The Citizen Leopard-line is a high-beat automatic movement of the late 1960s into the early 1970s running on either 4Hz (28'800bph) or in their best configurations in 5Hz (36'000bph) -- something that Rolex uses since their high-beat cal7135 (presented in 2025) and that was an approach to highest precision with mechanical-movements and also a sign of highest quality (ie. low friction) and durability. But not only since 2025 (Rolex, the very late-adopter; maybe to make it look like they re-invented the wheel;) but since Girard Perregaux presented the first 5Hz-auto-movement, the cal32A in 1966 and so won the "Race to HiBeat" against the competition from Far East: Citizen & Seiko.

The Citizen Leopard was sold in several variants and was by far the most expensive Citizen that was for sale in 1970 but it is not only a beautiful and compact watch but also a very high quality case and movement.

So it is a beautiful and technically interesting watch and works great as a daily wearer. But the importance of this horological artefact comes from two other aspects: first, a well-thought and -constructed 5Hz-automatic movement of the highest class not made by a Swiss company but a Japanese. And second, this great movement is housed in an amazing all-Nippon-made gold-case: a great compact design and not short of most Swiss watchcases made by the best of Genevas casemakers for the holy trinity (Patek, Vacheron & Audemars) of this era.

What makes it even more interesting: it was made completely in Japan but it was not made by Seiko. Yes, in the 1950s and until the second half of the 1960s the top-dog in Japan was Citizen and not Seiko. The latter took over the lead in the late 1960s and did let it go until today when it comes to fine watchmaking.