Introducing the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m (with Live Photos)
Japanese watchmaker Citizen has unveiled the latest addition to its professionally-focused Promaster line, the new Promaster Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m. The new model is the first new addition to the Promaster collection since last fall’s Satellite Wave GPS, and is the most recent update to the Aqualand sub-collection since spring of 2019. The news also comes ahead of WatchTime Live Presents Citizen on April 15, where the brand will be showcasing the watch publicly for the first time (You can register for the digital event here).
In keeping with the Promaster aesthetic, the watch is large and multi-functional. Its robust 50.4-mm steel case has a three-piece construction that imparts it a hardy and unique silhouette, flanked on one side by two chronograph pushers and a knurled screw-down crown, and on its other by a depth-gauge sensor. The depth gauge sensor in particular is a very interesting feature, as it not only gives the watch an additional functionality beyond timekeeping but also hearkens back to the original Aqualand unveiled in 1985 (below), which at the time was the first watch to feature a depth gauge with an electronic sensor.
The other details of the 200-meter water-resistant case include a bold-looking 60-minute unidirectional diving bezel, where we find the first major pop of color: its three three distinct colorways are blue, DLC red, and DLC green.
Underneath the sapphire crystal is an an equally distinctive dial that matches the hardy look of the case. At first glance, it's obvious the dial is designed with professional divers' use in mind: its contrasting features place the foremost attention on legibility and functionality, rather than on trendier stylistic elements found in many other dive watches.
The watch's chronograph functionality is front-and-center, both in the red-tipped seconds counter at the center of the dial and in a 50-minute subdial placed near the 12 o’clock position.The indicator for the aforementioned depth gauge, capable of measuring up to 50 meters underwater, curves along the outer edge. A 24-hour indicator on the left side sits parallel to the 3 o’clock date window. The dial also features a 6 o’clock subdial for running seconds, with an on-brand design inspired by a submarine's sonar screen.
Overall, the dial is clearly aimed at the serious professional diver, with a chronograph scale limited to recording a 50-minute dive time and no longer intervals; its depth gauge featuring depth increments commonly used by divers (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 meters, etc.), and its hands and color accents designed for legibility even in the murkiest of conditions.
Powering the professional diver is the Citizen Caliber B740, an Eco-Drive movement powered by light. The movement is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month, and is capable of running for two continuous months when fully charged and removed from light. The movement isn’t breaking any records, but at its core is supporting the professional focus of the watch, providing a workhorse power supply for its timekeeping and dive-ready functionality.
Each colorway of the new Promaster Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m is available now, through bothn Citizen and its authorized dealers. The red and green models are priced at $795; the blue version is marked at $1,095 and includes a commemorative collector’s box and a Lifeline® JAWZ™ titanium rescue tool (below), which is a tool designed for underwater emergencies.
To learn more about the upcoming WatchTime Live event with Citizen, click here.
