Review of the evolved "Fujitsubo Diver": Citizen's "Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m"

This time, we will be reviewing the new "Fujitsubo Diver," also known as the Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m, which was released in 2022 and inherits the design of the "Challenge Diver" released by Citizen in 1977, with a modern update. While the design is significantly different from the original, which has a unique story behind it, it has evolved into a more comfortable and practical watch.

Citizen's "Challenge Diver" has a legendary story

　What do you think about wearing a diver's watch (hereafter referred to as a diver's watch) for everyday use? I'm ashamed to say that I've broken or lost several watches in my life. I once fell down the hallway and hit a pillar with my watch, but most of the damage was caused by water.

　When I was in college, I was on the swimming team and often went to the beach with my friends. One time, I was snorkeling with a regular waterproof watch that looked like it belonged to a diver, but didn't meet diver standards, and ended up letting water in. Another time, I was wearing my watch loosely and accidentally lost it when I encountered a strong current. I dived down and looked for it, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it.

　I also went camping in the mountains and, although I was careful not to get wet, I slipped and ended up in a mountain stream, ruining my watch. And once, while diving, the boat got caught in a storm, and I got so seasick that I dropped my watch when I took it off to put it in my pocket. This watch is probably sunk in the Philippine Trench, so unfortunately, unless it was a very high-performance diver's watch, it will likely have become a lost piece at sea.

　Because of this experience, I have always worn waterproof watches, especially divers' watches, when there is a possibility that I might get wet, and I have recommended them to others as well.

　Citizen released the Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m on August 19, 2022, a mechanical diver's watch from the Citizen Promaster series, which offers the value of "imagination" in addition to its high performance as a professional sports watch. The watch inherits the design of the Challenge Diver, released in 1977, and is equipped with an updated, anti-magnetic movement. The 1970s Challenge Diver, on which this watch is based, is a legendary Citizen diver's watch.

The "Barnacle Diver" episode

　The watch was discovered in 1983 underwater at Long Reef Beach (not the Pacific Ocean Long Beach in Aichi Prefecture, but a scenic beach near Sydney, Australia). With barnacles growing thickly around the watch, it looked like an ancient relic. However, what was amazing was that the watch continued to work on the seabed, even though it had become like that.

　According to Citizen, the watch's water resistance was maintained and the movement of the waves likely kept the automatic winding up and running. While today's advanced solar-powered Eco-Drive might have been able to keep the watch running at the bottom of the ocean, a battery-powered watch with a normal battery life would have stopped running sooner or later. The watch's appearance earned it the nickname "barnacle."

　This legendary "barnacle" still exists and is housed at the Citizen Museum. Unfortunately, there are no details about the depth at which it was discovered, and it is unclear whether the original owner was informed of its discovery. However, if the original owner had known that the watch had been found, he would have been very happy. Diver's watches are often given pet names by their users based on their history or design. For Citizen, the pufferfish is well known, and Seiko's Monster and Boy are also popular. This is proof that the watch is widely loved by its users.