As soon as I saw this Citizen Promaster Sky a few months ago, I was convinced it was for me. At 45mm across the bezel and with features that capture the soul of a pilot watch, the watch had my attention, and I started selling some watches to fund this Eco Drive BY0084-56E.
I'm happy to report that its light weight doesn't bother me, which is surprising since I'm used the feeling of a "heavy presence" on my wrist.
The dial is busy but easy to read the white markers against the black dial. Speaking of the color, I love this type of black that isn't a pure black color but more of a black charcoal gunmetal.
While I'm used to much larger timepieces, the 45mm case has good presence on my wrist and I'm six feet, 235 pounds.
The set-up was easy. All I had to do was pull the crown and scroll down to my California time, designated by LAX.
My booklet says to tighten the crown, you push in and twist clockwise; however, my crown doesn't tighten. It may be that the manual is not accurate for my watch though I intend to make an inquiry about this at my watch dealer today when I have a link or two removed.
I'll do my best to not get the stainless steel version since I don't want competition between the two to cause wrist time anxiety (yeah, first world problems, well chronicled here).
My hunch about this watch proved correct. Elegant, refined, expensive looking but not compromising in manly watch cues, the Citizen Promaster Sky looks like a winner. For a cheaper alternative, check out the similarly styled Seiko SNAB69.
Tech Info for Daylight Savings
Gary writes:
In re-reading the instructions for your Promaster, I think you just need to set STD AU now (since we're in standard time currently). When the switch to DST occurs, I think the watch will set itself to SMT AU.
I think I know why they did this. When I received my last G-Shock atomic watch (AWG-M100A), its last sync was during DST (late October), but I received it during standard time (in December). When setting it to DST Auto, the time was off by an hour until the watch synced because the watch thought it was still during DST.
With the Promaster, during DST you'd set SMT AU; during standard time you'd set STD AU. This way, the watch is set to the proper DST setting even before a sync occurs. This is actually a good design.
Wow. This looks really nice, Jeff. The gunmetal color is wonderful in the sunlit photos. I'm glad the light weight of the titanium case and bracelet is acceptable to you.
Posted by: Gary | January 12, 2015 at 01:49 PM
Looks great, Jeff. I especially love the bracelet which reminds me of the Omega Speedmaster bracelet on my black dial Seamaster.
Looks like a true keeper.
As or the weight, how would you compare it to, say, the Black Monster?
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 12, 2015 at 02:29 PM
This is much lighter than my Black Monster, but what's curious is that as light as it is--and I can barely feel it on my wrist--it does not feel cheap at all.
Posted by: herculodge | January 12, 2015 at 02:33 PM
Good to hear. I feel that I can rest easy, knowing that this watch has served its purpose and completely satiated you.
Now the question is, how long can you hold out before buying the silver metal version? And, if so, would you go for the steel version or the silver titanium?
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 12, 2015 at 04:04 PM
According to what I've found on the web, the Black Monster weighs about 180 grams and the Promaster Sky weighs about 110 grams.
Posted by: Gary | January 12, 2015 at 04:09 PM
Did you ever find out if the crown is supposed to tighten or if the manual is wrong? That seems important. The watch is really nice----and I agree that the "not quite black" gunmetal is excellent.
Posted by: Angelo | January 12, 2015 at 04:32 PM
The two Citizens I have don't have tightening crowns - most non-divers don't, as far as I can tell.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 12, 2015 at 04:34 PM
I have three Citizen Eco-Drive watches. Only the diver has a screw-down crown. The Blue Angels World Chrono, a fellow radio-controlled relative of the Promaster Sky, does not.
Posted by: Gary | January 12, 2015 at 04:49 PM
Matt at Watch City confirmed that the watch crown is not screw-down. Funny, though, it's waterproof to 200 meters. I won't swim with it though. I'd be open to getting a SS or titanium down the road. No rush. I don't see the SS version on eBay. Too bad since it would be cheaper.
Posted by: herculodge | January 12, 2015 at 04:50 PM
My Blue Angels watch is rated for 200m also.
Regarding the Promaster Sky, I prefer the black background on the timezone wheel and date wheel of the titanium versions (BY0084-56E and BY0080-57E) to the white background of the stainless version (BY0085-53E).
Posted by: Gary | January 12, 2015 at 07:23 PM
My Citizen diver is 200m and doesn't have screw-down. When I first got it I thought it was damaged.
Posted by: jonnybardo | January 13, 2015 at 05:19 AM