It has been a tradition for the last few cruises that I buy a watch onboard. This time I would have, and this was the watch I planned to buy, but they didn't have it in blue, so I abstained on the ship, and ordered this one the day I got home. So why this one? A couple of reasons. 1.) It just has that classic diver look to it. 2.) A friend of mine has this watch, and EVERY time I see it when we hang out, it catches my eye. He abuses his, and years later it still looks great, which is a testament to its durability. 3.) Feature packed. Ok - so let's talk about the features. 1.) Eco Drive - this is a time-tested technology, and I have several Citizen Eco Drive watches, to include a 1st Gen Eco Drive purchased in 1996 that STILL takes a charge and runs when I get it out. 2.) Mineral glass window - not the scratch resistance of sapphire, but TOUGH. 3.) Accurate movement. Prior to DST, I set the watch about 3 weeks prior and it had gained a grand total of 2 seconds. That's about +3 seconds a month. You can't find an automatic that will do that. 4.) Water resistance to 200 meters with a screw-down crown. 5.) Hacking movement - when you pull the stem to the 2nd click, the second hand stops, and that allows you to sync it to the exact second to another time source. -- Side note on movement. I considered getting the version of this watch with the automatic/self-winding movement, but the movement in that watch is the Miyota 8204, which is a 21.6k movement (rather than 28.8k) that only has an accuracy guarantee of +/- 20 seconds/day. I have other automatics that are considerably more accurate than that Bottom line - this watch looks great, and it's built to last. I know I'll get a lot of years of use out of this timepiece. I've included two pics of this watch. One with the stock blue rubber diver's strap, and another with an aftermarket bracelet that is specifically fitted for this watch case. I'd name it here but I think that would invalidate the review. In any case, it's pretty easy to find if you prefer that aesthetic, and it isn't terribly expensive - the stainless bracelet is well worth the investment and it gives the option of either aesthetic. Read more
I bought the all black version of this very same model about a year ago, and it is still working great. However, I've always like the "Pepsi" design, so I went ahead and bought this one as well. These are well built watches, and you get a sense of that when you actually hold it and put it on your wrist. The Eco-Drive movement is just fantastic. Between the Quartz movement and using ambient light to charge the watch is just fantastic. When the Eco-Drive is fully charged, it will last and continue to run for 6 months in complete darkness, so that should give you so peace of mind. This isn't something you have to worry about charging on a regular basis - Citizen has good technology built into their Eco-Drives. I've always liked the looks of Diver watches, and this one doesn't disappoint. The fact that this is also an ISO certified Divers Watch means that you're getting something that is proven to take all that recreational divers can throw at it if you're into that. The display looks crisp and clean through the mineral glass. It wears well on the wrist (and mine isn't particularly big), and the strap can be swapped out for something else but it works well enough (you will need some 'breaking-in' time with it). Read more
I’ve had my Citizen Promaster Dive for a while now, and it’s honestly one of the best watches I’ve ever owned. It feels solid, looks great, and performs flawlessly. The Eco-Drive is a game changer — no batteries to replace, ever. The lume is bright, the bezel turns smoothly, and it’s tough enough to handle anything I throw at it, from swimming to hiking. It’s dependable, stylish, and built like a tank. Totally worth it. I must add that the bezel did get a little stuck. It took quite a bit of pressure to turn at one point. I just rinsed it under running water for a few seconds while turning the bezel and it loosened up and works perfectly now. Read more
I just received this watch from Amazon, delivered promptly the day after I ordered it. It's beautiful and the box it came in contained the oxygen tank packaging, which is kinda cool. This Eco-Drive watch was already running, so I set the current time and date. I placed it under a lamp in the living room for a few minutes before trying it on to make sure it had plenty of charge. The black polyurethane band is nice but kinda stiff initially. I'm sure it's supposed to soften up and last a few years. However, I went ahead and ordered a stainless steel bracelet for the watch, which will replace the polyurethane band whenever it arrives. For long term durability I think it's the way to go. But I'll keep the original band in case I want to change it back. I'm hoping the watch lasts a long, long time. It has two features which I like, which makes it a combination of the Casio Duro and the Citizen Garrison BM8180, two of my favorite watches: it's a legitimate 200 meter dive watch, and it has the Eco-Drive technology, which means no more battery changes. Read more
