Citizen Series8 831

By Tyler Frederick

Mean and green

Over the last couple of years, the word “integrated bracelet” has frequently been used in watch design, especially from a budget-friendly perspective. After the re-release of the Tissot PRX, many brands followed suit, creating their versions, if not better, in some instances repeatedly raising the bar. Sure, prices of these integrated bracelet beauties grew, but in such a competitive space, and brands constantly adding more to make them better, it’s a natural progression, and there are still many great options that won’t break the bank. The landscape started dulling until Citizen dropped a collection that re-sparked my love for an integrated bracelet. Not to mention, it’s not Eco-Drive; it’s automatic. Today, we’re looking at the Citizen Series8 831.

Key Features of the Citizen Series8 831

If we’re just focusing on aesthetics, the Series8 831 has it all: beautiful finishing on the integrated H-link bracelet and octagonal case paired with a lovely and highly legible green textured dial, almost reminiscent of a woven pattern. I’ve always known Citizen as a tool watch brand, and I feel many others think the same, but the Series8 831 brings a facelift of luxury, a greatly welcomed update and an addition to the Citizen catalogue. The design and finishing are spectacular, and you’d usually see the details and finishing of this calibre on a much more
expensive watch: the Series8 831 retails for $1,095USD.

But aesthetics and design are only half the battle to make a great watch; how does it feel on the wrist?

The Series8 831 carries a 40mm case diameter, 10.1mm thickness, 49mm lug-to-lug and a 20mm lug width. While the case is 40mm and not relatively tall or thick, it feels pretty significant on my 6.75” wrist. It feels robust, like luxury, and it’s great to look down and see the stainless steel shimmer and the textured dial play in the light while the watch sits on my wrist. Not to mention, seeing an octagonal watch on my wrist is a change, but a much-welcomed one.

I’m a fan of wearability and aesthetics. It’s also lovely to see Citizen implementing the Miyota/Citizen 9051 Automatic movement and putting it in a more “luxurious” platform. It’s reliable, keeps good
time (+20/-10 seconds per day), and makes sense, considering it’s a tried and tested movement also used in the Promaster line.

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel /w DLC Coating 40mm Diameter 49mm Lug to Lug 10.1mm Thick /w Glass 20mm “Integrated” Lugs Screw Down Crown & Case Back 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Glass /w AR Green Woven Pattern Applied Indices Date @ 3 Dauphine Handset
Movement	9051 24 Jewels 28 800bph 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Stainless Steel H-Link Bracelet

Citizen Series8 831

Quibbles

It’s been hard to find a “quibble” with the Series8; I’ve enjoyed my time with it immensely. From the overall design to fit and finish, the watch is gorgeous and an excellent/competitive option in the sub-$2,000 space. The only thing I could find with the design, and it’s small, is the date window. While many like having the date readily available, I don’t think it was a necessary addition to the Series8. It breaks the design and takes the eye away from the dial, especially since it’s such a hard contrast on the green/black sunburst dial.

Final Thoughts

I strongly recommend checking out the Citizen Series8 831 in metal. While the product photos look fantastic on the Citizen website, they are even better in person, and the watch on the wrist is spectacular. If you’re looking for a reliable and beautifully designed sports watch, visiting your Citizen AD might be the move. As always, I thank our friends at Gem Bijou for allowing me to check out this octagonal beauty.

Pricing & Availability

The Citizen Series8 831 retails for $1095USD ($1495CAD). For more information, please visit the brand website.

If you like this, why check out our article on the Citizen Promaster Dive Watch ?

About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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