The Citizen Promaster Diver “Kermit” NY0071–81E

THE TWO-WEEK REVIEW

The Citizen Promaster Diver “Kermit” NY0071–81E By Alistair Malloy – The Watch Channel

In 2019 Citizen celebrated 30 years of their PROMASTER range. The PROMASTER brand is recognised as being one of the leaders in timepiece technology. From creating the world’s slimmest LCD watch to the first professional dive watch with an electronic depth sensor.

The PROMASTER brand has been synonymous with delivering reliable & high-specification watches for professionals working in the Marine, Air & Land-based industries.

It could be argued that during these past thirty years & especially in the earlier years, the PROMASTER reputation was built by squarely focusing on delivering dependable watches aimed at niche audiences such as deep-sea divers & pilots. Thirty years, however, is a long time. Over that period, slowly but very surely, the Citizens PROMASTER reputation for delivering high-quality watches has grown to be appreciated by a much broader consumer audience.

As we head out of the nightmare that was 2020/21 & into what I hope will be a lockdown-free 2022. Citizen has updated the PROMASTER range with an expanded collection of watches. True to their Citizen ethos, these watches are clearly focused on delivering both quality & value to the consumer.

Today’s PROMASTER range includes every major time-keeping technology that Citizen has developed, from Satellite Wave GPS to Eco-Drive & from automatics to specialty quartz modules.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to road-test one of the new Citizen models, the Citizen Promaster Diver ref - NY0071-81E. Or, in my words, the Citizen Kermit!, named of course, due to the unique Green bezel.

Before we deep-dive, (pun intended!), into this watch, I should clearly state that I am a huge fanboy of the “other” Japanese watch brand...you know the one...it begins with an S...

I haven’t owned a Citizen before. For me, this is my first real encounter with a PROMASTER over an extended period.

Let’s begin with the watch specs:

Diameter: 43.5mm

Thickness: 13.4mm

Material: Super Titanium Japanese 8203 Calibre Movement Accuracy: +20 /- 40 seconds a day Automatic Movement

Day & Date Display Screw Lock Crown 200m water resistance

At 43.5mm in diameter & 13.4mm thick, the watch has average size dimensions for a diver. The case is large but not overly so & sits quite comfortably on my 6 & 3⁄4 inch wrist.

For some people, when they pick up a watch & feel its heft. They attribute that weight to quality or a perceived sense of value. For those people, a lightweight watch can be quite disconcerting. Quite often a lightweight watch is perceived as being less durable, or, of lower build quality. Quite often, it’s perceived as being both!

This leads me to what I found most surprising about this watch & that was the materials used. Namely Super Titanium. Titanium has approximately 5 times more resistance to scratches & around 40% lighter than stainless steel. It’s also Hypo-allergenic & highly resistant to corrosion.

Herein lies the beauty & genius of the Promaster range. The deliberate use of specific materials & technology to deliver a watch that is “Fit for Purpose”. As a result of thoughtful design, this particular diver is lightweight, corrosion-resistant & very tough. It’s a watch that won’t suffer from exposure to harsh saltwater or extreme marine conditions. It’s exactly how a dive watch should be built.

Another key aspect of a diver is legibility. In this regard, this watch does not disappoint. Dial legibility is enhanced by having large white hour markers & hands offset against a large matte black dial.

Each marker & hand is deep filled with Citizens proprietary “cool Blue” luminescent material & makes reading the time in low-light conditions quite easy.

The “Kermit” has a unique green bezel with large toothed grooves that allow the bezel to be manipulated easily, even with a gloved hand. As with some watch fans, a misaligned bezel can drive me to rage. No fear though, this bezel is aligned perfectly & the action is smooth & deliberate.

Putting aside the lightweight feel of the case, construction & overall finishing is what you would expect from Japan. The case has a dull- satin finish which further enhances that “tool-watch” look.

In addition to telling the time, the watch has day/date functionality & can be adjusted to show either Kanji (Japanese), or English.

Quite often with watches, much of the design thought & subsequent cost goes into the case. Far too often have I found watches to have a great case but, then be let down by being combined with a chintzy bracelet with pressed links or, even worse, folded end links. It’s like fitting a Ferrari with scooter wheels!

In this regard, the Kermit’s bracelet doesn’t disappoint, it’s a well fitted super-titanium bracelet with a two-fold clasp for security. The bracelet also has solid end links & can be adjusted slightly at the clasp by three pin adjustment settings. As with most watches, the pin & sleeve fitted links can be removed to fit your wrist size.

Going “under the hood” Citizen has equipped the watch with the 21-Jewel, 8203 Calibre movement. This is a “workhorse” movement that Citizen has continually improved since its release way back in 1977. The 21,600 BPH movement has a power reserve of around 40 hours. Stated accuracy out of the box is 20-40 +/- seconds per day.

Having worn this watch over the past couple of weeks, the daily average rate is +22.9 seconds per day. Ok, it’s not exactly chronometer standards but it’s likely to settle even more over the next few months & any watchmaker can adjust for you very easily if required.

One of the main challenges in owning an Automatic is the impending cost of servicing. Having owned many automatic watches, it’s the nightmare that never ends. You can, of course, find someone to service your watch (either official or independent watchmaker), but it’s typically a three-month wait & half the GDP of a small Caribbean nation to get it back ticking on time again.

No fear with this watch, not only is it backed by a 5 Year Manufacturer’s warranty, but it’s also one of the cheapest & most reliable movements out there. Any watchmaker will be able to source a replacement 8203 movement & swap it out for you...simple & cheap!

Last but by no means least, just how waterproof & tough is this watch? During my two weeks with the watch, it’s been in the ocean several times. It’s gone from being hot on the beach, to then immersed in cool ocean water. It’s been in a hot bath (although, I wouldn’t recommend you do this), all without any sign of water evading that screw-down crown!

I can also attest to the overall ruggedness of the watch as I accidentally smashed it against my bedside table one night... I grabbed my mobile & flicked on the flashlight, expecting to see a loose hour marker or even worse, a second hand that wasn’t moving. Imagine my surprise when I found no dings, scratches or signs of damage...remarkable!

So far, my praise for this watch has been high. Because it’s a good watch, it does what it says it can, but, there is always room for improvement.....

With an RRP of $999 AUD, this is one of the more expensive watches in Citizen’s line-up. At this price point, I would expect a sapphire crystal & a 9000 series movement. This is only my opinion of course & if I am to be completely honest, I am nit-picking here so that this review is not just all praise & high fives!

So, there we have it! If you are on a budget, looking for a quality dive watch & have a penchant for Green bezels, then this is the watch for you!

Peace, out!