I'm a budding watch enthusiast, having owned a Seiko during my formative years, and most recently buying a new Omega Moonwatch, Tissot T-Race chronograph and Casio G-Shock, with eyes toward a Breitling Superocean Heritage and IWC Portofino to round out the watch box. I will admit, I bought a couple of knock-offs from the swap meet back in the day, too. I wanted an everyday "beater" watch with a few requisite non-negotiables: at least 200M water resistance, quartz movement, simple complications, rugged construction, a name brand, at least 2-year warranty and a great looking blue dial. It needed to be something rugged and yet refined enough that I would be as comfortable wearing in the ocean as on the trail. In the office as in the jacuzzi. In a nice restaurant as on set filming under scorching desert heat. Trust me when I say I scoured the internet doing research for a solid month. I considered the Seiko 5 and Prospex series first and foremost, while also reading up on Sinn, Timex, Casio G-Shock and Edifice series, Hamilton, Victorinox, Seagull and Nixon. At the end of the day, it came down between Seiko and Citizen. However, Seiko watches are not ISO 6425 compliant; the Promaster is. Seiko watches are automatic/mechanical, which while is my preferred type of movement for higher-end watches, is NOT something I want to worry about with an everyday beater. The Promaster isn't just quart, but it uses Eco-Drive technology which theoretically should be good for THE LIFE OF THE WATCH. Talk about self-sufficient! Seiko and Citizen are both widely respected in watch circles, both for their long history of achievement both on the affordable as well as luxury end, in addition to consistently pushing the boundaries of great value-for-money. Seiko offers a 2-year warranty on their watches, whereas the Promaster offered a whopping 6 years! (5 years standard + 1 year once you register online). And then, the looks. The gorgeous iridescent blue dial, the excellent lume, and the aesthetically gorgeous yet no-nonsense masculine construction of the case is just perfect. This is the watch I'll be wearing everyday in and out of the home. And even though my intention is to wear my "nicer" (read: more expensive) watches when I go out on different occasions, I wouldn't be surprised if I just keep the Citizen strapped to my wrist instead. It is just THAT GOOD.
Citizen Response
This watch is a strap monster- steel, black silicon, NATO- it looks great on everything. It’s eye catching without being flashy. The dressy dial design makes it possible to wear this watch with formals, unlike most divers in this price range It also lives up to the sturdiness expected of a diver. Diameter is 45mm- might not suit people with small wrists. Lume lasts for 2.5 hours if sufficiently charged.
Citizen Response