The new Citizen Promaster Aqualand celebrates 40 years of the first diver with an electronic depth sensor
Zach Blass- Launched in 1985, Citizen’s Aqualand was the world’s first diver’s watch with an electronic depth meter.
- The new 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is a faithful tribute that introduces celebratory gold accents.
- Other than telling time, its functionalities include a calendar, alarm, chronograph, depth measurement, dive time tracking, and an ascent rate alarm.
In the wake of the resurgence of mechanical watchmaking, anything quartz or electronic became taboo amongst the watch-collecting scene. It was snobbishly considered practically traitorous to sport a quartz watch, and in some respects, the sentiment still lingers. But in a world before an abundance of electronic devices that made our lives radically easier, quartz watches were presented as superior tools of the future. One such example, geared toward diving professionals, was Citizen’s pioneering Aqualand dive watch, the first-ever wristwatch to include a handy electronic depth meter. With the Aqualand presented in 1985, today Citizen announces the new Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.
Its 50.7mm diameter case may sound intimidating on paper, but this measurement includes the protruding pressure sensor on the 9 o’clock side. If you exclude it, the diameter shrinks to 44mm, which is still quite broad, but the lug-to-lug of 48mm makes it much more wrist-manageable than you might expect. The stainless steel case, 14.8mm thick and 200 metres water-resistant, has a muted grey hue with a matte-brushed finish befitting a tool watch. But in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the design, Citizen has elected to incorporate gold-plating on the knurling of the bezel, the pressure sensor, the three case pushers, and the knurled 4 o’clock screw-down crown.
The black sunburst dial’s design ensures maximum legibility, with wide and large hour indices with ample plots of lume. The same can be said for the broad central and hours and minutes hands that are cropped to ensure they do not cover the digital display at the 12 o’clock position. You will also notice the minute hand is rendered in a distinct orange, allowing the hand and its ties to dive timing to be better delineated. The central seconds hand has luminous material as well, but it is filled within the counterweight. Therefore, in darkness, do not mistake it as the current running seconds, it merely serves the purpose of letting you know the watch is still running.
The digital display is most known for its display of the electronic depth meter, but it also tied to the other variety of electronic functionalities including a calendar, alarm, chronograph, functions, depth measurement, dive time tracking, and an ascent rate alarm that will let you know if you are ascending to the surface too quickly. This is all driven by Citizen’s in-house quartz cal.C520 that is pledged to run within 20 seconds per month.
The new Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is outfitted with a black biomass-based polyurethane (BENEBiOL) strap that is both durable and environmentally friendly. It also includes a strap extension system to ensure it can easily be worn over a dive suit.
At US$595, the 40th Anniversary Aqualand appears to be an excellent choice for those looking for a highly robust and high-performing dive watch with a historical pedigree. Though it may not have the savoir faire and romance of mechanical watchmaking, this watch, along with its predecessors, are unmistakably indicative of Citizen’s strong know-how and manufacturing that also offers such robust timekeeping at an affordable price.
Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition pricing and availability
The Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition will be available in July 2025 as a limited edition of 5,800 pieces. Price: US$595
| Brand | Citizen |
| Model | Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition |
| Reference | JP2008-06E |
| Case Dimensions | 50.7mm (D) x 14.8mm (T) x 47.7mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, yellow gold-plated accents |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black sunburst, analogue/digital hybrid display |
| Strap | Black biomass-based polyurethane (BENEBiOL) strap |
| Movement | Cal.C520, in-house, quartz |
| Power Reserve | N/A |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, calendar, alarm, chronograph, depth measurement, dive time tracking, ascent rate alarm |
| Availability | July 2025, limited to 5,800 pieces |
| Price | US$595 |