This week, Citizen debuted a mechanical dive watch, which will be available in two versions that will go on sale in the Fall.
Based on the design of a 1977 Challenge Diver, the case of the 2022 Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M measures 41 mm x 12.3 mm, which is the same diameter as the 1970s watch that inspired it, with an even thinner case height. Naturally, the movement and case have been modernized, although the retro aesthetic has been maintained, including the no crown guard look.
The automatic mechanical Citizen caliber 9051 — which beats at 4Hz, has 24 jewels, and a 42-hour maximum power reserve — has been upgraded with enhanced anti-magnetic functionality thanks to an anti-magnetic balance spring and surrounding components. Regarding the anti-magnetic properties, Citizen states that “It maintains its performance even when placed 1 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 they can even be used aboard ships with magnetic compasses.”
These are true divers’ watches meaning they are compliant with the ISO6425 diver’s watch standard, which pertains to legibility, high durability, shock, and water resistance, and the ability to see that the watch is still running while submerged.
It’s unclear if the dive bezel insert for the Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M is aluminum or ceramic, however, the case is made of Super Titanium, which is hardened titanium that offers the wearer a lightweight and ergonomic wearing experience — as well as being hypoallergenic — without the risk of scratches that usually come with a non-hardened titanium case. A premium flat, beveled edge sapphire crystal protects the dial side. A screw-down crown, screw-in caseback, and multiple gaskets protect the watch from water intrusion to a depth rating of 200 meters.
Interestingly, Citizen states the movement is rated to a daily accuracy of -10/+20 which is about twice as accurate as Seiko’s caliber 4R36, found in watches such as the Seiko 5 Sports, as master watchmaker Jordan Ficklin explains in a video he produced for Professional Watches last year.
The Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M will not hit the stores until Fall 2022, so Citizen has provided only projected prices (which could change in the coming months). The black dial version with a black rubber strap (Ref. NB6021-17E), is expected to retail for $795, and the blue dial version with a matching titanium bracelet (Ref. NB6021-68L) is expected to retail for $995.
Photos by Citizen.
