Citizen Promaster Dive 37mm
Glow-Up: Citizen’s Promaster 37mm Diver Gets Three New References
New dial colors and materials hallmark this trio of updates to the watchmaker’s popular sport watch for smaller wrists.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
There is no argument that some dive watches are more likely to get their day in the sun than their day under the waves. But, it is always reassuring that when you are ready for the plunge, your dive watch will serve you well.
While Citizen has been producing water resistant watches since the 1959 release of the Parawater, the Promaster has been a staple of serious divers since 1989 (Full admission: I owned an early 90s Promaster, unintentionally parted with it, and recently replaced it with a 44mm modern version as my go-to dive watch). But in 2023, Citizen opened up the Promaster’s appeal with 37mm executions that were just as robust as the core 44mm dive watch.
This trio of 37mm updates takes the story even a little deeper, into a decidedly fashionable pool, to boot.
Diver Down
All three of the new steel 37mms are powered by the Eco-Drive E168 light-powered caliber, and you can expect the same signature battery-less, charger-less operation of the iconic movement (running for 6 months on a single full-light charge). Accuracy is +/- 15 second per month, and a delayed second hand advance serves as a warning alert to expose your Promaster to a light source for needed charging.
The screw-down crown, like all Promasters, is swept down to the 4 o’clock position, to allow for easier wrist movement, even wearing a wetsuit; a date windows also runs in the 4 o’clock position.
The metallic-tone knurled aluminum-insert dive bezel on all three is unidirectional (a nod to pro-quality safety—unidirectional bezels are preferred to bi-directional bezels by serious divers), the sword hour and minutes hands as well as the circular and badge-shaped hour indicators are lumed for legibility, and the trio are rated to 200m for water resistance.
Clearly, the new 37mm Promasters make for legit wrist companions in the deep blue. But the exciting vibe of these updates allows for plenty of visual impact for your time above the water line.
Land-Based Activity
Previous 37mm Promasters were available solely on colorful rubber straps. Two of the new updates, however, sport gleaming stainless steel H-link bracelets.
The eye-catching deep purple sun ray-textured dial (with complementary orange detailing) on one of the set (Ref. EO2027-50X) is just a very bold, unexpected use of the lush color.
A purple dial is hard to find, on any watch, and this color is a most welcome chromatic addition to the dive boat. Equally unexpected, the sunray brick-y red of the Ref. EO2027-50Z’s dial, with more neutral detailing, makes for a unique statement, with a just a hint more of subdued sophistication.
Meanwhile, the Ref. EO2027-09L is presented on a powdery blue rubber strap to work well with the deep azure blue dial, complemented by a bright yellow second hand. The strap is designed with thick, knobby “links” near the case attachment points, adding some robust burliness to the overall presentation.
All three feature solid, secure steel screw-down casebooks, and are presented in Citizen’s fun Promaster “dive tank” packaging. The steel bracelet versions retail for $450, while the rubber-strap update lists for $375.
You can find out more at the Citizen website.
(Photography by Watchonista)
