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CITIZEN collaborates with PANTONE in a new collection titled Nowstalgia “A New Spirit”
September 2023 – No one knows the power of color to evoke emotions and tell a story more than the Pantone Color Institute™, a consulting service within Pantone that forecasts global color trends and advises companies on color in brand identity and product development , and who, since 2000, have selected colors that connect with the zeitgeist and named them ”Pantone Color of the Year”. When Citizen wanted to imbue the NJ015 collection with color to herald a new era, the company had only one partner in mind – PANTONE.
The NJ015 collection revives the codes of the NH299 series, which was one of CITIZEN's bestselling lines in the late 90s and early 2000s especially in the China market.
With the aim to launch a new dial palette than can energize the community, CITIZEN is launching a new color-inspired NJ015 collection in partnership with PANTONE.
The story of the NJ015 collection
The NH299 collection, which inspired the launch of the NJ015 collection, was an important collection in CITIZEN's heritage as it marked a time when CITIZEN used stainless steel in its models, when many other affordably priced watches were made out of brass. In steel, the NH299 collection was more robust and elevated, distinguished by elegant finishing, including a hairline finishing on the upper surface of the case to contrast with mirror polishing on the bezel and centre links on the bracelet. The NH299 line became known for its luxurious design and attention to details and was popular during the late 1990s and 2000s.
The new NJ015 collection is the modernised version of the NH299, sporting a bigger case size at 40mm, a cyclops lens over the date window at 3 o'clock and luminous in the hands and indices. Many elements of what people loved about the original watch are also retained, such as a crown that sits at the 4 o'clock position so to keep with the watch's sleek and slim silhouette. Details including chamfering and fine brushing and polishing of the case and bracelet, smooth mound-shaped links on the bracelet that make the watch comfortable to wear, and a sapphire crystal glass further elevate the watch and take it to the next level. And unlike the original NH299, the new NJ015 comes resplendent in a multitude of dial colors.
The new PANTONE color palette: Nowstalgia “A New Spirit”
When the NJ015 collection first launched in 2021, it was already dressed in bold and vibrant shades of yellow, greens and blues. Today’s release, to hark back to the era that birthed the original watch, CITIZEN has partnered with PANTONE to bring a new range of dial colors reminiscent of the era when the NH299 was popular, to inspire the CITIZEN spirit of Better Starts Now.
Titled Nowstalgia “A New Spirit”, a palette of five colors ranges from bold reds and blues, to more subdued pastels and neutral tones, highlighting the complex and wide-ranging moods of the times. The colors in the palette are suggested by the color experts from the Pantone Color Institute, and uniquely named for CITIZEN. The five new NJ015 watches come with dial colors including Peaceful Green, Glowing Blue, Blazing Red, Dreamy Pink and Warm Sand, with each color representing a different facet of the era.
Peaceful Green is fresh and ultra-modern, a verdant hue that connects us to nature and evokes feelings of tranquillity and vitality. It’s a gentle olive green that’s also a daily reminder of the need to keep the health of our planet our top priority. Glowing Blue pushes the boundaries of new technology and urban styling. The electrifying, dazzling blue color is a perfectly gender-free choice that speaks to this generation’s need for self-expression. Pulsating with energy is Blazing Red, a fiery red that is impassioned and bold, a shade that will ensure vibrant positivity and attention-grabbing power and unlimited joy. Dreamy Pink, delicate and ethereal, brings the watch a new lightness and encourages us to move respectfully and gently into the future. And finally, Warm Sand, like a warming embrace, is a woodland brown that touches on our desire for cosy comfort and understated style.
Each variation of the new CITIZEN x PANTONE Color Palette Nowstalgia “A New Spirit” watches is limited worldwide to 1999 pieces each, a clear nod to the year that inspired the collection. In stainless steel, the watches are 40mm in diameter and water resistant to 5 bar. The calibre 8210 beats within the watch to give it approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The special limited edition watch also comes packaged beautifully in CITIZEN’s brand new sustainable packaging that comes with the corresponding PANTONE color accents on the box. The environmentally friendly box uses FSC-certified paper and supports the protection of our world’s forests, a mission that CITIZEN supports wholeheartedly.
 |  |  |  |  | |
| Brand | CITIZEN Mechanical NJ015 Series | ||||
| Launch | Sep 2023 | ||||
| Model | NJ0158-89L | NJ0158-89X | NJ0158-89W | NJ0158-89Y | NJ0158-89Z |
| Dial Colour | Glowing Blue | Dreamy Pink | Blazing Red | Warm Sand | Peaceful Green |
| Quantity | 1999 pcs | 1999 pcs | 1999 pcs | 1999 pcs | 1999 pcs |
| Case/Band | Stainless Steel | ||||
| Crystal | Sapphire Crystal | ||||
| Size | 40.0mm / 11.7mm (design specification only) | ||||
| Movement | Cal.8210 / Automatic / Date Display / Luminous (hands + hour makers) / Approx. 40hr Power Reserve / Water Resistant 5 BAR | ||||
CITIZEN WATCH is a true manufacture d'horlogerie with the capabilities to carry out the entire watch manufacturing process in-house, from creating a watch’s individual components to its final assembly and adjustment. The company operates in more than 140 countries and regions around the world. Since its founding in 1918, CITIZEN has held the belief of “Better Starts Now” — that is, no matter who you are and what you do, it is always possible to make something better, and now is the time to start doing it. Sharing this belief, we began making mechanical watches, invented and improved technologies and explored the future of watches such as our proprietary light-powered Eco-Drive technology.
Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, color psychology and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories. Learn more at www.pantone.com and connect with Pantone on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.”
* The final design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
* The availability, specifications, and related information, such as the product code for the models featured in this site, may vary by markets. If you would like to know more details, including the availability of these products in your area, please select your local website from our global site.