My parents just found an old Citizen Eco Drive from 2006. Had totally forgot about the tech and went to a watch maker to get a new battery. He laughed, keep it under light for a night and BOOM after years and years in total darkness in the box, the watch just started and is keeping time smoothly. Great technology

My eco drive has been chugging along for almost 20 years, never have replaced the capacitor. Amazing product

I've been wearing my Eco-Drive Titanium WR200 daily for about 10 years and never had an issue with it.

I have my citizen Eco-Drive watch now 20 years this past July and it's still running just like new. It is a great watch. Before the citizen I had a Rolex and I couldn't wait to sell it. It kept terrible time either running too fast or too slow. The Rolex cost a fortune to get it serviced which is required every 5 to 10 years by a certified jeweler.

I accidently left my eco-drive in closet when leaving for military duties. I was dead when found, so it took a long time to revive. However, I made a mistake trying to revive by keeping it in my car under sun in hot summer day. IT WAS BOILING HOT. I don't know how the battery did not die from over heating, but it works great again. I was amazed how strong and well made Citizen watches are. What a build quality.

I very accidentally left my Ecodrive in my winter residence. It had fallen under the bed in a room with blackout curtains AND storm shutters up ! When I came back eight months later and found it, it was still showing the correct time ! Great watch .

Bought my calibre 8700 around 1996 and 25 years later it still operates at about a second a month variance. No maintenance and never touched. A brilliant investment and the only complaint I have is I would love a newer model but just can’t justify it. Never worried about when it’s being charged or where it is ...incredible really.

Bought my eco drive in 2000 ......... it still working fine 2019 and it only loses a second a month!

I rediscovered one of my eco drives that had been in an old watch case completely dark for over 10 years. I put it in the direct sunlight for 2 days without the crown pulled out and it is working great.

I have been wearing my eco drive watch since March 2009, still working well and keeps good time

they are amazing watches. my wife bought me an eco drive dress watch for a wedding gift in 2004. i wore it on our honeymoon then stashed it in a dark jewelry box never to see light again until this year(2018) i charged it fully and its been working perfect. great product!

I have several eco drive watches....had them for years....they are still living, and ticking!!!!! GR8 PRODUCT...THANK YOU CITIZEN!!!!!😊

I bought my first Citizen Eco-Drive watch back in April 2010, which I still wear today. Great watch, it looks good, water resistant to 100 metres (I have swam it several times, no issues).

Thanks! My eco drive was in total darkness for a year and I followed your guidance and got it going again! Much appreciated!

Thank you!!! This beautiful watch has been on a dark shelf for several years. Didn’t work. I pulled out the crown and left it in the sun all day. Works great, again.

Yeah. I moved and basically lost an Eco-Drive in a box in the basement for two years. It was dead when I found it and took almost a week to start up again. But it did start. Be patient. Don't throw it away.

I store mine in a watch box that has a glass top so that they can get light at all times. Absolutely love these. I’ve had mine for over 6 years.

I bought my first eco-drive in 2009. It is running perfect till now -- Nov 2020. Great guys. Great watch. Great workmanship.

Thank you for this, just bought my first Eco-Drive.

You’re an excellent speaker. Good job bro. I’m happy to subscribe.

This is why when I put mine away, I always put it in the cylindrical case with the lid off, on a table near one of my window-lit rooms. It’s a silver PCAT, and I really do love it, since it’s the most expensive watch I’ve ever bought, and quite a comfortable one at that.

I have six Citizen Eco-Drive watches, and I didn't use them for years; i.e. I left them in darkness for a long time. I put them in my window for a few hours, and they ran fine again. Now that they're fully charged, I put them in my window once or twice a month to maintain the charge. I also wear them every so often, which also helps maintain their charge.

I bought my Navihawk UTC Eco-Drive Chronograph Men's Watch JY8030-83E four years ago and it is working like a charm

Left my Eco-Drive in a draw for 2 years! Left it out in daylight for a day and did a factory reset and it's still going strong over a decade later :)

I've had my Eco-Drive stop because it was stored in the dark (guns safe), a blast from my EDC flashlight started it back up & a day on the window sill was all it needed to get it back to keeping perfect time. Now I just put it on the sill if I don't wear it for a week or so. They are great watches, thinking of picking up another one.

I’ve had mine since 2009 with no problems

I left my eco drive out on my concrete balcony on a spring day. When I went out to get it a few hours later, the concrete and the watch were piping hot. I didn't expect that and thought I had ruined it. The watch was fine though and is still running 2 years later. They couldn't have designed it for heat tolerance since its meant for a human wrist, but it somehow survived being fried like an egg. Impressive.

I've since moved on to more expensive watches (several of them on my channel), but my Citizens will always have my heart. Honestly, dollar-for-dollar, there's not a better watch on the planet. I've had one of them for 10 years and it hasn't needed any kind of service. Powered by the sun and it gets the radio signal for perfect time. My other one, which I've had for almost 3 years, is the same but it's a Satellite Citizen and gets the time anywhere in the world (doesn't need to be within so many hundred miles of a radio transmitter) and tells me what time zone I'm in. Simply fantastic watches and worth every penny and more.

It’s 2021 had it since 2007 stored it the entire time, just got new bands still works perfectly

Just bought one on a black friday spontaneous purchase. Nothing like seeing 99% positive reviews about the longevity of this watch. Excited to wear

I love Citizen Eco Drive.Also have Longines and Tissot automatic,but Citizen has special place in my heart.It was the first good watch I bought.

Was just about to send my citizen back to Jomashop because the Chronograph had stopped working. Ironically the watch was still keeping time, but the small seconds hand was only counting every two seconds. Watched this video, stuck the watch under a bright light for 60 seconds, and guess what, IT WORKS. Thank you for the extremely helpful video!!!

Had my first eco drive 15 years now it is in top condition works as good same day I bought it an bought my 2nd one 2 months ago

My eco-drive 300. I learnt the hard way. Once my jeweler educated me on the particulars. I has been a constant valuable and enjoyable timepiece in my collection. Back to an education... It is one of many reasons I follow your ‘web show.’ Forgive me if I describe your show incorrectly. I grew up in a time far removed from these new computer gizno(s).

at the risk of jinxing myself here, have had a Promaster Carbon for about 12-13 years and it's always sat on a window ledge when not being worn. has worked great, kept accurate time, and just been a pleasure to own

Thanks for the video, very informative. I have several solar powered watches and was not able to figure out the best way to keep them charged. Turns out as you said, the best way it to keep them near a natural light source which is not only more powerful than any LED but also literally free of any cost.

I keep my unused (not in rotation) Seiko Solar and Citizen Eco-Drive watches hanging towards the north so receiving a constant but not direct, strong sunlight. I guess it is the best way to keep it running and keeping a correct time. When I use them they receive a strong sunlight for many hours considering Spain is usually very sunny.

Thank you for this - it’s 100% true. I bought the titanium caliber 2100 in 1998 (wore it on vacation to Germany with my lovely wife) and then in 2006 I bought the same watch in white face and the same in black face. I purchased a Rolex GMT Master II and an Omega Seamaster and wore those for the past 20+ years and totally forgot about my caliber 2100’s. I opened the watch chest on bedside dresser recently (they were stored in for over 20 years under glass with indirect sunlight) and to my surprise, they still work and keep 100% charge and now I wear them regularly out of respect!!!!! I just ordered the Promaster Diver in blue and the PCATin blue. My titanium is 26 years old, my two stainless are over 18 years old and they are perfection like they were just purchased - these are lifetime watches!!!!

Thank you so much I thought my eco drive was dead and put it away seen then and put it in the sun all all day now it is back alive Thank you again

Thanks for this video! It helped to resurrect my 20+ year Eco Drive that I thought was damaged. I did the 130 hours charge and now it’s working fine

If you own a Citizen Skyhawk. I would try a master reset and then check to see if all the hands are in their proper orientation ("0" positions). No matter how accurate the atomic time is. If your hands aren't calibrated....the watch will be inaccurate. I'd send it in to Citizen if the problem of inaccurate time becomes persistent.

Good info. That's exactly what happened to my Calibre 2100. It would charge up but not hold well after that. So I got the capacitor replaced and that solved the problem. Now I keep it under a light that's on much of the day.

I've bought 4 Ecodrive watches since the very first one. The capacitors DO wear out. It did last 15+ years before it was replaced but it was $120! Ouch. Regular watch battery replacement was $15 at same jeweler.

I bought a citizen eco drive chronograph decades ago, around the 90's. It been on my wrist virtually non stop since. Never failed, or serviced. Still going strong...!!

I’ve had a Calibre 8700 for about 11 years. It still keeps accurate time. I love this watch. It was definitely worth the money. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a great watch

Had no clue this was a thing. Looking at getting one of these and this is helpful. Thanks!!

I left my Citizen world time watch in a drawer long enough that it discharged completely. When I put it in the window sill at home it charged up within a couple days, good as ever.

I received and ECO Drive watch as a graduation gift in 2004. The watch still performs flawlessly. The downside, after nearly 20 years of daily use, the band broke. Citizen no longer makes a replacement band for that model watch.

Well, I guess I'm excluded. We never see the sun in Denmark😂

Just bought my 1st Citizen EcoDrive. I'm very pleased.

Had my watch in a cabnet for 3 years and today i started wearing it. Its not even mid day and the watch has come back to life.

at least you didn't stretch the video for 10 minutes like others do. i thought they didnt use capacitors anymore, but rechargeable batteries these days

Around 10-11 years ago I purchased a titanium model with sapphire crystal Eco-Drive which works perfectly. My concern is if after that long period I should replace the capacitor preventively before it went out of production although it runs flawesly up to this moment. If that specific battery or capacitor turns obsolete your watch will be unuseful. I'm quite sure modern Eco-Drives use different capacitors with bigger capacity or different chemical composition.

Thanks for this video. I just purchased my first Eco-Drive two weeks ago. I like it.

i bought a citizen ar1135-15e for 4 months and i did'n know about these information. Thank you so much !

Bought my first eco drive watch in 1997 still going strong 💪

I was about to give up on my 2004 Skyhawk: it was in a wall display case with little light exposure for years, dead as a rock when checking it recently, summer of 2020. It literally took SEVERAL DAYS of full sunlight exposure on a window sill to wake it up again. In the beginning nothing happened, the LCD panel stayed gray, no motion of the hands. After two or three days the LCD came to life, the hands moved to the zero position, time for a complete setup. It recovered nicely and is running with its three power bars since then (the fourth bar seems not to exist anyways), now it is placed on my sunny work desk. I wonder what type of battery or capacitor they used in this ancient model? Pricy gold caps will never die, but typical metal ion cells will be damaged when discharged to rock bottom voltages over long periods of time.

I took a Citizen eco drive from the UK to NZ and back to the UK. Forgot it and had it shipped back to NZ from the UK. Then took 5 months due to a shipping incident to get it across from NZ to AU, then through shipping from AU to the UK. All in about 4 years of shipping and no-light storage. Opened it today finally to get use and obviously it had stopped. Almost immediately started working when put on the windowsill and now works to perfection. This watch is incredible.

Thank you, that was helpful. I was about to take the battery out of my watch. It was a present and I did not know what eco drive was supposed to work like

No problems with my ECO-Drive. Bought in 2006 in St.Thomas Virgin Islands.

My son's bought me one at less 15 years ago still going strong use it a golf course I work part time as the starter nobody doubts my start times

I’ve got 2 eco-drive watches. A dress watch 4 years old, running like the first day, and an 2 years old everyday watch. The 2 year old now skips a second, which means it needs some light. I’ll bring it back into everyday rotation. I love both watches. My friend recently got an eco-drive watch as a new daily watch, after wearing a casio watch for 16 years. He’ll probably wear the citizen watch until retirement.

Thank you for this advice, I will remove my Citizen eco-drove watches from my jewelry box now. One watch is 13+ years old. A gift from my dad. The other watch is perhaps 2 years old. It's a model no longer produced, so I bought it "new" on eBay. I did send it to Citizen in CA to verify it's real, which they confirmed. Now, both watches will spend adequate time on the dresser, to charge in the sun.

Are you sure you're talking about capacitors and not batteries? The failure mode you're describing is common with rechargeable batteries, lithium ion in particular. Capacitors do not suffer from being overly discharged.

I’m from the future it’s 2069 and my eco drive is still rocking and rolling 😂

I bought an eco drive in 2018 and it has stopped working in 2024. I have worn it 24/7 except while showering. I bought it in Texas and moved to NJ in 2021. I'm not sure whether the sunny days in Texas vs cloudy days NJ was a factor. I have always worn my watches with the dial facing inwards on my wrist and I have changed the habit now. No, my watch doesn't charge on indoor lights, only on exposure to sunlight. I have mostly LED bulbs in my home, they don't seem to charge my watch. Wanted to share the info with the prospective buyers. I spend at least a couple of of hours outdoors everyday except on totally rainy days or snowy days.

That's a great video, and information Citizen doesn't really give you. I just got my Eco-Drive chronograph today and will follow these steps. Thanks bro

Got mine in the early 90’s and still works like new

They come packed in cases who knows how long they are stored before they are sold.

How long do eco drive watches usually last like is it worth buying multiple if your worried you have one that will mess up or do they last a long time I currently have 3.

Just bought one at a discounted price..never even thought of Citizens but I threw it on and I couldn't let it go. Works just fine. Beautiful..white 100m..sapphire glass...for 75.00..I was going to spend 700 on a Tissot but for some reason when I tried this one I fell in love with it more than the Tissot Swiss watch.

Great info on my favorite watches!

My H145 stopped working and behaving erratically and I never sat in the dark for 6 months. I believe the place I purchased it from kept it stored in the box too long. I've owned it for close to 8 years now and havent worn it for 2 years. I just bought a capacitor on ebay. Cant wait to recieve it so I can wear it again. I have been wearing my citizen eco nighthawk black watch.

Very informative. I purchased a citizen Ecco drive used for 30 bucks. It was excellent condition. Have had to replace the battery twice. Had I known about how they actually work, could have saved some money. Thanks for the info. 👏👍

Thank for the BREIF video! No "sorry I haven't posted in a while, been busy on xx project"!

Newsflash! Solar powered watches need light to run! Not that remarkable really - if the watch has run out of power, give it some light and it will recharge. There's nothing wrong with it.

I own CB5000-50L Sky Pilot Chrono. It went trough Hell and fire in the past 5 years including free diving to 10m or 30ft. Never missed a beat and has some scratches on the bezel almost all paint is off but the numbers are engraved so no problem painting those again. I used it even while on construction works bashing it daily all over. This watch is a beast.😂

Had my Citizen Promaster Tough for nearly 4 years now, it’s the best watch I’ve ever had. Super accurate, tough as old boots, still looks brand new. I simply cannot fault it.

Thanks for the reset tip! Got my defunct Skyhawk back in action after years of being in a box. Thought it was totally dead since I couldn't get it to charge. Did what you said (pulling the crown out to time set position and putting it in sunlight) and boom! Saved me a trip to the watch repair shop. :)

Great advice for the eco drive watches. I think many people don’t give their solar watches enough light. Also, I’d like to mention that the Eco drive uses a special lithium ion battery that they call an energy cell, but its still a rechargeable battery not a capacitor.

I have a 2004 Ecodrive. Still works but stopped several times this winter due to misuse. Kept under a sleeve to long and regularly and very little sun. Now I charge it every night with a bright LED for a few weeks to give it a full charge and we'll see

Bought mine 15/16 years ago just took out of drawer after several years and a day of sunlight and boom still working.

I have had my ecodrive for 8 years, no battery replacement,only time I have ever made adjustments are for daylight savings, etc.. and for months that have less or more than 30 days in it. Whenever I am doing dishes I placed on sill . That's maintained it ever since.

I came back here to say a big 'thank you' for making and sharing this video which I came across for the very first time, last week. I was about to pull the trigger on a new watch to replace my beloved old but trusty GN4S which had stopped working since more than a year. I'm so glad that I didn't throw it in bin because, after watching this video, I took out the watch and decided to leave it on my kitchen window for the day, following the instruction given in this video. By evening, I picked up the watch to have a look and, what a surprise ! So, my trusty old watch is back and marching strong !! Thank you, once again. I feel like I've just bought a watch and saved money in the process. How high can you get on such a feeling ?!!!

So at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 I stopped wearing my then 11 year of eco drive because the crystal had a tiny leak from a small fracture. Also I wanted to be sure I was washing my hands properly. It was only this week I thought about wearing a watch again. The eco drive had been on my desk for 3 year but had stopped working a while ago. I noticed the crystal was dirty so went to the bathroom to wipe it clean. Lo and behold as the sun hit the panel the seconds hand starts moving again. I took to our veranda for better sun exposure to recharge and then at night it is left in the hallway facing a dim light. I haven’t been game enough to test the power reserve yet. I want to get the 36hour cloudy exposure first then see about getting the glass replaced by a watchmaker. But I was damn surprised it worked without much effort.

I bought my watch from a clearance sale, so it arrived without a charge. It took more than a day sitting next to a light bulb before it started ticking normally, but it's been running since. Even when it's not in daily use, it's sitting on a dresser and gets some light each day.

I just found my old "watch storage / display box" with 3 of my old ecoDrives in it - the oldest from around mid 2006! I had smashed the crystal on that one 4WHeeling many years ago & was too worried about it getting wet to wear it. I randomly found some old forms I was sending to Citizen for them to replace the crystal on it and thought "No doubt I'm gonna need a 'solar cell' because I'm an idiot and left them up on a dark shelf in a display box" but then Plot Twist: 2 Of them I had the foresight to pull out the crown & they're tickin right along! I was really smart 10+ years ago. idk wtf happened.

I bought mine in 2012 . I always keep them at my desk. They still run perfect.

Thank you so much for the tutorial video something did not know of my Eco- Citizen Watch So therefore we must live and learn thank you again for your time and your service on KZfaq God bless

This man 's advice is 100% spot on. BRAVO.

I bought mine in 1998 and today I am still wearing it. It never got service with other words never opened.

Own two Nighthawks...never a problem charging with either one, after eight years of service.

First of all thank you for explaining. I made all the mistakes you said not too. My watch works only when it's exposed to light. I have tried charging for 8 hrs in direct sunlight. It's still giving same behavior. I have nighthawk eco-drive. Any suggestions?

Thanks brotha .. I had my watch in a dark case for a year and i noticed it's not working anymore( I was on my way to replace the battery and I saw your video) .. now I have it under the sun light. If it works I own you a beer 🤘

I've had both of my Skyhawks for 9yrs now and they are some of the best watches I've ever owned👍👍

I stored my beautiful seiko solar watch in my closet and now I can’t get it going even after leaving it outside for a whole day 😞

My 2000 citizen promaster supertough died in sitting in total darkness for 2 yrs. I charged it in the sunlight and it was a mess. Citizen told me to pull the crown out and leave it out for 2 minutes to reset the watch. I did 5 min, just to be safe. It’s been running like new for 5 years now. The watch is 20 years old, amazing.

Citizen Eco-drive is like 90's Toyota, Honda, Nissan. They just refuse to die.

Got an eco drive as a wedding gift off my best friend. It kept going into power saving mode constantly so I left it in a window for a few days seems to be ok but I have to keep re zeroing the hands which is annoying.

They call rechargeable battery capacitor now ?