Watch Review: Citizen ProMaster Diver NY0040

 Also known as the Citizen "Lefty", the Citizen Promaster diver NY0040 was first released in 1997. It was the preferred watch of the Italian Navy. A 500 meter water resistance version was made specifically for the  Marina Militare. The civilian version is only rated at 200 meters, but is advertised as an ISO rated diver. Some even go as far as to conclude that the military and civilian versions are made to the same specs theoretically making even the civilian version capable of going 500 meters.

Specifications

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Dimensions:

• Diameter: 42mm
• Thickness: 12mm
• Lug tip to tip: 48mm
• Lug width: 20mm

Crystal: Mineral

Movement: Miyota 8203; Manual wind; Non-hacking.

Bezel: 60 click, unidirectional dive time bezel with lume pip.

Crown position: 8 o'clock. Screw down.

Complications: Day and Date at 3 o'clock.

Dial: Glossy black; Applied indexes with lume.

Caseback: Solid; Screw down.

The one I have here is the black version. This is the most common of all the color variants. The exact model reference is quite confusing. Some online sources have the model as NY0040-41E, while others have it listed as NY0040-09E. There are new releases in the NY0080 and NY0100 line that have the same looks, but comes in more color combinations.

The original NY0040 lineup, as far as I know came in different colors too. The black one, which I have here. There is a blue dial variant, a fully lumed dial version, yellow dial, and a variant that has a gold bezel, crown, hands, and indexes, but with a black dial.

The other variants are quite hard to come by and when they do, they are typically overpriced even on the used market. I paid 5000 for mine on the used market. Quite a steep price I know, but it was worth it.

Pros

1. Very capable diver. ISO rated and has a good track record because of its military heritage.
2. Very legible dial, hands, and bezel insert. Nice contrast between the black glossy dial and the large hands.
3. Good, long lasting lume.
4. 20mm lug width means there are a myriad of aftermarket straps and bracelets.
5. A proven and reliable movement - Miyota 8203
6. Has manual winding.

Cons

1. Crystal is mineral and not Sapphire. Can easily get scratched.
2. Bezel action while very functional is not as smooth as a 120 click bezel.
3. Dated movement that is non-hacking.
4. Hard to find replacement/mod parts.
5. 8 o'clock crown needs some getting used to. It's a bit awkward especially if you are not left handed.

I bought this sometime in August of 2018. It came with its original rubber strap, but I have since replaced it with a NATO strap. The crystal has been polished and some tool marks can be seen at certain angles. The case seems to be in its original state. Like all divers, it's quite hefty. As this is my very first diver, it took a while to get used to the weight. It also took a while to get used to the crown position. When setting this watch, I hold it upside down where the crown is toward the right as I am right handed.

Despite its age, the watch is fairly accurate in keeping time. I also like how bright and legible the lume is.

The serial number on my watch starts with 0 followed by 3. By my guess it was either made March 2000, or March 2010. The caseback is engraved with the Promaster Logo in the middle and some info around it. The serial looks to be stamped on. More recent reviews of this type of diver shows a laser etched caseback that is quite different from what is on my watch. I am more inclined to believe that my watch was an earlier release and could even be from the year 2000. Whether the hands and dial were replaced before the watch came into my possession was not revealed to me by the seller. All he told me was that it was his fathers watch and yet the seller did not seem like a young lad.

The two types of casebacks below. Older productions have the stamped caseback. More recent ones have the laser etched. While some are quick to say that the laser etched is fake, it is not. Citizen may have found it more economical to just laser etch the caseback.

This is the caseback of my watch. As you can see, it's stamped/engraved.

Laser etched caseback of more recent productions. Image from watchuseek.com

For the caseback, I'm more inclined to like the stamped one. The laser etch just looks cheap, but at the end of the day, it is the same watch built to the same specification. The caseback is just pure aesthetics and personal preference. Besides, no one will really see the caseback while wearing the watch - any wrist watch for that matter.

I especially love how this watch fits my wrist. It's more rounded shape makes the watch look more compact and more fitting for my 6 1/4 inch wrist. I quite like how unique it looks because of the 8 o'clock crown placement, but it is for this reason that some also hate this watch.

The 60- click bezel, while clunky is very functional. I actually prefer this to the 120 click bezel that is popularly used on most diver's watches.

Personally, I like how this watch is different. Though it is considered an entry level piece, I'm confident it can slug it out with its high end contemporaries. Would I recommend this to other watch enthusiasts? Definitely. And if it's good enough for the Italian Navy, it's plenty good for anyone.

Enjoy!