CITIZEN PROMASTER's Mechanical Diver 200m Celebrates Its Invincible Heritage
The brand’s 1977 Challenge Diver Watch washed up on an Australian beach in 1983, still ticking.
With its latest product entry, CITIZEN is paying homage to one of its most everlasting watches: the archival 1977 Challenge Diver. Notably, the seemingly-immortal timepiece washed up on the shore of Long Reef Beach in Australia in 1983 — entirely covered in barnacles from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, but still ticking at full capacity. Today, the global watchmaker welcomes a modern take on the tactically revered timekeeper: the CITIZEN PROMASTER Mechanical Diver 200m.
“The 1977 Challenge Diver is like no other watch. The incredible story alone sets it apart,” Eric Horowitz, Manager Director Citizen Watch of America, told Hypebeast. “This ultimately led to the affectionate nickname Fujitsubo (Japanese for barnacle) given to the timepiece.”
Fusing the heritage model with contemporary updates, the latest Mechanical Diver is equipped with the same case diameter as the original watch but instead crafted with scratch-resistant Super Titanium™ and a thinner composition. With a signature green lume and beveled sapphire glass, the modern timepiece plays into its vintage inspiration without sacrificing its state-of-the-art technicality. As its moniker suggests, the watch is ISO-compliant to 200m and supplies up to 42 hours of running time when fully wound.
“It was important for us to preserve the original design and heritage of this iconic watch while making it more adaptable for today,” Horowitz added. “With the addition of our proprietary Super Titanium™ material and Caliber 9051 movement, this updated Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m marks a new statement with the brand’s longstanding record in dive innovation.”
The CITIZEN PROMASTER Mechanical Diver 200m arrives in two iterations: one composed of the aforementioned Super Titanium™ with a blue interior and another made with polyurethane in black. Both models are now available on CITZEN’s website; the former is listed for $995 USD, and the latter is priced at $795 USD.
Take a look at the history-inspired timepieces (and Fujitsubo) above.
Elsewhere in timekeeping, Franck Muller is launching a new NFT series comprised of luxury watches.
