Sometimes I need a discreet watch. Something tasteful and unobtrusive
that will slip under my cuff and won't clash with my suit or draw too
much attention to itself. Sometimes I want to stand out a bit, maybe
with a pop of color on the dial, or a unique strap. Sometimes, not every
day mind you, but sometimes I just want a great big honking beast of a
watch. A watch that says something. Something like, "Hey, look at me!
I'm wearing a watch! Ask me the time! ASK ME!" On those days, I bust
out the Zilla.
The Citizen Promaster Diver BJ8050-08E, dubbed "EcoZilla" by the watch community, is not for the meek. It is, by any standard, huge. The brushed stainless steel case measures 48mm wide, 18mm thick, and weighs over
6 oz. It is slightly bowl-shaped and topped with a brushed
unidirectional diver's bezel with deep, polished finger grips between
each of the boldly engraved and painted numbers. The bezel moves firmly,
with a loud and satisfying click at each detent. A knurled screw-down
crown flanked by stubby guards is set at 9:00. The texture of the crown
is repeated in a ring around the outside of the case, but it is purely
decorative. The case back provides another reminder of its under sea
credentials, in the form of a deep and detailed engraving of an old
fashioned diving helmet.
The black dial lies approximately 10 feet
below the flat mineral crystal, or at least it seems that way given its
modest size and the deep-set shadow box effect of the mammoth case. It
is surrounded by a second/minute track atop the crystal, and another on
the chapter ring inside. The hands are vintage plongeur (diver)
style with a white hour hand and a minute hand trimmed in bright orange.
The second hand has a sword tip, without a tail. Tombstone shaped
markers ring the dial with larger quadrangles at 6 and 9 and an even
larger "V" at 12. The marker at 3 is halved by the date window. Text
includes modestly sized Citizen and EcoDrive branding at the top of the
dial, and the arrowhead Promaster logo in the bottom half with "300m Professional Diver's" below - a phrase also engraved on the upper right quadrant of the case, just in case you forget. There
is quite a lot going on here, but it is the commanding markers and
hands that draw your attention. The result is bold, graphic, and highly
readable. Lume glows long, strong, and very blue.
Timekeeping
is provided by Citizen's solid and reliable solar powered EcoDrive
quartz movement. In typical quartz fashion, accuracy is excellent.
Also typical, the second hand does not land squarely on the markers,
although it comes oh so close. The
battery charges quickly, even when completely depleted, and has a 180
day reserve when fully charged. The watch is covered by a 5 year
warranty should anything go wrong.
The 08E model comes on a comfortable and functional rubber dive strap with an "EcoDrive" buckle and stainless keeper, as well as an extension for use over a dive suit. There
are no protruding lugs, and no spring bars. The strap is secured by an
integrated bracket fastened with screws directly into the underside of
the case. This provides rock solid security, but it also complicates strap swaps. While the rubber strap works very well, I find it impossible to keep a watch on the same strap for long. Fortunately, there is a solution for strap junkies. (Stay tuned for Part 2.). Another benefit of this lugless
system is that it keeps the overall size of the watch in check, making
it much more wearable than its dimensions suggest. Even on my 6.5"
wrist, it does not overhang. From dead-on, it looks slightly smaller
than some 44mm cushion cases. The bulk comes from its not
inconsiderable height. An 18mm tall chunk of metal tends to draw a
little attention.
This
is a legitimate tool watch, ISO certified and ready for gas saturation
diving (although it lacks a helium release valve). I have found these
capabilities particularly valuable when spear fishing, exploring shipwrecks, um... shark wrestling... Ok,
I don't do any of these things. This watch will never dive deeper than
the bottom of a swimming pool. If it is ever 900 feet below the
surface, it either fell off the boat, or I have drowned. I bought it
because it looks so damn cool. It isn't merely a serious dive
instrument; it is the dive instrument of our fevered imaginations.
There are plenty of dive watches that look like normal watches. The
EcoZilla looks like a prop from a deep sea sci-fi movie. If they remake
The Abyss, the Ed Harris character should be wearing this watch.
I am not too proud to admit I bought it because it looks totally
badass.
The
watch has an MSRP of $395, but you would be a fool to pay that much.
With a quick Internet search you will find it for $237 from several
reputable vendors. If you are willing to buy used and haunt Watch Recon for awhile, you can score one in excellent condition around $150-180.
The
EcoZilla is a lot of watch, maybe too much, but it lives up to its
looks. I may be a poser in the diving world, but this is not a poser
watch. It has the chops to back up the macho bravado in its design.
Stay tuned for Part 2, in which I take this crazy badass watch and make
it even more crazy badass.
Pro: A big, heavy dive watch that looks like a prop from an action movie.
Con: Big, heavy, and looks like a prop from an action movie.
Sum: Either you love it or you hate it. The Time Bum loves it.
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