It is so easy to sacrifice style for practicality when you are looking for the best dive watch for you. Many of the dive watches in the Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive watch range find that balance, but many others do not.
When you think about it, you want something that James Bond would wear on a mission. Instead you find yourself with clunky over-waterproofed timepieces that look as though Q wouldn’t wear even for a couple of laps in the pool.
The key, I’ve found, is to look out for those key components that you can find in those heavy duty dive watches, inside pieces from the watch brands you love. There have been some elegant changes to diver’s watches in recent years that are worth looking out for. When you grab the time, take a look at the Braker Fossil watches.
Source: watchyourselves.comThings to Consider Before Buying a Dive Watch
Like in anything, there are many things to think about before purchasing a dive watch.
It is a necessity to the diver or water sport enthusiast, but not any old time piece that claims that it is ‘waterproof’ will do. You need to put in a decent amount of research to make sure you are getting the watch that is best suited for you.
Here are some specific features that you should pay close attention to when on the lookout;
Gasket
The greatest defense your watch has against the elements is one of its tiniest components. A gasket is a small rubber ring that sits at the bottom of the crowns tubing. When the crown is in use and unlocked, it leaves an opening that goes straight down in to the movement of the piece. The gasket prevents anything from entering the watch.
Always make sure that your gasket is properly maintained with annual check ups. When shopping for a new dive watch, try to find one that has an extra-heavy gasket inside.
They last longer.
Source: watchyourselves.comCrown
With many dive watches, you will find that they have a screw-down crown. It is a common fixture when it comes to truly secure diver’s watches.
The crown is essential to a watch’s water resistance, as when it’s locked into place, it tightens the gasket. Cutting off any opening to the movement pieces beneath. Make sure you never unlock a crown underwater, as even the most waterproof watch ever will have trouble keeping itself dry.
Bezel
This element of the diver’s watch is commonly adapted into the style of many top market watches today; the clunky dialed bezel. They are mostly used for sports watches. G Shock Mudmaster uses it a lot, whereas Stuhrling watches rarely ever does.
It is there to help a diver track the timing of their dive.
All the best dive watches have unidirectional rotating bezels. This means that you can rotate the gauge to wherever the minute hand on your watch is. As opposed to resetting your watch for each dive, which is far too time consuming.
Luminous Hands and Markers
Diving can put a lot of strain on your eyes, especially when you are reaching great depths where light is scarce, regardless of the time of day it is. So having markers and watch hands be large enough to read is a plus. But having them work with a luminous light helps the cause all the more.
When looking into diver’s watches, always make sure that the item of interest in has glow in the dark indicators. Otherwise, they are only useful in shallow waters at around noon.
Source: watchyourselves.comCitizen Eco-Drive Watch, Promaster BN0151-09L
The Citizen brand always brings affordability and a strong sense of style to the table when it comes to any watch. With their Eco-Drive Promaster series, they are constantly adhering to the lifestyle of a full time diver and the needs of the wearer.
Underwater or on the surface, this watch is a beautiful timepiece.
Sale
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch With Date, BN0151-09L
- Round watch featuring unidirectional bezel and blue dial with date window at 4 o’clock and luminous hands/hour markers
- Eco-Drive technology is fueled by light and never needs a battery
- 48 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Japanese quartz movement with analog display
- Molded polyurethane band with buckle closure
The Citizen Eco-Drive watch comes complete with a 5-year limited warranty, which in itself is an attractive offer.
It performs just as smoothly as its successor, the BN0150-28E, though sizes a little bulkier than it. Which is really what you need when it comes to diving so you can actually see the time.
Features & Benefits of the Citizen Eco-Drive watch
Solar technology
First and foremost, the most impressive thing about the Citizen Eco-Drive watch series is their use of Eco-Drive technology.
This solar powered range of watches started manufacturing and mass production back in 1995 and has boasted that since 2007 the Eco-Drive has put around 10 million watch batteries out of the job. Tech developed before the best smartwatches came on the market, and it is still something that needs addressing in their cases.
Not only is it a source of renewable energy with the figures to back up its need, it is also an elegant functioning drive system.
The Eco-Drive Promaster charges from any available light source taken in by the virtually invisible solar cells that hide behind the dial. This technology is a brilliantly refined solar power technology, that other watch brands may want to look into finding some way of imitating.
Source: https://watchyourselves.com
Strategic Placement of the Crown
The crown of a watch can be an incredibly annoying feature to the wearer, I am sure that you can agree. Though it is necessary, many people before us (and we are sure that people after us) complain that the positioning of the crown dial at 3 o’clock digs into the wrist making the watch uncomfortable.
Arguably the most noticeable thing about the Citizen Eco-Drive watch is that the crown’s dial is instead affixed at 4 o’clock. This tiny change makes a hell of a difference to the comfort of the wearer and gives this Promaster a unique style of its own.
One-Way Rotating Bezel
Though having a watch that functions with an omnidirectional rotating bezel is a more desired feature, the Citizen Eco-Drive watches bezel only performs an anticlockwise rotation. This could be a flaw or, as we see it, as a positive design feature.
Source: watchyourselves.comHaving this well sculpted and well weighted bezel only rotate anti-clockwise makes it so that there is one clear way of doing things. Working this out before diving, to properly time your dive, it can only go the one way so it has less chance of altering in the water.
Wristband
The wristband strap that comes already attached to the Citizen BN0151-09L comes from polyurethane materials. Polyurethane, or PUR, is a waterproof material that is sleek and comfortable to wear. It has a buckle clasp that stays tight throughout a dive.
It is also removable, should you want to upgrade or downgrade your strap to your liking.
Charge Warnings
Some of the best features worked into the Citizen BN0151-09L are the insufficient charge warnings and its overcharge prevention function.
Yes, this watch uses the Eco-Drive to obtain light from any source and turn it into battery power, but it does reach a maximum amount of charge and of course, it can fall to low and insufficient charge for it to work. Thankfully the folks over at Citizen worked in some countermeasures to make sure that neither of these things happens… on your watch.
When your charge falls to the insufficient minimum for it to work, the second hand will start to move at two-second intervals. This warning continues for as long as one week before the watch stops working entirely. If you expose the watch to any light source, it will charge itself back and the second hand will return to moving at one-second intervals.
If you do not get the watch to a light source fast enough and it ultimately stops working, when you finally expose it to light the watch jumps into a quick start function. The second you expose your Citizen Eco-Drive watch to a light source it will kick start back to life immediately.
The last great function that the Citizen possesses by way of its charging capacities is the overcharge prevention function that comes into play when the power cells reach their limit. When the Eco-Drive cells are completely charged, the prevention is to cut off all other income of power. This prevents overcharging, overheating, and keeps the watch battery life healthy.
Social Proof of the Citizen Eco-Drive Watches popularity
The real knowledge of whether a product is worth buying is usually found in comments sections and customer reviews from different sources across the internet. Searching for news on the Citizen Eco-Drive watch has come up very positive toward the watch.
Many sources indicate that after careful consider, this watch is the first and last diver’s watch they will ever buy.
Which seems like a pretty good endorsement to us.
Alternatives to Consider
Seiko Men’s Prospex Automatic Diver
Seiko watches are synonymous with long lasting quality. The same can easily be said about the Prospex Automatic Diver . We feel that this watch can match up to the appeal of the , as well as most of its technical features.
The Prospex can also reach a depth of 200m. Hardlex Mineral Crystal make up the glass face. And the case comes in at 42mm, very similar to the Citizen BN0151-09L .
Where it differs drastically, is that the Seiko operates with a self-winding automatic movement. The second hand is hackable, in case you need to adjust your minutes.
This piece is so sharp in its delivery that even the manufacturer’s nickname for it is ‘Samurai’ and works beautifully as one of the best outdoor watches for men out of the water too.
So it is definitely worth a look.
Sale
Seiko Men’s Prospex Automatic Diver Silicone Strap Watch
- Seiko 24 Jewels Self-Winding Automatic Movement with Hackable Second Hand (Calibre 4R36)
- Stainless Steel Case , Black Rubber Band
- Hardlex Mineral Crystal, Date Display, Luminous Hands and Markers
- Case Size: 42 mm Diameter, 12 mm Thicknes4
- Water Resistant – 20 ATM, Screw Down Crown and Case Back
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster BJ8050-08E
Regardless of when your Citizen watch was produced, they can always attest to the highest of standards the latest model functions to.
The same can be said about 2005’s model, the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster BJ8050-08E . All of the brilliant functionality of the Citizen BN0151-09L ; Eco-Drive technology, one-way rotation bezel, a date marker; and it can go down to a depth of 300m.
This watch is a little more on the clunky side with its giant bezel, and the crown is moved onto the left-hand side of the casing making it a little awkward to adjust the time.
But piece can still be considered a great buy for the divers of today.
Sale
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch with Date, BJ8050-08E
- Diver’s watch with easy-to-read dial, rotating bezel, and large luminous hands and hour markers
- Eco Drive technology is fueled by light and it never needs a battery. Case Material – Silver-Tone, Stainless Steel
- 48 mm stainless steel case, mineral dial window, and Japanese quartz movement with analog display
- Rubber band with buckle closure
- Water resistant to 300 m (1000 ft)
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster BN0150-28E
And finally, it would be foolish not to suggest the Citizen BN0151-09L ’s direct successor as a possible alternative purchase. The BN0150-28E has all the little perks and updates that you would expect from a model designed and manufactured a year later.
The watch face is smaller at 42mm, but still legible at the same depths as its predecessor up to a 200m depth. The Eco-Drive is still a brilliant solar-sufficient function in this Promaster.
When comparing the two together, they seem to have narrowly changed.
Which makes it a great alternative to the BN0151-09L as it is just a new updated model.
Sale
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch with Date, BN0150-28E
- Citizen Eco-Drive is Powered by Light, a watch that never needs a battery
- Mineral Crystal
- Japanese-quartz Movement
- Case Diameter: 43mm. Can be used during Swimming, Showering & Snorkeling
- Water Resistant To 660 Feet
Wrapping Up
It is always hard to find the perfect balance between your perfect style with a piece and its elegant functionality. Especially in a divers watch. Though hopefully, you have found a decent stepping stone that embraces style and practicality in the Citizen Eco-Drive watch BN0151-09L .
This watch has a beautiful free movement that reaches up to a depth of 200m, it operates on solar power thanks to its Eco-Drive. The crown is at 4 o’clock to avoid digging into the wrist. The whole piece is easily handsome enough for everyday use.