Citizen - Chronomaster
The Chrono Master is a 'high-end' watch that first appeared in Citizen's line-up in 1967. Although it was not the first of Citizen's watches to include chronometer grade movements, since it was preceded by the Chronometer (1962), it featured a range of models in both hand-wind and automatic forms, and has probably become Citizen's most recognised high grade vintage watch. Although there are other high end lines by Citizen, the Chrono Master is probably the best known. This two part article summarises the history and development of the Chrono Master, with examples and other material shown for reference. Part 1, on the hand-winding models can be found in the appropriate section of this database.
Part 2
The Automatic Chrono Master, 1967: Citizen launched all bar one of their automatic versions of the Chrono Master in 1967, the same year as their first hand-winding model. The movement is essentially the same for each version, in either 33 or 35 jewel form, but with some extra adjustment on the higher jeweled versions to justify 'special', 'chronometer' and 'superior chronometer' grades. The movements were also differentiated on the dial side by being either date only, or day and date models.
The movements are part of Citizen's 52xx/54xx family, which can be found in a range of their other models, for example the well known Crystal Seven and the Seven Star lines, and the lesser known Crystal Date, Cutlass and Dandy Seven models. The 52xx line features both day and date windows, the 54xx line is date only. The Chrono Master movements are the 5240 / 5250 and the 5440 / 5450 calibers and following family tree illustrates where they slot into the lineage:
The numbering methodology for the movements is linked to jeweling and degree of adjustment (and consequently reflected in the dial marking) as follows: 5240 & 5440, with 33j - Chrono Master & Chrono Master Chronometer
5250 & 5450, with 35j - Chrono Master Special & Chrono Master Superior Chronometer
The pricing structure (see below) also follows the degree of adjustment and therefore accuracy achieved at the factory. I have not been able to find any accuracy certification specifically for the Chrono Master, but I have included an example for Citizen's 1962 'Chronometer' in Part 1 of this article for reference.
The following table summarises the 52xx/54xx movement family by jewel count – interestingly, the 35 jewel Chrono Master is not the highest jeweled movement – that fell to the 43 jewel Crystal Seven (5204) produced in 1965:
The movements both run at 18,000 beats per hour, and measure 28.00mm across, and are 3.98mm deep (date only) or 4.38mm (day and date). They have a micro-adjuster on the balance to assist fine tuning. Here is a schematic of a 33 jewel movement, with the Chrono Master balance, with micro-adjuster shown at bottom left:
Like its hand-winding namesake, the automatic Chrono Master features a medallion on the case back. So far I don't recall seeing a gold cased version, only stainless steel, and no gold version is listed in my reference material. The Superior versions have a gold 'eagle' logo on the dial (see catalog photo below):
5240 Chrono Master:
5250 Special: 
5440 Chronometer:
Original Prices (1967) – in Japanese Yen:
5440, 33j Chrono Master (date) ..........................................25,000
5240, 33j Chrono Master (day/date).....................................28,000
5450, 35j Chrono Master Special (date) ................................35,000
5250, 35j Chrono Master Special (day/date) ..........................38,000
5440, 33j Chrono Master Chronometer (date) ........................26,000
5250, 33j Chrono Master Chronometer (day/date)...................29,000
5450, 35j Chrono Master Superior Chronometer (date) ...........36,000
5250, 35j Chrono Master Superior Chronometer (day/date) .....39,000
(
http://seikoholics.yuku.com/sreply/448/Citizen-Chronomaster#.VNXqi_msXmd)
