AO Review: Citizen Promaster Dive Watch – “Brilliant for Less Benjamins”
Patrik Orcutt 08.16.23
Citizen is renowned for its high-tech watches and almost a century of expertise. Their desire for innovation has led to numerous successes in their watch history. They’re best known for the Eco-Drive function using solar-charging tech. Whether you want a feature-rich watch with lasting battery life or a simple elegant one, Citizen has what you need. So, for those reasons, we are going to take a look at my personal Citizen Promaster dive watch today!
Started in the 1930s, Citizen aimed to provide affordable watches to Japan. They gained popularity after World War II and achieved a breakthrough with the waterproof Parawater watch in 1959. This success led to their diving watch line. They pioneered quartz movements and introduced Eco-Drive in 1976, a solar-charging movement. Precision is key for Citizen; they created the world’s first multi-band atomic timekeeping watch in 1993, ensuring ultra-accurate time.
A little over a year ago I picked up the Promaster Diver for its simple yet handsome looks and reasonable price. I have taken it on a number of adventures and worn it daily. I wouldn’t say I have really abused this watch like my Casio 2018 PRG600Y-1 ProTrek Watch but it’s not really designed for a thrashing.
The Promaster Diver was purchased by myself and Citizen has not been allowed to preview this review prior to publishing.
The Citizen Promaster features a robust 44mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 12mm and a lug width of 20mm. Despite its substantial size, the watch’s lug-to-lug measurement of around 48mm ensures it suits a variety of wrists. The short, sturdy lugs with a gentle curve enhance its comfortable wear-ability. The 12mm case thickness is well-balanced for a diver watch boasting ISO-certified 200 meters of water resistance, akin to the harmonious design of a classic S-Class Mercedes.
The unidirectional bezel offers 120 precise clicks, complemented by an anodized aluminum insert and a luminescent pip at 12 o’clock. The flat mineral crystal comes with an anti-reflective coating, enhancing visibility on the sleek black dial.
Reading the dial is a breeze. The applied indices and bold, easily distinguishable hands are generously lumed in a cool blue hue. Interestingly, the bezel pip glows in green, contributing to the overall legibility. I tested this out while diving in Croatia and was impressed with the legibility of the face. The discreet date window at 4 o’clock aligns harmoniously with the screw-down crown. The placement of the crown at 4 o’clock is practical for larger watches, reducing the potential discomfort that can arise from 3 o’clock crown positions.
The caseback is secured with screw-down mechanics and features an etching of a globe and the Citizen logo. It also includes a stern reminder advising against tampering with the caseback – a clear directive for all enthusiasts. In terms of maintenance, there’s very little to concern yourself with, except for the potential replacement of the capacitor module after a decade or even longer.
And here we arrive at this watch’s weak point, the strap. The strap is a Seiko-style black polyurethane design with an accordion-like pattern and it does its job as a strap but that’s about it.
The strap is not very comfortable and feels like it will probably fall apart after a year or so of use. In my opinion Im happy that Citizen went with a cheap strap to keep the price down as most people will swap straps anyways. Personally, I went with a simple Black NATO strap from Barton Bands because its actually very cheap and looks great.
In terms of cost, the Promaster Diver perfectly fits the criteria for a budget baller choice. Its construction and materials outshine many watches in this price category, and Citizen’s quality control is impressive – bezel misalignment is a non-issue. At its list price of $350, it’s already a solid deal, but there’s no need to pay that much. Usually attainable for $200 – $250, it often goes on sale for $150 – $180. If you’re willing to wait for the right moment, you can score an amazing deal.
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In conclusion, the Promaster Diver offers incredible value and has proven to be a reliable partner even in challenging times (as demonstrated in 2020). It’s resistant to water, hand sanitizer, and practically any other challenges you might subject it to. I wholeheartedly recommend it without any reservations.
