Citizen vs Seiko:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Seiko had more branded searches than Citizen among watch brands in the United States. Seiko had about 368,000 branded searches, while Citizen had 201,000. Seiko made up 9.6% of all watch brand searches we track, and Citizen accounted for 5.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about watch brands, Citizen and Seiko each appeared in three of the five answers. Seiko was mentioned before Citizen in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Seiko, about 83% more searches than Citizen
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Seiko, named ahead of Citizen in 2 of 3 answers
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Top watch brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Citizen and Seiko were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Seiko was listed before Citizen in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Rolex4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Tissot4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Casio3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Seiko3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Citizen3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Cartier2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Omega2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
TAG Heuer2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hamilton2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Tudor2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about watch brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which watch brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best watch brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best watch for men under $500?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“watches”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mens watches”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Citizen or Seiko more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Citizen and Seiko by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 watch brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Seiko, Citizen. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Rolex | Casio | Seiko | Cartier | Citizen | Omega | Invicta | TAG Heuer | Hamilton | Tissot | Tudor | Bulova | Fossil | Timex | Breitling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 23.7% | 18.8% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 20.3% | 22.7% | 9.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 5% | 3.3% | 5% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.8% | 24.6% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 4.9% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 4% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.6% | 25.6% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5% | 5% | 3.4% | 5% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 19.8% | 24.6% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4% | 4.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 22.2% | 23.5% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 21.9% | 20% | 8% | 8% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| May 2026 | 21.2% | 19.4% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 17.8% | 18.4% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2% |
| Jul 2026 | 19% | 18.4% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 6.9% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 20.9% | 20.2% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 21.5% | 20.8% | 9.6% | 7.9% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
How has the Citizen and Seiko comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Seiko was ahead of Citizen in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Citizen’s share of searches among watch brands in the United States moved from 5.8% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Seiko’s share of searches among watch brands in the United States moved from 8.7% to 9.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 301K to 368K.
How did search popularity change for United States watch brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Citizen lost share of searches among watch brands in the United States, from 6.2% to 5.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Seiko in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 368K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Citizen’s and Seiko’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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