Citizen’s flagship mechanical dive watch gets an upgrade with the Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m “Fujitsubo”. The new “Fujitsubo” diver features a gradient-finish grey dial, but its standout feature is the case and bracelet in the brand’s proprietary hardened titanium alloy coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC).

Initial thoughts

Sometimes underestimated, Citizen’s dive watches don’t garner as much attention as those of its competitor Seiko, primarily due to the scarcity of mechanical dive in Citizen’s lineup. Most of Citizen’s dive watches are solar-powered or quartz. Nevertheless, the Japanese watchmaker has recently taken significant steps towards boosting its mechanical offerings, particularly with the introduction of the oversized and modern Promaster 200 m diver.

The “Fujitsubo”, on the other hand, takes inspiration from the Challenge Diver of 1977, explaining its vintage styling. But this latest iteration exudes a more contemporary feel owing to the gradient grey dial and the DLC coating on the case and bracelet. The resulting shades-of-grey livery makes this stand apart from its predecessor, which was essentially a like-for-like remake. 

Priced at US$1,195, the “Fujitsubo” DLC is a bit more expensive than the standard titanium model. Nonetheless, it justifies the higher price tag with improved aesthetics and the superior durability offered by the DLC coating. That said, it would have been even more appealing with the option of a rubber strap for added versatility. 

Gradient dial, but same styling

The new “Fujitsubo” draws inspiration from the Challenge Diver, keeping the same dial design with the distinct “Mercedes” tip on the hour hand and chunky indices. However, the markings on the dial have been tweaked to match the all-grey livery.

The text on the dial is printed in black, instead of white as on the earlier remake. This results in a more subtle contrast between the text and the gradient finish, which transitions from grey to black on the periphery.

The case dimensions remain consistent with the standard “Fujitsubo”, with a diameter of 41 mm and thickness of 12.3 mm.

As with many of Citizen’s mid-range diver’s watches, the new “Fujitsubo” is housed in a case of Super Titanium, the brand’s proprietary alloy. But here it is additionally treated with Duratect DLC, which combines hardening and a DLC coating. This gives the case a sleek and glossy finish, but Duratect DLC is more than just cosmetic. The combination of surface hardening and a DLC coating boosts its scratch resistance to to several times that of ordinary titanium.

The watch is powered by the cal. 9501 automatic movement, which has the industry standard frequency of 4 Hz, though it has a relatively modest power reserve of 42 hours.

Key facts and price

Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m “Fujitsubo” DLC
Ref. NB6025-59H

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 12.3 mm
Material: Super Titanium with Duratect DLC treatment
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: Cal. 9501
Functions: Hour, minutes, seconds and date
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hours (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Matching bracelet

Limited edition: No
Availability: At Citizen boutiques and authorised retailers
Price: US$1,195; or 1,825.20 Singapore dollars 

For more, visit Citizenwatch-global.com and Citizenwatch.com.sg.

This was brought to you in partnership with Citizen.