Citizen Promaster Dive Automatic ‘fugu,’ Reviewed
I, for one, love the offbeat look of such watches, and no one does this as well as Citizen and Seiko. They have a real and sporty vibe that makes me actually want to see mine get extra scratched and banged up than it at present is in its relatively pristine state. The modern Citizen Promaster Dive is a household of models the place totally different features and designs aren’t distinguished with collection names. The Citizen Promaster dive with lume dial is priced at $550 and is available for purchase now. Lume dials are a tricky factor to tug off correctly, however right here it looks like a totally natural extension of the design of this watch.
The rest of the dial adheres to the design codes discovered in lots of generations of Citizen dive watches and so they really feel proper at house positioned with the sea of lume. This includes a small date aperture at 3 o’clock, which retains a small remnant of lume to its proper to maintain as much as ISO spec. One factor to rapidly notice, and which in my eyes offers the Promaster NY0040 a ton of credibility, is its navy previous. These watches had been adopted in the mid to late ‘90s by the Italian Navy or Marina Militare. A modified model of those watches was worn by the military divers. Some decommissioned pieces still make their approach to the second-hand market at present, but they’re extremely rare.
The first thing I noticed as quickly as I ripped up the handbrake and looked out of the car window was that directly across the street from the Air BNB was a dive store. I appeared down at my wrist and felt butterflies in my stomach. After a couple of days snorkeling the crystalline waters of Playa Chica I worked up the braveness to walk into the dive store. The individuals there have been a band of extremely pleasant Brits, who instantly let me know all in regards to the PADI uncover scuba dive. The nearly symbolic worth of €50 received you a 30-minute dive, where you’d learn to gear up, equalize, and breathe underwater utilizing a regulator.
Whether you are wanting to dip your toe into the world of mechanical watches and are on the lookout for a stable start line, or you may be in the market for a top quality beater, the Citizen Promaster NY0040 undoubtedly holds its own. Despite having flown beneath the radar for an extended time, I assume it’s a watch that deserves more recognition and consideration. With a retail worth of around €190, it’s a real worth proposition.
We picked up our rental VW Polo and made the 20-minute drive from the airport to the place we’d stay the following two weeks. I had only taken one watch with me on this journey, the Citizen Promaster NY0040. Proudly strapped around my wrist, it appeared to shine even brighter in the island sunshine.
The 20mm lugs fit any variety of straps, and due to it being a reasonably commonplace size, you probably already own a couple of straps that would make for a incredible pairing. For a more in-depth have a glance at this Citizen, try Mike’s article right citizen eco drive watch here. One of my favorite Citizen designs is the brand’s BN sequence of watches from the Promaster Dive collection. I’ve owned the original black dial mannequin for a variety of years, and it has been the definition of a carefree timepiece and considered one of my go-to watches for a broad variety of various out of doors activities.
Really, I find it onerous to consider that anybody could presumably be on the fence about this one—especially now that costs are dipping so low. I even have, however, seen a stainless-steel bracelet offered by Citizen that looks compelling. But, I virtually assume that it will take away from the attractive, lightweight nature of the watch overall.
Low light visibility is no issue and even seconds hand is barely lumed. All these features make for a dial that’s just fun to work together with. Above all, the blue tone can additionally be a sight to behold and may usually transition to a kind of deep purple relying on the light. I’ve also had zero points with the AR-coated mineral crystal. One factor that stood out to each of us was that this is a perfect trip watch – significantly in the summertime.
There are dive watches underneath $500, and even some automated options, but you’re principally going to be looking at Citizen’s fellow Japanese watchmakers (though, the Dan Henry 1970 is an honest option). The Citizen Promaster Collection can additionally be famend for its durability and toughness, with many fashions featuring a spread of shock-resistant and anti-magnetic options. One of the most popular fashions within the assortment is the Promaster Diver, which includes a unidirectional rotating bezel and a helium escape valve, making it suitable for skilled divers. The Citizen Promaster Collection is a true testomony to Citizen’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and style.