Rising up in a non-watch fanatic household in a Southern California seashore group, I didn’t discover too many timepieces in my youth, however there was a throughline that all the time caught with me. Practically everybody who labored within the ocean, from sport fishers to surfers, wore a Citizen diver, and the actually hardcore ones — dive instructors, underwater photographers, marine mammal veterinarians, and the like — typically sported the funky, asymmetrical, and ultra-capable Aqualand. To say that the Citizen Aqualand has had an influence outdoors of the fanatic group is an understatement, and because the line celebrates its fortieth anniversary, the model returns to the high-impact two-tone look that began all of it in 1985. The brand new Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version affords a visually and functionally trustworthy reimagining of the basic depth gauge-equipped ‘80s mannequin however renders this throwback design with fashionable construct high quality and ending.
Like its ancestor, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version is much from demure on the wrist. Measuring almost 51mm vast at its widest level and a considerable 14.8 mm tall, this matte-blasted chrome steel and gold tone case is immediately recognizable by silhouette alone, however this loud, distinctive wrist presence comes with its personal model of character. In fact, the blocky, protruding depth sensor at 9 o’clock is the definitive aspect right here, however there’s loads of ‘’80s-era funk to go round. For instance, even with out the sensor (leaving the case at a nonetheless giant, however far more manageable 43.5mm vast), this sporty, muscular case design remains to be barely asymmetrical. Whereas the lugs at 2 o’clock, 8 o’clock, and 10 o’clock all sport aggressive truncated flares to emphasise their gold-tone pushers, the 4 o’clock crown cuts far deeper into the case aspect, giving the looks (if not the fact) of a extra substantial flared lip to behave as an built-in crown guard. Regardless of all of the case design complexity, it’s the unidirectional dive bezel that (actually) shines brightest on the wrist, with a knurled edge that provides its gold tone ending ample likelihood to glitter from any viewing angle. Round again, Citizen provides a lightweight, easy fortieth anniversary caseback engraving, incorporating the distinctive sensor design. With this being a hardcore, multi-function dive watch, heavy water resistance is anticipated, and if something, the Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version’s 200-meter depth ranking is a contact on the light-weight aspect given the piece’s ambitions.
For essentially the most half, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version’s dial is comparatively easy. Outsized, gilt-rimmed trapezoidal indices give the design a daring and blocky look, whereas the model’s distinctive cathedral and orange arrow handset make for exemplary legibility. Whereas the refined, restrained sunburst texture beneath the shiny piano black dial floor lends the structure a contact of nuance, it’s the digital subdial at 12 o’clock that dominates the structure on the wrist. On dry land, this multi-function show operates as a day/date indicator, a 1/1000-second chronograph, and an alarm indicator. As soon as the watch is submerged, although, this subdial robotically converts into dive mode. As water enters the gauge and is detected, the subdial begins a readout of the present submerged depth and retains a log of the wearer’s deepest-ever studying for future evaluation (as much as a most of 260 toes, which is lower than the watch’s total depth ranking, however far deeper than the overwhelming majority of divers will ever attain). On the protection aspect, this subdial additionally points a speedy ascent alert if a wearer’s rise from the depths exceeds protected charges, probably stopping the bends.
Whereas some purists would possibly balk at a quartz powerplant, the in-house C520 quartz motion contained in the Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version stays almost as distinctive and novel in its performance as the unique Aqualand was in 1985. Past the aforementioned suite of hardcore diving-oriented issues, the C520 affords a stable +15/-15 seconds per 30 days in accuracy. To enrich this ‘80s throwback design, Citizen updates an previous favourite from its diver assortment: a black rubber accordion strap. Quite than the same old FKM rubber or silicone, the model renders this acquainted strap design in BENEBiOL, a extra eco-friendly plant-based polyurethane. Though this materials is extra immune to the chemical put on and tear of seawater, it’s value noting that it’s considerably stiffer and fewer snug than silicone on the wrist. With that mentioned, the accordion building does permit the strap to be remarkably breathable in hotter situations.
Past being a serious step ahead in dive watch know-how, the unique Citizen Aqualand proved to be each a favourite amongst severe marine professionals and a formative second in my watch-spotting youth. As a celebration of this 1985 basic, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version delivers trustworthy proportions, sturdy, easy building, and much more distinctive instruments for the intense diver. Solely 5,800 examples of the Citizen Promaster Aqualand fortieth Anniversary Restricted Version shall be made, and the watch is on the market now via licensed sellers. MSRP for this watch stands at $595 USD as of press time. For extra particulars, please go to the brand’s website.
Trending Merchandise
