Citizen Launches Two New Promaster Watches Inspired by the 1977 Challenge Diver

The kinds of stories the two new Citizen Promaster watches can tell is one that enthusiasts love. Legend has it that in 1983, a Citizen diver’s watch was found on Long Reef Beach in Australia. The Challenge Diver, debuted in 1977, was covered with barnacles after having been submerged in the Pacific Ocean, but the movement inside had remained protected from the seawater and was still working. The number of barnacles attached to the watch indicated that it had been in the ocean for a number of years. 

The new Promaster additions take design cues from the original Challenge Diver design, but their features and the movement inside have been updated for modern use. Their cases have a diameter of 41mm, are water-resistant to 200 meters and made of Citizen’s lightweight, scratch-resistant Super Titanium. The sapphire glass has a flat cut top and a domed underside, and the sides of the glass are beveled to provide a thick, retro look. 

Inside ticks the automatic caliber 9051 that uses anti-magnetic materials for the balance spring and surrounding components to boost the magnetic resistance of the watch. According to Citizen, it maintains its performance even when placed one centimeter from a device emitting a magnetic field of 16,000 A/m. The watches are also resistant to magnetic fields from everyday devices, including smartphones, and can even be used aboard ships with magnetic compasses. In addition to being resistant to magnetic fields, they are also ISO compliant with diver’s watches up to 200 meters. 

The Citizen Promasters will be available for purchase in summer, though pricing details have yet to be announced.

To learn more, visit Citizen, here.