Poll: Promaster vs Prospex

Seiko colorway is 🔥I’d choose it over the Citizen.

Seiko for me I think, the colour way and strap look great

The Seiko SPB147 you can get for about $850 max after a good discount and it is a good price. If you compare Seiko's finish to the Citizen, it is day and night for sure. The Seiko has mixed finishing on the surface and the high polish bevel on either side of the case is just nice detail, plus I'm not going to even say anything about the chocolate dial which just plays so well with the light. The Citizen feels completely dull side by side with the Seiko.

It comes to what you are after, the Citizen for around $600 hands down is a great value, especially for a titanium case and 4hz movement. But it is just too dull and generic, plus doesn't feel very intuitive to use especially the mushy bezel and tiny crown. Also, I didn't like the steel bezel and crown contrast with the dull titanium case, a lazy design choice.

Seiko nails it with the design and finish, feels like a tank. It is a 3hz movement but it comes to your personal preference.

Which one I would choose? Well…

Say ko

I fully agree with your analysis. Pretty spot on. It’s funny that you mentioned the movement. The only thing holding me back from taking either one is that I find the second hand in the Citizen is smooth as butter which I adore. It reminds me of my humble little Datejust and the Frank Muller I inherited from my mother. I do not own another watch with a 4hz. I do have the Longines Zulu which is at 3.5hz. They say you can’t tell from a 3.5 vs 4. Well… yes you can lol 😂

But when it comes to fit and finish the Seiko wins by a mile like you said… both are quite comparable with the design and size when holding them side by side… it’s definitely a dilemma at the moment. Both watches are on hold for me at the shop. I should probably make a decision soon lol 😂

LOL let me guess…

Just to be contrary and all things being equal I would choose the Citizen!

Citizen, it's a nicer watch. Better materials, better QC, better price(MSRP), and a better movement.

I really don't get the Seiko obsession people have in this hobby...

Both

Ramin noodles if I have to

I went into the AD the other day with that exact same thought. So I went straight to the Citizen’s counter. I was set with the Promaster Fujitsubo. However, I typically never buy a watch at first sight.

I went back today and they brought out the 147. I gotta tell you, it was night and day vs the Citizen… I do mean night and day. Whether it’s the finishing of the case, dial, even the strap the Seiko was on a different level… here in Canada, the citizen msrp $1195. The Seiko $1375. It’s not about be price in this scenario. Both watches they were giving me the same percentage discount. Quite substantial.

I'm glad you're happy with the purchase!

I've been tempted by a SPB143, or 239, but have held strong so far. By held strong I mean I bought a GSAR and a steel Navigator.. 😂

The issue is I haven’t made the purchase yet 🙈🙈🙈however, i think I’m going with the 147. The 239 is tempting but I already have a watch with a black dial w/guilded numbers.

Sleep on it a while... Ask @Catskinner how he feels about his SPB 62 MAS reissue.

I'm not against the SPB14X/23X line, I love the look myself, but I have heard a few people complain about the accuracy of the movements, and the thickness.

I have only owned two watches with 4hz movement. With the BB58, I didn't really care for the 4hz because of the snowflake seconds hand contrasting with the round markers bugged me and I couldn't get used to that over time...it was a personal issue. 😅 But I like the 4hz movement in my Presage GMT, the smooth blue hands over the white dial is just beautiful to stare at. I have not handled a Longines long enough to notice 3.5hz but I have the legend diver/Zulu time on my list so I am curious to notice the difference.

An all titanium construction would have made the Citizen look more cohesive to the eyes. For me, it was the steel and non-grippy bezel that let down the watch. I like their quirky eco-drive dive watches like the Orca and whale shark, those models are finished nicer, have details on the dial and have more tactile bezel action compared to this model. If you want a Citizen, I would really suggest one of their quirky dive watches as a better option or the 46mm tank they make for almost the same price as the Fuji.

I think the Seiko looks better, but it's because I like shiny things.

Both are fine.

Seiko wins for me! Very beautiful dial

I think the Seiko is more refined aesthetically: the indices, the numbers on the bezel, the dial colour.

The silicone strap is also better in my opinion with the signed metal retainer and clasp, although I think the clasp is a bit oversized (I got the same one in green with my SPB207)

Overall I think Citizen is technically quite capable but they should improve their designs in general, I think Seiko does a better job in that regard.

Titanium is pricier and the 4 hz movement is a plus for the smoothness of the second's hand, but I think it also has downsides to the wear of the movement and power reserve.

I don't know the movement on the Citizen, does anyone know how it performs compared to the 6R35? My 6R35 runs about 6-7 seconds fast a day when worn but varies greatly at rest.

I'd have to go with the citizen. As I collect them, and I don't like Seiko's.

Both are really nice 👌 I've owned the seiko it's amazing watch it's very vintage inspired more so long term ownership,it was sometimes that dark an subtle I could only make out the hands which is great if that's what your looking for if it's legality your going for I'd pick another colour or the citizen,if your torn I'd just go with which brand you appreciate more

Seiko takes the win for me.

Seiko, FTW

I own a Citizen Promaster diver (the one with the red bezel) and an Seiko SPB143.

Designwise, it really comes down to a matter of personal taste.

However, we all love mechanical watches for what they are: miniature machines. And in that regard, I just think the Seiko is superior with its movement. Yes the 6r35 is 3 Hz but the Miyota inside the Citizen feels very cheap. The rotor is crazy noisy, the winding action feels like the watch case is full of sand and adjusting the day and date feels like you're breaking gears inside.

Also, I opened the Citizen to regulate it and the movement is very small and encased in a thick ring of plastic to hold it in the center of the case. This makes me feel like the case size is just for looks and not function. It's like opening the hood of a Mustang only to find a tiny Honda Civic engine under it.

For me on that one, Seiko wins hands down

Great metaphor with the Honda engine lol

I agree fully. I have decided to pick up the Seiko tomorrow. For only $150 more than the Citizen, I feel the Seiko is a far more substantial watch in every aspect. I’m usually a big fan of titanium but this Promaster just feels a little off and cheap for some reason. I had no complaints with a friend’s Pelagos on the rubber strap they it came with. I don’t know how to explain it but the Tudor’s titanium just felt more “complete”… it could be the weight difference… I’m not entirely sure but it’s just missing something on the citizen when i had it on the wrist.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like the Fujitsubo. And I won’t be surprised if I pick that one up as well in the future… some days I just feel like wearing a lighter watch lol and that 4hz second sweep is like candy to the eye to look at

I also just ordered the Uncle Seiko jubilee bracelet which I can’t wait to pair them together!

Great! Enjoy the purchase, the honeymoon, the strap changes!

I myself have a new Seiko heading my way. I should get it a a few days 😜

Nice! Which one did you get may I ask? Exiting stuff!

I’m also looking at the new Seiko 5 GMT. I was one of those very few that missed the SKx era which I still regret to this day. I remember I first walked into my AD back in 2016-2017 without knowing anything about Seiko’s. I walked in because I had my eyes on the Longines moonphase which I couldn’t afford back then. My AD introduced me to Seiko that day. Told me about the new mini turtles that they had just received… I remember clearly there were at least 4 different SKx’s on their display for about the same price as the mini turtles… I was sold on the Padi mini turtle because of the textured dial and I love the turtle cases… started researching on Seiko and found out the legendary SKX probably 3 months later I went back to AD and they were all sold out… I remember the owner saying “you missed the boat”… lol and they were not getting anymore… mind you, back then the SKx was still under $500cad….. one of my life’s biggest regrets…🙈

Just saw your profile. I’m also from YYZ in the Markham area. I guess you will understand when I say why Seiko’s are so expensive these days lol

Nice Zulu by the way! 🤘🏻I have a small wrist so I had to settle for the leather strap version. But I’m definitely a bracelet guy.

Haha! Anything not crazy expensive in the GTA right now?

Thanks! On that day, I was actually walking to the store with the green bezel Zulu in mind, and when I saw the black dial, at the same time subdued and refined, how the light plays on the numerals and hands, I have to confess it was a bit of an impulse buy (they were offering it without taxes in that day only)

Have still have not seen the green version in real

It’s also the Seiko5 GMT, the Blueberry.

I found one used on Chrono24 for a really good price.

I had an SKX007. I had swapped the movement for an NH36 (the 7S26 was just too old school for me) and it was running great, but I ended up selling it because of the dial feeling a bit dull to me with the printed markers, when the Seiko 5s were already showing applied markers, better finish and all.

I loved the noisy bracelet, super comfortable!

I regret the SSK003 won’t have a screw-down crown. If it had one it would be near perfect. But overall it looks like a better product than the SKX.

I agree. The non screw down crown is the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on the SSK