STYLISH, EMINENTLY USEFUL, BUT WEIGHTY

This outstanding everyday timepiece is a restyled version of Citizen's earlier AT4008/4010 models (identical E650 internal engine). At first glance, the biggest difference is that the tachymeter markings have been moved to under the crystal with gorgeous red accents. This model looks much sleeker than most other watches that have tachymeter markings debossed and painted on a plastic bezel. Speaking of bezels, I absolutely love the color contrast between the deep gunmetal bezel and the stainless strap/case. According to an email from Citizen USA customer service, the bezel coloration is ion-plated (and forum posts I've read say that Citizen is good at applying it), so I'm optimistic that it won't flake or wear off with use. The crystal sits slightly above the bezel, which makes it susceptible to marring and scratches. However, Citizen's choice of sapphire crystal eases my mind regarding long-term durability. Citizen somehow struck a fantastic balance of cramming features into the watch while still making the time quickly legible at-a-glance. The hands and hour markings are generously coated with photo luminous paint, which glow brightly after exposure to sunlight. However, I wish Citizen had used a more matte finish on the hour/minute hands themselves and the background of the mode indicator and 24-hour markings. The highly reflective material makes the hands appear flimsy and cheapens the overall look of the watch. I also wish Citizen had painted the "SUN" day-of-week marker in white (for visibility's sake) and the second hand in red (for a little extra visual pop), but that's far from a deal breaker. The bracelet is solidly built overall (very little jangle), the clasp feels very secure, and the flush-fit release buttons look great and are easy to operate, but won't come undone accidentally. The PST, MST, CST, EST time zones + London + user-customizable time zone setup is ideally suited for people living/traveling in the Americas and Western Europe, but the configuration works well enough for world travel. The alarm is loud enough as a daily reminder, but don't expect it to wake you up (unless you are a super light sleeper). Finally, the chronograph only measures elapsed time to within one second and maxes out at 1 hour, so look elsewhere if you need something more precise. Most analog multifunction watches I've handled require both toddler-sized fingers and the dexterity of a trained chimpanzee, but the features are surprisingly easy to access (after reading the manual a few times). The only major critique I have of this timepiece is its weight. Including the bracelet, this watch weighs 5.7 ounces. If you are sensitive to strapping over a quarter-pound of steel to your wrist, you might want to look elsewhere. The case diameter is large (43mm) but not garish. Unless you have twig arms, it'll look great on you. Overall, this is an outstanding watch for the refined gent who enjoys gadgets but disdains the "smartwatch" craze. Despite owning several other timepieces, the Citizen PCAT is on my wrist more often than any other. If you like it, buy this watch with confidence.