Hands-on: Citizen Promaster Dive Bn0162-02x Eco-drive Watch

I’m sure that in some unspecified time in the future or another in our watch accumulating we’ve all fantasized about utilizing our watches for the task they had been designed for. Well, as far-fetched as some of those fantasies possibly, some are extra achievable than others. In my case, It was a Citizen Promaster NY0040 and a vacation on Lanzarote, as well as a dive store opposite my Air BnB that beckoned me, like a siren’s song, into the ocean’s murky depths. A up to date basic since its launch in 2017, the criminally underrated Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver, shown right here on a Marathon rubber strap, is all of the watch you need in this post-apocalyptic panorama generally known as 2021.

Proudly strapped around my wrist, it seemed to shine even brighter in the island sunshine. Citizen has pioneered watchmaking for over a hundred years, reaching excellence by way of innovation, creativity and craftsmanship. Guided by these cornerstones, they developed Eco-Drive™ technology which powers timepieces by changing gentle (any light) into energy, eliminating the need for batteries. Although my preference could be for a extra tactical flat olive green, the emerald dial and bezel insert will certainly find lots of new followers. Y’know, for these Rolex ‘Hulk’ Submariner vibes on a budget.

It’s a good suggestion to start with what was maybe most shocking after getting this one on the wrist—case proportions. The watch almost feels lugless and the compact fit actually translates nicely on the stock strap or a NATO. On paper, we have a 43mm case diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug distance, and a thickness of just eleven.5mm.

Powering these watches is the Caliber E168, which is part of the brand’s Eco-Drive range of All Light-powered actions that are known for his or her rock-solid efficiency and maintenance-free ownership expertise. E168 found inside these Promaster Dive watches is able to powering itself with any ambient gentle supply and can run for up to six months after being totally charged for true grab-and-go timekeeping comfort. The Citizen Promaster Dive is among citizen eco drive the most affordable automated dive watches you can buy (or, at least, that you simply’d actually need to). There are dive watches beneath $500, and even some automatic options, however you’re mostly going to be looking at Citizen’s fellow Japanese watchmakers (though, the Dan Henry 1970 is a good option).

Something about the compact case styling, care-free Eco-Drive movement, and low price just really spoke to me. That’s when my greatest bud Kaz stepped in and gave it to me in the course of the nice TBWS Christmas gift battle of 2016. I was floored from day one and now, I get to scream my praises from the top of the world.

I was excited when, in 2019, there was information of recent such models and so they were perfectly sized, I thought on the time, at 42mm. Alas, they were specifically for the European market and never made their means Stateside. Then, I perked up once more when USA variations arrived in 2023, only to be disenchanted to study they have been 44mm for supersize-loving Americans. Like many of Citizen’s dive watches, the Promaster Diver comes with a polyurethane strap (similar to a rubber strap but with some differences) that includes no-decompression limits. It’s comfortable but I rapidly eliminated it and stored it for preservation. Besides, I at all times discovered those a bit troublesome to manipulate and form for a snug match.