Vintage Citizen CQ Quartz stainless steel wristwatch from June 1978

Citizen quartz wristwatch

MADE IN JAPAN

The Citizen Legacy: A Pioneer of Precision
Founded in 1918, Citizen is now one of the largest watch and movement groups in the world. The Japanese brand is known for its highly accurate and reliable Eco-Drive solar-powered watches. The Citizen group owns Bulova, Alpina, Frederique Constant, and Arnold & Son, as well as movement manufacturers Miyota and La Joux-Perret.

🕰️ Citizen CQ Series – overview

The Citizen CQ line was introduced during the height of the “Quartz Crisis” and subsequent quartz boom. It served as Citizen’s versatile, everyday collection designed to bring highly accurate, low-maintenance Japanese quartz technology to a global market.

Key Characteristics of the Line

• Design Diversity: The CQ series was incredibly broad, spanning from dressier, ultra-thin gold-plated models to sporty, robust steel watches such as this one, reference 4-710487 TA.

• The “CQ” Monogram: CQ stands simply for Citizen Quartz. The stylised monogram was printed on Citizen quartz dials through the 1970s; on this one it sits just above the WATER RESIST 10atm line, with no date window anywhere on the dial.

• Case Architecture: Watches in this series often showcased the signature design language of the era—sharp, angular case geometries, hidden or semi-integrated lugs, and flat bezels that emphasized a futuristic, industrial aesthetic.

• Everyday Reliability: The line focused on durability, frequently utilizing solid stainless steel cases, screw-down casebacks (bearing the GN-4W-S or similar Citizen case codes), and plain unadjusted quartz calibers — the movement in this one is stamped 7130B, UNADJUSTED TWO JEWELS — that needed nothing more than a battery change every few years.

Essentially, the CQ line represents the era when quartz transitioned from an expensive, novel luxury into the gold standard of reliable, stylish, daily timekeeping.

Description

This Citizen CQ was made in June 1978, by which point Citizen quartz had moved from expensive novelty to ordinary everyday product. It pairs an integrated-style stainless steel case with a flat matte black dial, applied lume-filled baton markers, and a brick-link steel bracelet on a signed Citizen clasp.

The dial carries nothing beyond the brand, the CQ monogram and the water-resistance line — no date, no text at six — which is what gives it its stripped-back look, and the cream lume batons read clearly against the black. The 10atm marking is the factory rating for the case. Inside is a two-jewel 7130B quartz movement, which asks for nothing but a battery every few years.

The case and bracelet show light surface marks from wear; the dial, hands and lume are clean and even.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Citizen Watch Co.

• Reference Number: 4-710487 TA

• Serial Number: 8061084 (Manufactured June 1978)

• Movement Type: Quartz

• Movement Caliber: Citizen 7130B, two jewels, unadjusted (Japan)

• Case Material: All Stainless Steel

• Dial: Matte Black with Luminous Baton Markers and Hands

• Water Resistance Rating: 10 atm / 100 Meters (Factory rating; vintage depth resistance not modernly tested)

• Caseback: Screw-down, stamped with model codes and serial number

• Case Code: GN-4W-S

• Country of Manufacture: Japan

This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.

Comes complete with original steel bracelet*.

(*)Note: Stock bracelets are often shortened by previous owners and may not fit you(see bracelet size in the product images). We match the strap to this watch’s lug width, so there is nothing for you to measure — just pick a padded leather strap for Citizen from the options at the top of the page.

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We guarantee the item you receive looks and works exactly as advertised — or your money back.

The Spirit of Innovation: The Citizen Legacy
Founded in 1918 with the mission of creating timepieces that are “Citizens” of the world, the Citizen Watch Company has spent over a century redefining the boundaries of horology. From its origins as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute, the brand has remained steadfast in its philosophy: “Better Starts Now.” This belief—that it is always possible to make something better—transformed a local Japanese workshop into a global powerhouse of precision and craft. By controlling the entire manufacturing process in-house, from the individual components to the final assembly, Citizen ensures an uncompromising standard of quality that few manufacturers on earth can match.
What truly sets Citizen apart is its relentless pursuit of pioneering technology paired with environmental consciousness. The brand made history by introducing the world’s first light-powered watch, the Eco-Drive, which eliminated the need for battery replacements and forever changed the industry’s approach to sustainability. Beyond its eco-friendly milestones, Citizen’s history is decorated with “world firsts,” including the first professional diving watch with an electronic depth sensor and the most accurate satellite-synchronized timekeeping systems. When you wear a Citizen, you aren’t just wearing a watch; you are wearing a piece of history engineered for the future.
Why Choose Citizen?

• In-House Manufacturing: Citizen designs and builds its own movements — its Miyota calibers are among the most widely used in the world.
• Built to Last: Citizen engineered its 1960s–70s calibers to be serviced rather than discarded, which is why so many are still keeping good time today.
• Heritage of Firsts: The first light-powered analogue watch (1976, the technology that became Eco-Drive), the first dive watch with an electronic depth sensor, and satellite-synchronised timekeeping.