizen |
|---|---|
| Collection | The CITIZEN |
| Models | AQ4100-65X and AQ4106-00B |
| Case size | 38.3mm by 12.2mm |
| Case material | Super Titanium |
| Case finishing | Duratect Platinum on AQ4100-65X, Duratect Sakura Pink on AQ4106-00B |
| Crystal | Dual-sphere glass with anti-reflective coating |
| Water resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Deep crimson Tosa Tengujoshi paper for AQ4100-65X, off-white Tosa Unryushi paper with swirling and gold fibers for AQ4106-00B |
| Movement | Light-powered Eco-Drive Caliber A060 |
| Accuracy | Plus or minus 5 seconds per year |
| Power reserve | Up to 18 months on a full charge in power-save mode |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, instantaneous date change, perpetual calendar, independently adjustable hour hand |
| Bracelet or strap | Super Titanium bracelet with Duratect Platinum on AQ4100-65X, crocodile leather strap from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery on AQ4106-00B |
| Price | USD 2,995 for AQ4100-65X, USD 3,095 for AQ4106-00B |
| Availability | AQ4100-65X limited to 350 pieces worldwide, AQ4106-00B limited to 300 pieces worldwide |
These watches work because the craft never feels decorative for its own sake.
The Washi paper serves the Eco-Drive architecture, gives each dial its own character and brings a softer human presence to a pair of highly precise Japanese watches.
