Every year on November 1st and 2nd, Mexico celebrates Día de los Muertos - the Day of the Dead.
During these days, Mexicans welcome the return of the spirits of deceased loved ones. This tradition is based on the understanding of death as part of life, which is celebrated with a bright and colorful festival. In honor of Día de los Muertos, IFL Watches has created two special versions of the Citizen Tsuyosa watches. The special Calavera collection reflects two picturesque sides of the festival through artistically painted dials. Let's explore the details further.
Cultural Significance of Día de los Muertos and Its Reflection in Watch Design
When discussing Día de los Muertos, the scene from the James Bond film "Spectre" (2015) comes to mind, where Daniel Craig's character chases a villain through a parade in the streets of Mexico City on this very day. The parade creates a striking backdrop for an action-packed scene, yet it does not reveal the depth of the cultural significance of the festival. In Mexico, people annually honor deceased loved ones by organizing a grand colorful festival. The deceased are remembered through ofrendas - altars adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, music, and abundant food.
Features of the IFLW Citizen Tsuyosa Calavera Collection
One of the most recognizable symbols of Día de los Muertos is the decorated calavera - the sugar skull. This bright, smiling skull inspired the creation of two exclusive hand-painted dials for the Citizen Tsuyosa models.
Calavera Nocturna: Bright and Rich Design
The first model, Calavera Nocturna, is based on the 40mm Citizen Tsuyosa with a black dial. On the dark background, an elegant sugar skull is depicted in a red and green sombrero. Surrounding it are colorful maracas, bones, butterflies, ornamental swirls, and flowers, creating a lively and expressive dial.
The case of this version is made of stainless steel with a diameter of 40mm, a thickness of 11.7mm, and a lug-to-lug length of 45mm. The black dial features applied markers with luminescent coating and a date window at the 3 o'clock position. Despite the richness of the ornament, the white lume and clear date window ensure time readability. To maintain the artistic integrity, the date magnifier was removed from the sapphire crystal. The watch comes with a President-style bracelet, ensuring comfort when worn.
Calavera Turquesa: Subdued and Airy Version
The second model, Calavera Turquesa, is based on a smaller Tsuyosa variant with an icy blue dial, measuring 37mm in diameter. The case thickness is 11.5mm, with a lug-to-lug length of 41.9mm. A different creative approach was chosen for this dial: the upper part retains the original icy blue background, creating an airy, sky-like atmosphere. The lower half is adorned with an image of a bone skull entwined with a purple snake, set against a backdrop of hand-painted flowers in pink, blue, orange, and coral hues. This contrast gives the dial expressiveness and harmony.
Calavera Turquesa retains minute markers, applied luminescent indices, and a date magnifier, creating a more calm and restrained image. Although both dials share a common theme, they demonstrate different artistic interpretations: the first model is bright and expressive, the second is light and unobtrusive. All 200 dials of each model are hand-painted, making each piece unique.
Technical Specifications and Watch Mechanics
Both models are equipped with the automatic caliber Citizen 8210, operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, with 21 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve. The movements are visible through the sapphire case back made of stainless steel, emphasizing the quality and reliability of the craftsmanship.
Conclusion: Citizen Tsuyosa Calavera Collection by IFL Watches
Overall, the idea of creating colorful dials inspired by Día de los Muertos has been successfully realized. The result is two bright and lively models with different visual styles and case sizes, allowing for watches tailored to various preferences. If the 40mm version seems too large, the 37mm variant is a great choice.
IFLW will release 200 pieces of each model, available from March 2, 2026, on the brand's official website for €890 / US$890 / £790. Considering their uniqueness and limited edition, it can be assumed that these watches will quickly find their buyers.