Citizen was definitely throwing caution to the wind. In 1972, they proudly released the superb 8110, the brand’s impressive automatic chronograph caliber. To give the timing of this development some perspective, three short years later the Valjoux 7750—the world’s most ubiquitous chronograph movement today—was ordered to be destroyed by management as a result of the challenges brought forth by quartz’s encroaching dominance.
But the watch that I’ll be looking at today—the Citizen “Bullhead” Challenge Timer, ref. 67-9356—was not as exotic as the examples shown above. Rather, it was a sober reverse-panda dial configuration, with white sub-dials on an otherwise plain black background in an all stainless steel case (there was also a second variant in an all-stainless steel case that was a proper panda). It was of the very popular “bullhead” or “Mickey Mouse” configuration where the movement is rotated 90-degrees counter-clockwise, resulting in the pushers and crown resting at the top of the case.
The hour markers are applied and there is a lower step where the lume dot is found. This is an important feature to note when trying to avoid aftermarket dials, which lack this quality. The designation “P-JAPAN-P8110” signifies the usage of a radioactive material. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), the lume on my Citizen is no longer strong enough for any practical use.
What caught my eye about this particular Citizen bullhead was the smaller size and unusual octagonal case, standing apart from the more typical round cases of Seiko’s counterparts and base metal Citizen bullhead models. But while it was smaller than Seiko’s bullheads, it certainly had its heft. I swapped out the folded-links bracelet for a leather strap to better balance the head-heavy watch, while the leather strap allows me to comfortably wear the watch and make minute adjustments throughout the day.
It is not obvious from my photos because my example has lost much of its original finish over the years, but I have seen the correct finish from other collectors who have better preserved samples. The front of the case alone comes with 21 different surfaces, angled at different degrees and with contrasting polished and brushed finishing. The bezel and the case sides are polished, while the front of the octagonal case is brushed from top to bottom. The flat top of the case where the pushers sit is horizontally brushed. What I would give to have a mint sample in hand to savor the intricate case design!
Turning to the dial, the Challenger Timer features a dual-register design with the day/date at six and a tachymeter along the outer edge. The sub-dial at three is a 30-minute counter, and the one at nine is a 12-hour counter. The sub-dials feature concentric circles and the tapering needle hands are painted black along the length and left exposed at the pinion. At six is what I would call a faux sub-dial. It contains the day and date, not unlike the way Seiko bullheads feature these two complications.
The handset is a pair of simple, straight hands with pointed tips, with the middle sections hollowed out to make room for the luminous paint. The chronograph hand is painted white all the way down and narrows to a pointed tip.
And there it is, one of my favorite vintage Japanese chronographs, not from Seiko, but from its close competitor Citizen. Seiko might be a fan favorite of many collectors and readers of OTZ, but I would give this round to Citizen with their superb vintage 8110 caliber and the sheer variety of watches that are powered by it, especially the one we looked at today, needless to say I am giving away this watch to the highest bidder call me on 8870071550 for inqueries on this number.
