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The Citizen Promaster Diver is a solar-powered analog quartz watch with a stainless steel case. It is part of the Promaster Sea Collection, a lineup of professional diver’s watches manufactured by Citizen. Each watch in this collection meets the ISO 6425 specification, making it safe to use for scuba diving or other water sports and activities that may cause water damage.
It’s no surprise that watches from the Promaster Sea Collection are loved so much, given Citizen’s innovative eco-drive technology, which means the watch can passively absorb light and doesn’t require battery replacement.
Besides, Citizen somehow managed to keep the price around $200, making it the most affordable, high-quality diving watch on the market.
In the Citizen Promaster Diver review, we will take a closer look at the BN0151-09L model in this lineup.
Citizen Promaster Diver BN0151-09L Review
As we opened the box we saw a very sturdy and durable watch. The case is made of stainless steel and the watch measures 44mm wide and 12mm thick. Weighing in at 15.2 oz, this diver’s watch has real weight but isn’t tiringly heavy.
The BN0151-09L has thick textured bezels that we love. As mentioned above, the BN0151-09L uses a dark blue scheme. Looking at the dial, you can see the luminous hands and the hour display that stands out even in low light conditions.
Part of the reason it looks transparent is thanks to the anti-reflective mineral crystal glass display. Finally, the Citizen Promaster Diver watch has a standard 20mm lug width, making it easy to customize the straps to fit third-party products of your choice.
Watchband
Depending on whether you have the BN0151-09L model, the polyurethane band is available in this watch with a convenient dive table printed on one side for no-decompression limits.
As expected, the band was very durable. It is ribbed to give it some flexibility, but it sits right on top of a dry or wetsuit when scuba diving.
The band may feel stiff the first time you put it on, but it doesn’t take long to split and becomes more comfortable afterward. This brand is a style found on classic diver’s watches.
The standard width of the lugs is 20mm, which makes them compatible with most other band types. If you don’t like the original band, you can personalize your watch by trying a variety of third-party bands until you get a band that suits your needs. We found the bands that came with it adequately.
Dial
The dial is either black or dark blue. The watch face is only about 30mm wide and the rest is part of the diver’s bezel. The dial is very intuitive. The time display is white, contrasting well with dark blue and black. In addition, the edges of the hands and the date are polished on the outer rim of the index, making it visible in direct sunlight.
The Citizen Promaster has 12-hour marks on the dial and a date window at the 4 o’clock position. On many watches, the date window simply obscures one of the displays due to lack of space. This is not the case with Promaster.
The citizen has included half of the markings including the lume so that even if partially obscured, the wearer can still see the spot. This is a nice touch. There are three needles on the dial, which is standard practice. There are hour hand, minute hand, and second hand.
All of them are relatively wide to accommodate the lumen, including the thin second hand. The minute hand is not only the longest, but the colored minute hand with a pointed tip stands out the most. Combined with the lume, it pops out of the rest of the components and you can see it at a glance.
You’ll find the Citizen logo proudly displayed just below the midnight mark. Next, at the top at 6 o’clock from the bottom, there is a model name and a waterproof indicator. These are all very standard practices.
One thing to note is that the 12-hour index has a unique shape compared to other stocks. This is to differentiate it from other indices so that the remaining marks can be orientated relatively easily in low visibility conditions.
For example, if you see this shape, you know that it is pointing upwards and the other direction should point downwards. The outer beveled ring has a mark every minute. It is simple and fits well into the overall design of the dial without compromising other markings.
Overall, the dials on the Promaster Diver are intuitive and do what they need without overloading the user. If you prefer a more minimalist design on the hands and dials, then this is for you.
Bezel
To meet stringent ISO-6425 requirements, the watch’s stainless steel bezel is designed to be difficult to rotate underwater. The justification is that this reduces the chance of being accidentally adjusted if something bumps or bumps. It’s also a one-sided bezel where the bezel only rotates on one side.
Next, there is a notch on the side of the bezel to further enhance grip and track elapsed time of up to 60 minutes. It also has a ratchet mechanism that clicks when turning
Each ‘click’ means it’s set to track 30 minutes, so it’s easy to know how much time you’re measuring. Of course, this watch has luminescent markings along with the bezel that show the minutes and 10-minute intervals.
Citizen Promaster diver 200m waterproof ISO 6425
Not everyone who wears a diver’s watch wears a diver’s watch. Most people don’t and it’s just fine. But to cover all bases, we’ll talk about how durable the watch is, especially when exposed to water.
There are many manufacturers selling watches that claim to be diver’s watches, but they only show parts and do not meet international standards. In other words, if you claim to be waterproof up to 100m, 200m, 300m, etc., you can not only survive a short time but also fail much faster.
Meeting ISO 6425 certification means that international standards for watch durability have been reached and can be considered a legitimate diver’s watch. Yes, the Citizen Promaster Diver BN0151-09L meets these stringent requirements.
In addition to meeting the ISO 6425 standard, the stainless steel case of the Promaster watch protects against the corrosive properties of saltwater. It can be used in deep water under great pressure for long periods without problems.
Citizen Promaster Diver analog quartz movement
The Promaster Diver is equipped with an analog quartz movement, the most precise type of movement a watch can have. If accuracy is your main concern, this is the best you can get.
What’s more, this watch is solar-powered. This means that when worn outdoors, it absorbs both natural and artificial light to keep your hands moving.
Essentially, with no need to change batteries, the Promaster Diver will continue to work for decades. Again, it also means you’ll keep hearing the secondhand ticking forever. We find it very quiet, but more sensitive wearers may find it annoying when trying to sleep.
Another noteworthy thing is that the Promaster Diver’s caliber is E168. In other words, the accuracy of this watch is a reliable accuracy of + or – 15 seconds per month, assuming a room temperature of 5-35˚C. There can be a small margin of error of a few seconds per month, but over time it can average out.
Battery life and Recharge
Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology uses a thin amorphous silicon disk underneath the dial to absorb both natural and artificial light and convert it into electrical energy. This energy is stored in a rechargeable titanium lithium-ion battery.
Citizen is much greener because it doesn’t use the toxic chemicals commonly found in regular batteries. And since they can last decades before they need to be replaced, the amount of waste generated is only a fraction of what other battery-powered devices produce.
Thanks to Eco-Drive, there is no need to specifically charge the Promaster watches. You can go through the day as you normally would, absorb any ambient light you are exposed to, and convert it into energy without the need to change cables or batteries.
Maintenance
We have already mentioned above that you do not need to replace the battery in your Promaster diver’s watch. But the same cannot be said about gears and gaskets. These deteriorate much faster and need to be replaced every two or three years. Send it to an authorized civic service center. Doing so will prolong the life of your watch.
Conclusion of Citizen Promaster Diver watch Review
Overall, we are impressed with the durability and performance of the Citizen Promaster BN0151-09L diver watch.
You will get is a large, classic men’s diver’s watch with a stainless steel case that is corrosion-resistant, the mineral crystal glass is anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and impact-resistant, and the watchband is sturdy and comfortable.
The best part of this watch is the Eco-Drive technology and the fact that there is no need to change the battery. Whether you decide to purchase the BN0151-09L, BN0158-00X, or BN0150-28E model of the Citizen Promaster diver’s watch, you’re getting an excellent maintenance-free watch at an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions about Citizen Promaster Diver watch
What is Citizen Promaster?
The Citizen Promaster brand captivates the imaginations of sports professionals around the world with high-performance sports watches. Citizen’s iconic professional diver’s watch was awarded the highest depth rating in the world in 1982 and boasted pressure resistance of up to 1,300 meters.
Are Citizen Promaster Watches good?
Again, reliable and noticeably time-consuming (+/- 5 seconds per month). And there is no need to change or roll up the battery. Citizen watches are fantastic and have great value.
How does Citizen Promaster watch work?
First, the crown tightens the screw. Every high-quality diver’s watch should have this feature. This prevents accidental opening underwater, breaking the waterproof seal, and damaging the watch. It also has a guard, so it won’t come loose even if you bump into it.
Next up is rum. The lume can be found on the edge of the 12 markers and the three needles, and even the circles on the rotating bezel. I especially like the way the second-hand fills with lumens, as not all manufacturers do this for their watches.
Charging the lume is very simple. Just like with Eco-Drive technology, it charges by simply exposing it to light. It can also be charged from an artificial light source such as a flashlight or desk lamp.
In your daily life, you will most likely be exposed to enough sunlight that you do not need to specifically charge your watch.
Finally, there is the important unidirectional rotating bezel, a must-have for a diver’s watch. It’s pretty standard. Unidirectional means you only rotate in one direction, so you cannot accidentally add time during a dive.
This means you don’t have to worry about running out of air before time runs out. On the bezel, you’ll find a thin mark with a circle at the top every minute, a larger baton for five minutes, a square mark every ten minutes, and a printed number.
The dark bezel with white indices makes the mark stand out, making it not only look good but also stand out underwater.
What is the difference between BN0151-09L and BN0150-28E?
There is very little difference between them. Both are part of the Citizen’s Promaster Sea collection, but you can think of them as the same watch.
Aside from the color scheme, the BN0151-09L and BN0150-28E models are both identical. They are made of the same material, have the same design, have the same function, and have the same weight.
The difference lies only in the color scheme. Specifically, the BN0151-09L has a blue rubber strap and a dark blue watch face. On the other hand, the BN0150-28E has a black rubber band and a black dial.
In other words, the reasons for choosing one of the other models depend on whether you prefer a blue watch or a black one. Click here to know further.
How to recharge Citizen Promaster Diver’s battery?
When the watch’s battery is low, the second hand will start moving every two seconds, signaling that it needs to be recharged. When fully charged, normal operation resumes.
There are a few things to keep in mind regarding how to keep your Citizen watch charged.
First, it may take a bit more effort to keep the charge going in winter than in summer. This is because watches are most often stored under the sleeves of a shirt or jacket to limit exposure to light.
Therefore, efforts may be made to expose the watch to artificial light to compensate for the reduced light exposure. If it is safe to do so, roll up your sleeves and let in natural light.
If using an artificial light source, place it at least 2 feet away from the light source to avoid overheating. To triple the charging speed, simply pull the crown out to expose it to the light source. This is usually how water or moisture can get inside a waterproof watch, so do so only under ideal conditions.
Finally, the batteries in Eco-Drive watches are designed to last a lifetime. Even after 20 years of use, it has been shown that the battery has degraded to only retain about 80% of its original charge.
This is still very impressive considering how quickly batteries in other devices fail and need to be replaced.