A Deep Dive With the Citizen Promaster Diver

What makes a Citizen Promaster Diver so impressive for its price point? Let’s take a plunge and find out.

Picture this: a watch that survived six years out at sea washes up covered in barnacles and other marine matter. Yep — it was a Citizen watch! These watches were the toughest of the lot and are still enjoying great success today. If you’re considering purchasing a diver, add the Citizen Promaster Diver to your list. 

After all, Citizen watches are watches for citizens — ordinary, everyday people like you and me. That was the intention when Citizen acquired its name in 1924, anyway. Citizen wanted to produce watches for the people. Since then, the company has been at the helm of affordable, durable watches for everyday wear. One of those is the Promaster, which we will dive into today. 

A Brand of Many Firsts

Even collectors with a lot of money to throw at their hobby may have a cheeky Citizen hiding in the drawer. I couldn’t blame them for it either. These watches are affordable and reliable above all else. Think about it. If you own a 30k watch, why risk dinging it up doing yard work when a Citizen does the job?  

The brand has also seen some firsts. If you fancy sharpening your knowledge of its innovations, you might want to look at Citizen’s history.  One example of its many innovations is the Parashock technology. Watches equipped with Parashock support prove their immortality, having survived 30-meter drops to the ground from a helicopter.  

This technology undoubtedly formed the foundations for Citizen’s modern shock counteraction function. Even if you subject one of these watches to knocks and bumps, you won’t see the secondhand skip or falter. It’s one reason why watches from Citizen are so damage-proof.  

Then there’s the brand’s Parawater technology, which arrived in 1959. Citizen mastered this water-resistant technology. These O-ring gaskets seal the glass, case back, crown, and main case joints of a watch. 

The Citizen X8 Chronometer followed soon after — the first-ever titanium watch. And let’s not forget the brand’s role in mastering solar-powered technology, either. The Crystron Solar Cell watch was the first light-powered analog quartz watch. It would eventually lead to some of Citizen’s best Eco-Drive watches.  

However, one of the Japanese brand’s most significant achievements was its water-resistant Promaster watch. We’ll be looking at Citizen’s dive watches in more detail shortly, but it’s more than just a manufacturer of water-resistant watches. It also offers some great dress watches and field watches, like the Eco-Drive Chandler.  

The Citizen Promaster Diver Automatic

The Promaster name first debuted on a watch in 1989. It signified a no-limits approach to going deeper and higher with a dive watch than ever before. Citizen focused on the upper echelon of sports watches to produce the Promaster Diver Automatic. There are around 30 plus designs to choose from within this collection today. All of them are perfect for terrestrial, aviation, and aquatic pursuits.  

The watches in the Citizen Promaster Diver Automatic lineup are impressively robust. To prove this, the company tests them to the absolute limit. An example of this would be the Eco-Drive professional. In 2016, its 100-meter water-resistant design went far beyond its norms. Surviving the Bathypelagic zone’s crushing pressure proved it could assist marine and earth science exploration. 

The current lineup of Citizen Promaster Diver Automatics is home to some seriously impressive dive tools. For example, the Wild Citizen Promaster Dive watch might appear ungainly, but collectors love it for its comfort. This 47mm DLC-super titanium case has a camouflage blue dial, a knurled (but firm) bezel, and an Eco-Drive movement.  

Then there are watches like the Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M. Also crafted from titanium, this model features an automatic movement with anti-magnetic components. Enthusiasts love this watch for its skin-diver aesthetics.  

Let’s not forget one of the most popular Promaster watches and a firm favorite of mine: the stainless steel Citizen Promaster “Orca” Diver watch. It’s inspired by the majestic marine creature. The sporty dive watch features a blue dial and matching bezel insert. The bezel carvings and luminous hour markers on the dial evoke the profile of the Orca. Even better, the model, like all Promaster watches, is ISO-certified.  

The Citizen Promaster Aqualand

The Promaster has now been celebrating three and a half decades of success. The original Citizen Promaster Aqualand was the first to implement a digital electrical depth gauge in its design. Released in 1985, it came at a time when the industry began phasing out mechanical analogs. Diving science was advancing fast, and Citizen was keeping up with the pace. The Aqualand could help prevent overexposure to nitrogen and the fatal repercussions of the bends. It could also store data, providing a superior backup for utilization alongside modern dive computers.  

In the early 1990s, Citizen improved the functionality of the Aqualand with alarms that detected rapid ascents and maximum depths.  

Nowadays, we have the Promaster Aqualand J2000. It looks like it belongs in the ocean, with its protruding 4 o’clock pusher for switching to a digital chronograph. The watch lets you view data from four previous dives and set maximum depth and dive time. This half-digital, half-analog display also provides alarms for sudden depth changes and ascending speeds. It’s the ultimate diver safety tool for wearing on the wrist during every descent.  

Another modern-day example of the Aqualand watch is the reference BJ2169-88E. Despite its quirky shape, this is a popular model for comfort. The membrane system is on the left-hand side of the case, with perforations that let water in. This part of the device senses water pressure.  

The 200-meter water-resistant watch wears thinner than its actual 17mm depth would have you believe. This is thanks to a clever tapering case back. The unidirectional bezel is a blue anodized aluminum insert with recessed markers. Meanwhile, the black dial with red accents is incredibly legible. Once underwater, the red second hand becomes a current depth indicator, and the 12 o’clock counter determines your maximum depth.  

Promaster Citizen Prices 

If you’re undecided whether Citizen watches are worth it, you’ll want to know how much your money will go. Promaster Citizen watches are pretty affordable divers if you’re shopping on the budget end of the price sector. These watches cost an average of around $200. You can pick one up for as little as $65 on the bottom end of the scale. More expensive models can cost around $1000.  

One of the most popular Citizen dive watches costs around $150. The reference EO2028-06L is a basic steel model measuring 37mm. Its popularity stems from its manageable case size, which makes it an excellent watch for smaller wrists.  

On the secondary market, Citizen watches from the Promaster line cost around $200. Overall, this series is the second most expensive of the brand’s offerings.  

FAQs 

Expand your knowledge of the Promaster Diver Citizen by reading these FAQs.  

How Good Is the Citizen Promaster? 

Citizen Promaster watches are good overall. They offer quality materials like lightweight titanium and robust steel with great water-resistant capabilities. They’re also some of the most affordable on the market. Automatic, solar-powered, and quartz movements are available. Other features include robust stainless steel bracelets, robust rubber straps, and colored bezel inserts.  

Is the Citizen Promaster Waterproof? 

Yes, Citizen Promaster watches offer excellent water resistance, some reaching up to 1000 meters. 

How Big Is the Citizen Promaster Diver? 

The size of a citizen Promaster Diver can vary. Some, like the Eco-Drive Marine, start as small as 37 mm in diameter. Others, like the ”Fugu,” measure 44mm. Some of the largest measures are up to 47mm. 

The Takeaway  

It’s safe to say that most people either own a citizen watch or know someone who does.  Among the Japanese brand’s many innovative designs over the last century, the Citizen Promaster Diver is one of the best.  

Citizen can’t compete on the same level as Swiss hard-hitters handcrafting their movements and decorating them with artisanal finishes. However, the brand successfully creates affordable, reliable designs that hold up on the wrist. In an age where people prioritize those qualities, it’s hard to imagine a time when Citizen won’t be the top choice.  

Citizen’s response to a burgeoning demand for a tool watch for scuba diving was the Promaster. Since then, the brand has continued to impress with its rugged, boundary-breaking capabilities. They may not carry the prestige of a Rolex, but they do carry a solid reputation. They’re also good for your bank account. 

Are you a fan of the affordable diver? In the comments below, tell us which model you like most!