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5 reviews
Best value for a diver
If you are looking for a very high quality, mechanical dive watch at a great price... look no further. There is a lot to love about this timepiece and very little to complain about. The only things that I can find lacking in any way about this watch would be that the bracelet uses folded links rather than solid, it uses a mineral crystal rather than a sapphire, and there is no magnification over the day/date display. If those issues were addressed however, this watch would be a near perfect dive watch, and it’s price would inevitably increase.
As it is, the Citizen Promaster NY0085-86E (in fact all variants of the NY0085 series) is an amazing value for what you get... perhaps the best on the market. You get a solidly constructed watch built of stainless steel that is certified dive worthy to 200m. The face of the watch is not “busy”. The few markings it has simply identify the watch and it’s dive rating. The indices on the dial of the watch line up perfectly with those on the bezel, and the color combinations are well executed to produce just enough contrast to make the watch very visually appealing.
The crown of this watch is located at the 8 o’clock position which serves multiple purposes. First, it makes the watch stand out from other similar designs. Next, it makes the watch friendly for left handed wearers. Finally, it is useful for those of us who are right handed in that it does not allow the crown to dig into the bony area on the back side of the hand. It is a well thought out design. Speaking of the crown, this one is fantastic. It’s movement feels very solid and precise, it has just enough texturing around its edge to make it easy to manipulate, and it is topped with a very nice looking Promaster logo.
The watch is driven by the excellent Miyota 8204 automatic movement, which is very reliable and plenty accurate for a daily wear tool watch. The luminescent feature of this watch is quite good, and is pleasing to the eye. All of the markers on the face of the watch glow a bright blue after exposure to light, and a single green dot is illuminated at the 60 minute mark on the bezel. The bezel is wisely unidirectional in a counter-clockwise rotation with 60 clicks that are precise. This ensures that if the watch is used for diving, the bezel can only move in a way that decreases remaining time rather than increasing it as a safety measure in case the bezel is accidentally bumped.
The overall size of this watch is a good fit for men of average to large size. It might be a bit on the large side for those of very small stature, but I would say that the vast majority of men would be quite comfortable with this watch. It’s weight is noticeable yet not tiring. The case back with its stylishly applied Promaster logo rests smoothly against the skin with no abrasive surfaces to irritate the wrist.
In closing, I must say that this is a watch that might very well be the best entry level dive watch available today. It is well executed and is a timepiece that you can be proud to own and wear. Mechanically, the watch is solid, and its visual elements are without a doubt attractive. A perfect blend of brushed stainless and highly polished stainless combined with vivid colors to crate a watch that has just the right amount of individuality as well as classic styling.
One final thought regarding this particular watch is that it is something of an unusual watch in the USA. I initially couldn’t find any information about the watch on Citizen’s website, and their online warranty registry couldn’t recognize the watch by scanning or by manually entering the info. A quick call to Citizen provided all of the answers I was looking for. As it turns out, the NY0085-86E is produced specifically for the European market, and as such it is only featured on the Citizen Europe website. I was assured that it is compatible with the same mechanical parts that other Promaster automatic watches utilize, but that warranty and repair issues would have to go through Citizen Europe. I’m not terribly concerned about it as I doubt that I’ll be needing too many repairs any time soon. If I do, Citizen Europe is based out of Hamburg Germany, and based upon my prior experience with other mechanical goods from Germany, I trust that it would be in excellent hands.
Bottom line is that this is a fantastic watch that is well worth the money. You won’t regret buying this watch. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: nywatchstore
Citizen a Seiko alternative
Nice affordable alternative to SKX007 if you like. Size comparable size but seems to wear a bit smaller. Nice on my 6.5 inch wrist. Keeps excellent time. Quirky crown on the left of case. Does not hack but hand winds.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: dexclusive-fashion
Awesome value
Best dive automatic for the price. The metal band is a little loose and noisy but it also comes with a rubber dive strap. I bought it knowing I would replace with a mesh bracelet.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: nywatchstore
Good looking watch
Nice piece to have. To much value for the price
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: nywatchstore
Excellent Citizen Promaster Diver
Excellent watch for a very good price. The COKE bezel is very cute.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: dexclusive-fashion