Citizen Finally Presents The Promaster Diver In A 37mm Reduced Case
Diving watches of more moderate dimensions are definitely in fashion. After we saw the arrival of the 37mm Tudor Black Bay 54 in the last edition of Watches And Wonders, which no one was expecting and which caused quite a stir, we also saw the arrival of four new Seiko 5 Sports based on the historic SKX model but in a smaller size in 38mm and now it’s Citizen’s turn with the introduction of the Promaster for the first time in 37mm.
Citizen Promaster, which has long disputed the same market niche in diving watches as Seiko, has always struggled with the problem of size, although its divers benefit from a reduced lug-to-lug distance that makes their 44mm models wear like 42mm and the 42mm models wear like 40mm, and many times better than Seiko watches. However, contrary to what happens with Seiko, Citizen has never been able to present a Diver in a more moderate size, as for example happened with Seiko with the introduction of the 37mm SXX013 in response to an audience with smaller wrists.
And today, for the first time, Citizen presents three reduced-size diving watches with a 36.5mm diameter, 11.6mm thick and 65gr in weight. The new Promaster Diver 37mm is powered by the Eco-Drive E168 movement, which when fully charged will provide 6 months of power without the need for exposure to light.
Despite its reduced size maintains all the characteristics of a professional diving watch certified by ISO 6425, which comes with a water resistance of 200m, resistance to magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m and an accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month.
On the outside, the watches retain the same characteristics as their 44mm “big brother”, with a stainless steel case, unidirectional diving bezel with an inverted triangle with luminescence at 12 o’clock, mineral glass, screw-down crown with crown guards and screwed case back.
Among the three variants, we have a black one with the reference EO2020-08E that features a black dial and bezel insert to match the rubber strap, orange minute hand and applied silver hour indexes and hands. A blue variant EO2028-06L comes with a blue dial and bezel insert, orange minute hand, and light blue hour markers and centre seconds hand matching the rubber strap. Finally, we have the pink variant EO2023-00A that comes with a steel case in rose gold-tone matching the hour indexes and hands, a silver-tone dial and insert bezel and a pink rubber strap.
The three variants also share in the dial, luminescence material on the hour markers and hands, as well as a date window at 4 o’clock.
The watches are already available in the brand’s official boutiques and authorized retailers for a price of €248 for the black and blue variants and around €262 for the pink variant.
Our Opinion
It is undoubtedly an excellent bet by Citizen, which is only a bit late, the lack of a more moderately sized diver’s watch for years than the 42mm must have cost the brand many customers and of course, benefited the competition.
When compared for example with the Seiko 5 Sports SKX style 38mm above mentioned, we can see how much the “small” Citizen Diver has to offer, 200m of water resistance against Seiko’s 100, less 1.5mm in diameter and 0.5mm in thickness compared to the Seiko and still a lower price by more than € 100.
So the new Promaster Diver 37mm is a successful combination that proves that with little money it is possible to do a lot and the brand remains too undervalued.
More information here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Citizen
Model: Promaster Dive
Reference: EO2020-08E, EO2023-00A, EO2028-06L
Dial: Black (EO2020-08E), blue (EO2028-06L), grey (EO2023-00A)
Lume: Yes
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 36.5 mm Diameter, 11.6 mm thickness
Crystal: Mineral Glass
Case Back: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 200 Meters
Strap: Black, blue or pink rubber strap
Calibre: Eco-Drive E168
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Winding: Quartz
Power Reserve: 6 Months when fully charged
Price: € 248 (EO2020-08E, EO2028-06L), € 262 (EO2023-00A)
Availability: Now
