How long does a citizen watch capacitor last?

I love the solar powered Eco-Drive watches, but I'm curious if somebody has had one long enough that the battery died or lost a significant amount of its charge capacity. If so, how was the process for replacing it?

I love the solar powered Eco-Drive watches, but I'm curious if somebody has had one long enough that the battery died or lost a significant amount of its charge capacity. If so, how was the process for replacing it?

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40 years

According to Citizen Europe, laboratory tests showed that after 20 years the secondary battery retains a power storage capacity of 80% of its initial capacity. Newer Citizen claims state the rechargeable/secondary batteries will last up to 40 years and that it is highly unusual for these batteries to fail.

Eco-Drive - Wikipedia

I wore one for 10 years ago for 4 years where the tech was likely worse. Worked like a charm and never had to worry about charge. Never tested the capacity loss over that time, but keep in mind it's much less of an issue for eco-drive if you wore it every day since it charged quickly.

I have some 20 Eco Drives the older one being about 20 y.o. and none of them shows any sign of battery failure. They are kept fully charged at all times.

I changed the rechargeable cell on a Seiko solar and it was an easy operation. The cell can be found on the bay for about $15-20

If you keep them well charged there is no reason why you shouldn’t get 15 or 20 years out of one.

I am having the capacitor changed in my PMU56-2373. I think it is 18 years old based on the case markings. I had thrown in into a drawer and didn't wear it for the last 2 years.

It is a monoblock case so they need to go through the crystal. I sent it off to Hurley Roberts as they were the only place I could find that had the replacement gaskets. They said I should get another 20 years at least out of it as long as I keep it exposed to light / don't throw it into a drawer again!

From what I understand, it is a fairly simple battery change. The issue, as I understand it, is some models, like the Aqualand, had 2 batteries, and were a little more delicate to deal with changing batteries.

I thought citizen themselves say 20-30 years, so you should be good for a while

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I own several Eco-Drive watches. The ones which have never been left in a dark place have run flawlessly. I bought one 14 years ago and I left it in a drawer and forgot about it. After a year it had stopped so i put it on on a Window Sill and it came back to life. But it has never been able to hold the charge as long as it did previously

This information was on the citizen website but they removed it some years ago. Maybe they don't claim this anymore or they started making cheaper batteries or capacitors?

By the way this topic has been discussed at least few times before.

This information was on the citizen website but they removed it some years ago. Maybe they don't claim this anymore or they started making cheaper batteries or capacitors?

By the way this topic has been discussed at least few times before.

I would say the oposite. On the eco-drive ONE it´s stated to never need a battery/capacitor change. I was told by Citizen AD that the capacitor would loose the ability by 1% a year, but since the lates generation actually primarily runs on light (and not the capacitor) the lifespan is well over 100 years. But you must not drain the capacitor completely (more that 6 months in total darkness).

Maybe they don't claim this anymore or they started making cheaper batteries or capacitors?

I would dare to say that as with any technology... they found ways to produce them more effectively thus with less cost; but not of a lesser quality.

There is all kinds of legal reasons why would they remove it.... as there are a lot of very idiotic people that will find ways to make them fail.. like those that live them off any light for a long period of time.

I would say the oposite. On the eco-drive ONE it´s stated to never need a battery/capacitor change. I was told by Citizen AD that the capacitor would loose the ability by 1% a year, but since the lates generation actually primarily runs on light (and not the capacitor) the lifespan is well over 100 years. But you must not drain the capacitor completely (more that 6 months in total darkness).

I'm sceptical about 100 years but even if it is true then the watch has other parts too. The lifespan of the solar cell is certainly not infinity (I read somewhere that their average lifespan is about 25-30 years). In most Eco Drives gears are made from plastic, those will also deteriorate and will not last 100 years. I recently had a discussion with a watchmaker and he said that plastic gears can last quite long IF there is no dirt on them, but in the long run, sooner or later dirt will get into the watch (and a tiny-tiny amount is enough to wear the gears)

I'm sceptical about 100 years but even if it is true then the watch has other parts too. The lifespan of the solar cell is certainly not infinity (I read somewhere that their average lifespan is about 25-30 years). In most Eco Drives gears are made from plastic, those will also deteriorate and will not last 100 years. I recently had a discussion with a watchmaker and he said that plastic gears can last quite long IF there is no dirt on them, but in the long run, sooner or later dirt will get into the watch (and a tiny-tiny amount is enough to wear the gears)

If you have som facts regarding lifespan of eco-drive solar batteries as is the question here, feel free to share . But to quote me just to tell me you are sceptical about plastic gears and dirt?

My Dad has had his for close to 13 years now. With good maintenance, it should last for a long while.

I had a Promaster AP0430-51L c 1998. (Its dial said "Eco drive"; on watches of that time I had also seen "Solar-Tech" mentioned.) It's battery lasted without any visible abnormality at least until 2019[0] when I last had it. I wore it regularly on most days until c 2009 or so when I stopped wearing a watch as often. While not being worn, watch was being exposed to 15-40 W household lighting while lying on a table.

0- In 2019 I had sent the watch to Citizen USA for battery & gasket change as a precaution, not due to any issues. It is another point that Citizen could not service it for being too old.?‍♂ I, obviously, had not confirmed with Citizen if it could even service the watch before sending.

It all depends on how often you look at them !

Best practice is to keep the watch relatively charged, not fully drained. In that case, 20 years is no problem.

I’ve changed batteries on I think two eco-drive watches I got used, and it was fairly straightforward. You have to align a small tab when you insert the battery, but other than that, nothing special.

My Skyhawk is 15 years old and still running strong. Don't you expect to change a watch in 15 years?

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I'll chime in here as I find this topic interesting. I only have one Citizen watch in my collection, and its an older Corso that my wife gifted me back in 2012 I think? In that time it has run flawlessly gaining about +5 seconds/month and never ever stopped running. I take it out once in awhile to get a good dose of sun at least once or twice a month - the rest of the time it gets ambient light from the watchbox in my bedroom. I've been very impressed out of this $42.00 E111 movement!

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I have a Pulsar solar that I bought around 2003 and I bought my wife a Citizen solar about 10 years ago and they both are still going strong. Solar panels will drop to ~80% of their original capacity in 25-30 years but still will produce power for many years after that. I installed 3kw of grid tied solar myself in 2006 and they are still producing a good amount of power. If I remember correctly, they lose about 1% per year.