IFL Watches Introduces The Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish Limited Edition

We are used to seeing several recurring watch models used for IFL Watches’ colorful dial creations. These include the Tissot PRX, Citizen Tsuyosa, G-Shock “CasiOak,” Oris Diver’s Sixty-Five, and more. For today’s release, however, IFLW has chosen the Citizen Zenshin for the first time as the lightweight canvas for a special hand-painted dial. The new Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish is a limited edition of 300 pieces. This colorful creation draws inspiration from traditional Japanese koi ponds, spaces that symbolize harmony, perseverance, and good fortune. The result is a watch that draws you in and takes your mind to quieter places during the hustle and bustle of daily life.

If you take a step back and look at the concept behind the new Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish, you will find that it is a celebration of Japanese culture. But it’s more than a tribute to the traditional Japanese koi ponds. The base for this new limited edition is one of Citizen’s latest models, the lightweight Zenshin Automatic Small Seconds. It serves as the modern, angular canvas for this new creation and represents contemporary Japanese culture. As a result, the Koi Fish LE bridges tradition and modernity.

The story of the Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish Limited Edition

Let’s kick things off with the watch itself. I reviewed the Citizen Zenshin Automatic Small Seconds models last year and was super impressed by what they had to offer. First, the watch is made of the brand’s lightweight Super Titanium, which makes it super easy to wear. Second, the dimensions and proportions are perfect, adding to its great comfort. Lastly, with the white- and turquoise-dial versions, the brand made two crisp, handsome versions that are great daily wearers.

Now, let’s look at some specs and details. The Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish has a 40.5mm by 46mm Super Titanium case with an 11mm profile. The case is matched with a Super Titanium integrated bracelet with a folding clasp and push-button release. Both the case and the bracelet feature a Duratect TIC coating for improved scratch resistance.

The Citizen 8213 movement

Citizen equips the watches with the in-house caliber 8213. This automatic movement with manual winding operates at 21,600vph frequency and offers a 40-hour power reserve. The caliber is visible thanks to the sapphire window in the case back. While the 8213 is not necessarily a visually attractive movement, it does offer that view of the watch’s inner workings that is so magical to those newly fascinated with mechanical timekeeping.

But the story of the new Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish is mostly about the dial, of course. The standard versions of the watch each feature a textured dial with a sub-seconds register between 4 and 5 o’clock. Additionally, the stock colors are white, turquoise, green, and blue. As the creatives at IFL Watches made the backdrop for the koi pond black, it is hard to determine which of the dial colors they used. Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter because it’s all about the new creation.

The special hand-painted Koi Fish dial

As you can see, the base color is black, representing the dark water of the pond. Swimming in the pond are three koi fish, nicely executed in their characteristic combination of orange, black, and white. The top-left koi fish swims underneath the rippling water as a result of a water drop landing on the surface. Furthermore, the fish are accompanied by bright green lily pads. One of them fills the sub-dial for the small seconds, which is a smart and creative solution.

A small frog sits on the left lily pad, while the one at the bottom of the dial features a vibrant pink flower. Finally, you will see some air bubbles on the right side of the dial and some deeper-lying rocks with greens at the top. Overall, the hand-painted image appears nice and peaceful, inviting the wearer of the watch to enjoy its tranquility. But there is another trick that makes this dial even better. Each element is manually painted with attention to detail using UV-reactive paints. This creates a wonderful effect under ultraviolet light, particularly on select aquatic elements. That’s when the dial’s hidden details reveal themselves, transforming its presence.

Final thoughts on the IFL Watches Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish

The use of UV-reactive paints brings an added layer of discovery that mirrors the mystical quality of moonlit Japanese gardens. It’s an interactive dimension that reveals hidden depths, just as contemplation and patient observation of a real koi pond reveal new perspectives. This fun and creative solution is a surprise element that I adore and that will make wearing the IFLW Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish a proper experience. I’m sure once you have one, you will be tempted to experience the full adventure under UV light.

The team at IFL Watches has created 300 pieces of this new titanium Citizen Zenshin Titanium Koi Fish. All of them will go on sale today, September 1st, 2025, at 16:00 CEST for US$990. Seeing how fun and intricate the dials of this new limited edition are, I do not doubt that the new Koi Fish LE will sell fast. If you are interested, head over to the official IFL Watches website for more info and to buy one once the sale starts later today.

This is a partnership post. Read about our transparency here.