Side by side

Citizen Series 8 890vsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Series 8 890
CitizenSeries 8 890
MSRP $1,395
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Series 8 89042.6mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
Series 8 89042h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
Series 8 890200m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
Series 8 890$1,395
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
42.6mm
38mm
Thickness
12mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
38mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
200m
50m

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Underside
Inner
Dial Color
Grey
Black

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
9051
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
42h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,395
$888

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Citizen Series 8 890

The Citizen Series 8 890 is praised for its robust build, 200 meters of water resistance without a screw-down crown, and excellent case finishing for its price. Reviewers note the smooth action of its internal bezel, though one suggests the knurling could be more pronounced for better grip. It utilizes the caliber 9051 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve, which often performs better than Citizen's stated -10/+20 seconds per day. The watch's design is noted as borrowing from popular luxury sports watches, and its lug-to-lug measurement can make it wear large. Overall, reviewers find the Citizen Series 8 890 a compelling and robust sports watch, particularly for its finishing and water resistance capabilities.

From video reviewers

Advanced finishing techniques on the 42.6mm octagonal silver-tone stainless steel case showcase durability and elegance. The watch's textured blue dial may not appeal to everyone's taste. Reviewers disagree on whether the Citizen Series 8 890's movement (Caliber 9051) is a strong point due to differing comparisons (Grand Seiko vs. AP Royal Oak).

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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