Time Travel in 2026: Citizen Brings Back Its Weirdest, Most Wonderful ‘Ana-Digi Temp’ Watch

Citizen Record Label Playground Edition: JG2170-59Y (left) and JG2120-73L (right)

There was a time when cramming as much tech as possible into a wristwatch felt like the future. Long before the smartwatch buzzed on our wrists with notifications, the ultimate flex was a battery-powered chaos of analog hands and digital readouts crammed into a stainless steel case.

In the early ’80s, Citizen’s Ana-Digi Temp did exactly that, pairing traditional hands with LCD screens, alarms, and a thermometer that looked like it belonged on a dashboard rather than a dress watch. It was quirky, excessive, and utterly cool.

In 2026, Citizen is bringing its cult favorite watch back with two new limited edition models under its Record Label Playground Edition line, and they’re just as joyfully weird as the originals.

A Cockpit for Your Wrist

The reissue models don’t mess with the formula that made the original a collector's favorite. You still get that unmistakable aircraft cockpit instrument-style layout featuring multiple analog sub-dials, crisp digital displays, and the iconic Thermo Sensor that allows you to check the ambient temperature just by glancing at your wrist.

What’s new is the color—and it is loud.

The JG2170-59Y is the most attention-grabbing of the two. It features a striking bright yellow dial with round sub-dials that pop against the steel case. The temperature sensor and "Ana-Digi Temp" branding are prominently placed beneath the display, ensuring everyone knows you’re wearing a piece of horological history.

Then there is the JG2120-73L, which opts for a cooler aqua blue dial. This variant offers square sub-dials housed inside a slightly larger 33.4mm case. It skips the vintage logo on the front and integrates the temperature sensor more seamlessly into the dial layout. Unlike the yellow model, it sports a separate bezel—which is why it’s slightly thicker at 9.7mm compared to the other’s slim 8mm profile—and features decorative holes in its stainless steel band.

If you want to see the vibrant dials up close before the release, you can check out the official product pages for the yellow model here or the blue model here.

The Glow-Up

Both models feature a specialized luminous dial that steals the show. Once charged by ambient light, the vibrant, pop-color faces emit a soft, continuous glow in the dark. It’s a playful twist that feels straight out of a ‘90s gadget catalog—functional, yet whimsical.

On the inside, you aren't getting a complicated mechanical movement, but rather the reliable quartz Caliber 8989. It boasts a two-year battery life and powers a suite of timekeeping features that would make any tech enthusiast smile: a dual time display, a 1/1000-second chronograph, daily alarms, a perpetual calendar, and that famously quirky temperature sensor.

Limited Availability

As with the best cult revivals, these won’t be on every shelf. Limited to just 500 units each, the Citizen Record Label Playground Edition will be sold exclusively in Japan.

The yellow model will set you back ¥36,300 (~$232) while the blue model costs ¥40,700 (~$261). Both watches will be up for grabs starting March 12 from Citizen’s online store and official retail channels.

For those who miss the era of electro-digital excess or simply want a conversation starter that isn't a touchscreen, this is the drop to watch.