Fans of the Marvel Universe (and yes, those of you who are not, there is such a thing) might be tempted to put aside their Apple Watch or other e-device after hearing that a stalwart in the conventional timepiece industry—Citizen Watch—is now collaborating with Marvel.
The company, which calls itself a pioneer in watchmaking (it’s been in business since 1918), participated for the first time at New York Comic Con, where it introduced its new line, inspired by some of Marvel’s most popular Avengers: Black Panther, Spider-Man, Captain America, and the Hulk.
Jeffrey Cohen, president of Citizen Watch America, said he expects “all enthusiasts and fans alike will find a watch they can relate to and wear in support of their favorite character or for the unique design elements.”
Citizen kicked off the show by unveiling two Black Panther timepieces, both including a Wakandan-inspired tribal pattern on the dials and sharp, silver indexes and hands. The design is said to be reminiscent of the pendants on T’Challia’s necklace.
For its part, Marvel, represented by Dan Cruz, vice president, Digital Media & Integrated Sponsorships, said giving fans “a piece of the Marvel Universe” is something the Disney-owned entertainment brand has wholeheartedly embraced. Cruz said the sponsorship of the Citizen Lounge as part of Marvel’s booth at the New York Comic Con event “is the perfect fit for these Marvel-inspired timepieces, reflecting the incredible characters and stories fans have followed for decades.”
The watchmaker appears to be taking a deep dive into the rich comic history of all Marvel Super Heroes with the introduction of a watch that features panel artwork on the dial with vintage comics in a navy hue.
One other Avengers timepiece is specifically inspired by the unity of the heroes, which of course are strongest when they work as a team. The watch features the iconic “A” logo in the center of the dial in a gold hue, although the timepiece is predominantly black with red and gold accents, evocative of the character costumes. Both case backs are, of course, finished with the signature Marvel logo.
Citizen has also created two Spider-Man centric timepieces that feature red and blue colors. There is a chronograph version with stainless steel and bracelet (and Spider-Man’s logo inside one of the chronograph sub-dials). A second version features a black rubber strap with the logo at the 12 o’clock position and a white web spread across the dial.
For Captain America, Citizen has introduced a timepiece with the super hero’s symbolic shield and “A” insignia. There’s also camouflage detailing on the strap (a nod to his history as a soldier in World War II) and a 24-hour military time track on the inner zone of the dial.
For the Hulk, the timepiece has the famous Hulk “smash” element and a dial that features oversized Arabic numerals highlighted in green, as well as a heavy Buffalo grain strap that reflects the superhero’s larger-than-life character.
Prices for all the watches range from $275 to $625.
