The company was established in 1930. The founding fathers selected the name Citizen so it would be “Close to the Hearts of People Everywhere†and soon after adopted the company’s formal name, Citizen Watch Company. A revolutionary concept – Eco Drive harnesses the power of light from any natural or artificial source and converts it into electrical energy, which is stored in a rechargeable cell. It charges from any kind of light to keep the watch running without the need to replace the battery.