Finally Reviewing The Legendary Citizen Promaster – Seiko/Orient Killer?

In this Citizen NY0040 review video, I look at the legendary automatic Promaster diver with years of military service. This version has been on sale for over 30 years, but is it the best Citizen dive watch you can buy? Is it any good vs Seiko and Orient? Specifically, this one is the NY0040-17LE, though other watches come in black and Pepsi colors, with bracelets instead of straps.

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✋ Wrist size: 6 inches/15.25cm

🎬 Chapters
0:00 Dive Watches Are Everywhere!
0:33 The Best Value Promaster?
1:14 Unboxing A Stench
2:18 Crown Layout
3:25 Sizing
4:28 Case & Case Finishing
4:55 Bezel
5:38 Crystal
6:18 Design & Dial
7:26 Water Resistance
7:51 Movement (& Noise)
8:36 Strap & Wearability
9:31 Luminescence
9:50 Full Comparison vs Seiko & Orient
11:34 Better Citizen Alternative?

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🎼 Music

🚨 Disclosures

[TheMasonator]

My favourite watch in my collection. History, originality, simplicity, durability, wears well, and so affordable most people could own two.

[chaschbe]

I owned this watch for several years and it is still one of my favourites!

[granthaller]

I have a quartz Promaster diver from the late 80s. It worked great for many years and many dives. It died and I sent it in to Citizen many years later after finding it in a drawer. For $80 it got a new movement and re-certified to 200m WR. I like that it is 10-11 mm thick and 40 mm diameter for everyday wear. It has the crown at 9 o’clock. I believe that was to make it less likely to be damaged or loosened when in use, especially diving. One of my favorite watches.

[brantisonfire]

These are sleeper hit watches. I have this same blue model. Purchased from Jomashop a few months ago. I wear it nearly every day. It’s just a no nonsense watch with a diving heritage and carries the ISO dive rating, so it’s a legit diver.

[markfogel]

I had mine for 10 years or so.. great watch, solid movement too.

[watchfinds]

Promaster in full lume dial is just such an icon looking watch. In Germany it is called "leuchtkeks" and that translates to "glow cookie", and who does not like cookies... :)

[cdeaker]

The watches were adopted in the mid to late ‘90s by the Italian Navy or Marina Militare. A modified version of these watches was worn by the military divers. Some decommissioned pieces still make their way to the second-hand market today, but they are extremely rare. You can easily recognize them as the Citizen logo at 12 o’clock has been replaced by “Marina Militare” and the water-resistance rating is 500m instead of 200. It was actually regular production watches that were tested by Citizen to 500m for military purposes

[TheGrenadier]

Yes, yes, yes, although Orient and Casio deserve great respect of course for the Kamasu and Duro, respectively. I have the traditional black NY0040 right now on a NATO strap. Absolutely wonderful watch with rich history.

[deanwaller]

Also worth mentioning that you can now buy a fitted steel bracelet for this model from long island watches.
Bought one a while back and the fit is literally perfect

[BBS]

This was my first watch, took ages deciding between this and the Seiko SKX, but this just had the unique edge. Mine came in an impressive bright yellow diving tank presentation case.

[gavinfroggatt]

I got mine from Amazon a couple of years back for around £175, I've since regulated it and it's crazy accurate, a very fine watch.

[diogosantos]

I have this watch and many others but this is my favourite because it was my first automatic. I'll always have it

[Olddirtytiger]

Citizen Promaster BN0150-10E is the model you need or even the Excalibur... glad Citizen now gets the praise and coverage it deserves

[Gold_Stadt]

Nice to see that someone still cares for this watch in 2024. My first mechanical watch that I bought was the SKX009 back in 2016 - the second one was the Promaster Fugu (because I liked the design better than the standard one). I love both and for the money I think you can't go wrong although I'm not a diver or practicing any other water sports. Yes, it seems a little old school but in my opinion that's an advantage - simple, rugged, robust, reliable: it's your companion that you can count on no matter what your everyday life may throw at you (unless you have to wear a suit). In my opinion the best watch for a careless holiday on the beach because it's more relaxed than an awfully accurate and powerful 5610 G-Shock. 😉

[bert]

Got the black one on a NDC strap. My every day driver, looks very good for a utility watch and comes with a story.
And the combo is that comfortable and easy in use I grab it most of the mornings from my drawer with watches.

[ClearBrookExotics]

I have the NY in black, as well as the new Challenge/Barnacle. I like them equally.
I also like them as much as my Turtle and SKX.

Citizen has won me over !

[MennodR]

Once you owned a promaster yourself, you know how incredible.they are. It is one of those semi hidden gems.

[jpy]

I own the NY0086 and is one of my best and favorites in a collection of many Seiko divers 👍🏻

[GrnMachine]

These are the best value ISO divers period. I have the NY0085 and 86. Pepsi and coke bezels. I had to have two considering how well they wear on my wrist. Also i have fitted them with the oyster and Jubilee bracelets from long island watch. FYI, the lume has been upgraded along with the movement on the newer models with a signed crown.

[christopherjohnson]

These Citizens are cool. My dad was presented an engraved one when he retired.