Citizen Promaster Diver Eco-Drive Complete Review
Some watches become everything an enthusiast could look for in their category. Yet, they often go under the radar while their other colleagues enjoy the limelight. And this, if we want to see it in sports terms, is very similar to what happens in soccer teams.
When you play soccer, the ones who appear in the headlines are the forwards. These are the glorious players who score the goals. Yet, those who know a little about the sport know very well that teams win when they have a good midfield. You win the match when the midfielder can start the actions to send the ball forward.
And definitely, Citizen timepieces are like this: brave and humble. They are not made to shine under the limelight but are not afraid of anything. They are designed and built not to miss a beat. But, for different reasons, they don't have that striker allure that would make them famous. And Citizen's Promaster series is just that. Precise. Indestructible. Reliable. Perfect when you need that kind of tool watch.
Citizen workhorse Eco-Drive movement
While there are some excellent mechanical movements, the Eco-Drive movement is a Citizen flagship. The first Eco-Drive movements, which at the time were solar-powered calibers, dating back to the early 1990s. But in 1995, the first caliber of this type, the 7878, came out and ensured an autonomy of 180 days before requiring recharging.
Today, we're at double that: modern Eco-Drive watches have a power reserve of 6 months. And within a few hours of exposure to the sun, they are ready for use again. The solar cells are placed under the dial, invisible, and ready for use, ensuring the watch has a virtually unlimited operational life (we're talking 40 years before needing to change the accumulator).
Citizen Promaster Diver Solid technical characteristics
Such a movement isn't the only good thing about a watch like this: all elements of this timepiece are made from high-quality materials and finished with the utmost care to ensure that the watch is always ready to do its job, no matter when.
The case is made of industrial-grade satin-finished steel with a lifetime case back, and when equipped with a tactical strap, it becomes a true "war machine" perfectly secured on the wrist with a unique fit and comfort, despite its important size of 44 mm - which fits all of them, in a sports watch like this.
The dial is a beautiful deep black, on which the contrasting indexes and hands well coated with SuperLuminova stand out, even in the worst light conditions, thanks to the anti-reflective treatment of the mineral glass. The metal bezel with black insert moves smoothly and precisely in its clicks, easy to handle even when wearing gloves, which also applies to the screw-down crown, located at 4 o'clock, equipped with two small protective guards.
New Citizen Promaster Diver Eco-Drive Watch Band
This timepiece is a true diver's watch: it complies with ISO6425 certification. It offers a water resistance of 200 meters, the original 20mm silicone watch band is a perfect partner for this Citizen dive watch. But if you are tired of wear a silicone strap every day, replacing the strap with Hemsut nylon super rugged sport watch band would be an excellent choice, check the picture of this military combo strap with Citizen Promaster Diver, and you can quickly secure it over your wetsuit to accompany you on your most challenging explorations.
The Citizen Promaster Diver Eco-Drive also comes with a nice steel bracelet, with an expansion clasp that allows you to wear it even over your wetsuit - but it must be said that, especially in the most sporty occasions, the bracelet is not always the most effective choice. It is certainly sturdy and practical, but it often turns out to be bulky and uncomfortable to wear on the wrist for lengthy periods. So, for a better fit and overall experience, we have replaced it with a tactical wristband from Hemsut in camo color (it is available in several others as well).
What makes this super rugged sports watch band better for Citizen dive watch? This one is a heavy-duty strap made in indestructible high-quality nylon seatbelt fabric with double stitching. The two ends mount a quick-release spring bar, protected by a flap at the base, and the two parts of the wristband are secured together using a sturdy stainless steel buckle, folded back on itself, and secured with velcro closure. This helps you finely regulate the wristband on your wrist, and ensure that it stays tight and secure. Of course, the strap is fully washable for a perfect cleaning.
And the best thing about this watch - and we must say, about many timepieces in the Citizen range, especially the Promaster Eco-Drive series - is their price, incredibly affordable considering the qualities, which is around $300 (and by looking around the web, you are bound to find special sales that allow you to lower this figure even further. In summary, it is a watch that, if it didn't exist, would have to be invented.
What makes this super rugged sports watch band better for Citizen dive watch? This one is a heavy-duty strap made in indestructible high-quality nylon seatbelt fabric with double stitching. The two ends mount a quick-release spring bar, protected by a flap at the base, and the two parts of the wristband are secured together using a sturdy stainless steel buckle, folded back on itself, and secured with velcro closure. This helps you finely regulate the wristband on your wrist, and ensure that it stays tight and secure. Of course, the strap is fully washable for a perfect cleaning.
And the best thing about this watch - and we must say, about many timepieces in the Citizen range, especially the Promaster Eco-Drive series - is their price, incredibly affordable considering the qualities, which is around $300 (and by looking around the web, you are bound to find special sales that allow you to lower this figure even further. In summary, it is a watch that, if it didn't exist, would have to be invented.